Considering a second horse... how do you keep two fit?!

starryeyed

starryeyed

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After attempting to write this several times & failing not to turn it into a novel, I will keep this very short & to the point!

For those of you with two horses (riding club level/competition types) but who work full time, how do you manage to keep both fit and happy? What sort of fitness plans do you use? Other than sacrificing any form of social life, do you find it a struggle?

My wonderful mare has been out of work due to various issues for a year and a half (out of the 2 years I have owned her!), and things sadly seem to be getting worse rather than better - she is on the waiting list for horsey hospital for full investigations but we all suspect kissing spine. I'm devastated as something is clearly making her uncomfortable, and although I am keeping everything crossed that she will bounce back to her former self, I am also being realistic and understand that diagnosis/treatment/recovery from whatever the issue is will be a long process - she means the world to me so endless rehab is something I am happy to do, though I do desperately miss riding. She is currently being long reined / lunged daily (vets guidance) to keep her mind busy and her body in some form of work, which she is comfortable - albeit bored with. All dreams of ODE's and beach rides seem very distant!

I have recently been considering purchasing a second horse to have fun with along side her groundwork/future rehab - I have owned two at the same time previously, so am fully aware of the general costs/day to day care, and they would live at home with the rest of the family's 'herd' which makes things much easier. But I have never had two forward going competition horses before (just one in full work & 1 semi-retired who was very easy going), and although I'm keeping all fingers and toes crossed that my mare does fully recover, I'm concerned that I will struggle in the future to keep two bouncy horses busy enough along with a full time job. But a lot of people seem to do it - so I would appreciate any words of wisdom! We do keep our horses 'for life' so I don't want to jump into anything without giving it a lot of thought first. x
 
Eek, this isn't going to help but - I can't really! At the moment the youngster is in very light work, which means some long reining or whatever, before riding the other. However when he comes into full work, she is going into semi-retirement as I just will not have time for both to be in full work. Not what you wanted to hear I know! I definitely couldn't have two competition fit at the same time.

Could you get someone else to help? A keen family member or friend?

ETS, mine live out 24/7 so I don't think either of them have a problem not being in work full time, if that's what's worrying you.
 
With difficulty. The problem is like me you're going to have 1 "rehab" that will need a very regular routine if it's to have the best chance of staying sound and a new one which will probably need more time then usual as you get used to it/school it up. Actually ends up being more then twice the work of one "normal" horse that can probably get away with a few days off when your busy.
How do I manage? Forego this years pay rise in return for flexable working around daylight hours. Result, 2 fit horses, 1 fitter rider, 1 VERY empty bank account.
Other top tip is ride and lead for your early fittening work, it's gone out of fashion but good for the rehab to do some gentle unloaded exercise and get 2 exercised in whatever time you can find.
 
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It's do-able, but it depends just how much you want it. You say 'without sacrificing any form of social life'.....I think, without being rude, that that is where you may fall down. I've been in the situation of working full-time in a reasonably high-powered job with two horses eventing at BE Int and 3 star on full livery....ie everything taken care of other than the exercise.

I had to put my career on hold....in other words do the bare minimum to maintain employment. I also advertised for a sharer to help with the fittening work and was lucky enough to find someone who had taken a year out after uni, before getting a job, and had worked as a WP for a well-known european event champion. She was great, doing the road work, ride and lead, basic flat work and fast work.

As for social life....what social life?? :)
 
I do one before work and one after work. Ok, it's only hacking or schooling but that's the only way I can fit it in. I am considering doing alternate days with them and doing longer with each one on the alternate days though. And learning to muck two horses in 10 minutes helps as well!
 
I have to say I found working full time and keeping 2 in full work alright, I did however find it very hard to have 2 and one going through rehab as it's not something that can wait or be done tomorrow ect etc. For them to have the best chance of recovery you need to give them everything. Even with a sharer for the sound one I struggled. Maybe not what you want to hear but that's what I found.
 
i was in the exact same boat as you. had a tb that i thought was retired but he came back into work. The answer for me was that it is just impossible. When mine needs rehab work its hours of longlining and physio work, so the other lad suffers. When he's back in work, its just impossible to keep both their training schedules on track the way they should be. One definitely has to take a back seat. I had to prioritise my aims and then arrange the second ones scaled down competition schedule to fill in any gaps i have.

Best I could do was seperate their seasons out, so i could give one a break while going full blast on the other one.they each get two months off a year (they are out 24/7), so i get a bit of breathing space when one is off.

also, edited to say. I depended on people riding the other one for road and fitness work, while i long lined beside
 
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I should add to my comment that I work a 10 hour day 4 days a week, every 4th night and every 4th weekend. I've reduced my hours to an 8 hour day 2 days a week and can now ride both horses 3-5 times a week. So guess if you have more "normal" hours it's probably do-able! Mine are on full livery and I ride both before work.
 
What social life?

And I suspect that is the answer. Every spare minute down the yard. One on the walker, one in work. Cool down on the walker so the other can work. Ride and lead. Keeping both up for hunting / eventing requires a second rider for hill work / fittening. Holding them through the SJ season is easier. The only time you get a social life is during the weeks they are turned away. We turn away for a week every 12 - 14 weeks depending on work, rather than for a season.
 
Only time I managed two was when one was in very light work, and I worked at the yard...

Several of my friends have two - one is considering selling as too much work, the other does alternate days during the week and both on weekends, and when doing fitness work in the lighter evenings they ride and lead.

Lot of work!!!
 
Depends on how much they need work. When I had 2 I rode each horse on alternate days during the week, so horse A on Monday, horse B on Tuesday et cetera, and then rode both on the weekend. That way each horse was ridden 4 times a week (I had one weekday off) which I felt was enough to keep them ticking over :)

ETA: I'd also suggest ride and lead, it could be especially useful for your rehab.
 
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I've been struggling through the winter, mainly as I don't have any facilities and I can only ride a couple of times a week before work if the weather is good enough. During the summer with the lighter nights it becomes much easier. I'm also struggling as one is a youngster and has not gained a proper level of fitness yet.

I was hoping to be able to ride and lead to keep both in a decent amount of work but this hasn't happened yet as I haven't had time to teach the youngster to lead from my older pony.

I do find it quite tiring also compared to just having two horses with only one in work and there is nothing worse than getting soaking wet out riding the first one and still having the second to take out.

In the summer when the field isn't so wet I can lunge and this takes a bit of pressure off as then I can hack one out and then just lunge the other and I alternate this so both get lunged once a week and the rest of the time they are ridden. I also do alternate days and ride both on the weekend.

Its doable, but I don't have much of a social life as I'm always shattered after a long day at work and then having to ride. Previously I would give myself two days off from riding a week, I don't get that luxury these days. But I am fitter!
 
I work evenings - that's how I get it done.

I get up at about 7.30 kids to school for 8.30 go to the yard - muckout all 5 (3 diddies and my 2). Ride both back to back. I'm done by about 12 ish (They live at my MUms so Mum puts them to bed or they stay out depending on time of year)... then I have a couple of hours to rest (I need it). I then pick up the kids from school and do 'kids ' things. MY husband comes in at 5pm and I go to work - shift finishes at 2am. One night a week I go thru to 8am so that means I only work 3 days - which although I basically do 40 hours a week (On average) I have my day times free... it's not easy and there aren't many jobs like this but it does work for me and allows me the time I need to keep 2 horses fit...
 
Either live at the yard or get a sharer or helper for one or both of them?

My share horse's owner has two horses. I do one of them two weekdays and usually one weekend day and another girl does the same with the other horse. Add in a rest day or two per week for each horse and it means that their owner doesn't have to ride every day and there aren't that many days where she needs to exercise both of them.
 
I'm going to go against the grain and say I think 2 is ok! I'm tired trying to do 3 or 4 a day but I think 2 is alright. I think you have to look at it more as work, I spend little time chatting (unless I have spare time!) and just get on with getting everything ridden/worked & jobs done.

I do feel pretty tired from a winter of quite hardcore rehab (hour plus of walking per day & 30 mins of trotting) from 1, riding another and backing another, plus having another couple to ride a few times a week. My job is pretty flexible which helps me fit it all in.

In the long run id like to get back to just 2 because riding 3 a day is a lot and running 2 for lessons/competing/everything else they need is expensive, but I'd say if your motivated, 2 is alright :)
 
I find 2 ok. You do have to want to do it and they take up the majority of my time outside of work during the week but as long as I plan their days off etc I find it possible to have a social life too.
 
Going against the grain here.. It is totally doable and it is all down to time management.
Before I got involved in the stud and could actually ride I had 2 in competition work fairly young horses (4 & 6)
When I went up the yard there was no faffing around, straight up, feed, do haynets whilst being fed, do banks etc start mucking out, turn out, leave in field whilst I was at college, if it was a day where I had a long lunch (2 days a week it used to be) I'd go back up, finish mucking out or ride/exercise one, then go back down after college, get them in, do remaining chores, either finish mucking out, waters, skip out, groom, exercise 2nd one or both if didn't do in the day, put to bed and repeat!

I still had time for a fantastic social life, from when I had both of them, literally no faffing or messing around, weekends were easy, same routine but I'd either have a lesson or compete!

You could also ride and lead, which is great if you're under time constraints!!
It's very doable :)
 
I would say that it depends on the support you have. TBH most of the time it isn't a problem, but what is a problem is never getting a rest from the whole thing (which you need to keep fresh and enthusiastic). Therefore, if you can afford a groom for one day a week to give you a complete day off, or someone to ride out with you once or twice a week it makes it a whole lot easier and more fun.
 
I have got two horses on DIY, work in London, and 3 sharers. Both horses in full daily work.

I still do the majority of both care and riding.

One sharer schools one, and has lessons on one, and hacks him a bit.
Other sharer hacks.
Third sharer hacks, and is starting jumping lessons on other horse.
I do a bit of everything, school both, compete one.

I like my horses fit, and balances the spring grass coming through. Am happy for them to hack twice a day / school morning hack afternoon etc.

Advantages of two horses - takes the pressure off one, and good for riding to ride more than one. One is rehabbing from injuries, so means I can rehab him and compete the other. Someone to hack with. Company for each other in field.

Disadvantages - feeling you are torn between both, more work, more money, more effort, more time.
 
Really? It's not that hard, especially as you're not wanting to do high level stuff. I have two, admittedly one is a breaker, but they often need more time spending on them. The other is team-chase/hunting fit. I have had two horses BE Nov/1* fit before now. I work full time and am on-call every second night and the whole of every second weekend. I muck out both and ride one before work and ride the second after work. It's quite easy and I also have a social life and time to train for another sport. I'm finished at the yard by 7pm at the latest. I have had 4 in work and worked the same hours before now, but found it too hard. Riding two is a piece of cake!
Paying for them, sadly, isn't!
 
Gamebird said:
Really? It's not that hard, especially as you're not wanting to do high level stuff. I have two, admittedly one is a breaker, but they often need more time spending on them. The other is team-chase/hunting fit. I have had two horses BE Nov/1* fit before now. I work full time and am on-call every second night and the whole of every second weekend. I muck out both and ride one before work and ride the second after work. It's quite easy and I also have a social life and time to train for another sport. I'm finished at the yard by 7pm at the latest. I have had 4 in work and worked the same hours before now, but found it too hard. Riding two is a piece of cake!
Paying for them, sadly, isn't!
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You must be lucky enough to live and work fairly locally. I get up at 5.20am to drive to yard before work and ride and be in central london by 9.15am. In the evenings, if I leave my desk at 5.10pm, I can be at the yard by 6.30pm.
 
bouncing_ball said:
You must be lucky enough to live and work fairly locally. I get up at 5.20am to drive to yard before work and ride and be in central london by 9.15am. In the evenings, if I leave my desk at 5.10pm, I can be at the yard by 6.30pm.
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Yup, I do :). I'm not really allowed to live more than 20mins from my work anyway. I still get up at 5.30am and am at my desk by 8.15am, but I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it. I guess once you get up here it's pretty unusual for people to have much of a commute. My 'really?' was aimed at the OP, by the way, your post just happened to be above mine. I think it boils down to the fact that if you want to do it you can find time, if it's a chore then don't do it. It's a hobby, not a ball and chain.

To be honest being tied up every second weekend is more of a problem for me than finding time in the working week. I often find myself with two fit horses I don't get the opportunity to get out and compete. You can guarantee that there's loads of stuff on locally on my working weekends but on my non-working weekends I'll have to drive 2hrs+ just to find some BS or something.
 
My best friend has 2 (I couldn't do it) she has 3 sharers and gets 1 full day off a week. She copes, her horses live out and are kept reasonably fit. Without the sharers i think she'd struggle a lot!
 
Thanks everyone - lots to think about there! I think I'd better just keep my fingers firmly crossed for the time being, at least until we know exactly what is wrong with her, then I'll have a clearer idea of exactly how much rehab will be required and see how far we can progress. I worded the social life bit badly - I simply meant that missing out on one isn't a problem as my social life is currently completely non-existant, just work & horses! Perhaps this could be an opportunity...! :redface3:
 
We have 2 horses on diy livery & both are show jumpers & very fit. This doesn't come without a cost to your time & obviously money.

My daughter is the main rider, her mother rides one of them a few times a week but the serious work is done by daughter. She leaves for work at 6.55am each morning & gets home around 5pm.

Horses are mucked out & turned out by me & her mum about 7.30 & around 2pm we bring them in. I'm retired @ wife has part time job. Daughter comes from work directly to yard & rides both. After riding, grooming & bedding down she gets home around 7.30-8pm (slow cooker is best friend). We rarely eat before 8pm. Social life is thin & even if we had one we'd be too knackered to follow it. Weekends are just as busy as we attend shows on at least one of the days & as you will know BS shows run on for ever!
 
I find it hard to keep both my lads properly fit and that is with an OH who can ride as well. They are at home so I have all the stable chores including field management which often take up my riding time especially winter time. I find if I try to work the two that I usually have two horses that are fine for local stuff etc... but both are not fit enough to go BE. Whereas if I concentrate on getting one fit, and the other is a happy hacker locally that works. It really depends on what you want to do with them.

It is a godsend to have a second horse though when one is off the road so to speak!

I think those on livery yards with the help available on them plus with access to floodlit schools or indoor schools, it is a lot easier than my set up with no facilities at home. No matter what, winter is plain hard work and at times you really wonder if it is worth it then spring comes and the light nights and suddenly you feel different!
 
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