Cost of keeping a companion horse/pony

[Slaktare]

Evening all,

I am hoping I might be able to pull on some collective wisdom here. My partner and I are looking at buying an equestrian property and we were wondering what the general cost of keeping a companion horse/pony is.

My partner has an Irish sport horse which she already rides and we would be keeping this at home in our new property. The property comes with a large paddock, 4 stables and a ménage so there should be plenty of space but we don’t want the existing horse to be on her own. I am personally very inexperienced with horses but like the idea of looking after a companion to build my confidence and experience.

We wouldn’t have to factor in livery costs, but if somebody could give a general idea of the rest of the costs of a non ridden horse/pony that would be hugely appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[Prancerpoos]

Pretty much the same cost as any horse. Companions still need feed and vets and farrier visits etc. The only difference would be if you compete the ‘main’ horse as travelling and entry costs would not apply to a field ornament.

 

[Slaktare]

Pretty much the same cost as any horse. Companions still need feed and vets and farrier visits etc. The only difference would be if you compete the ‘main’ horse as travelling and entry costs would not apply to a field ornament.

Perfect, thanks! I thought as much but wanted just to check. The main horse is competed so will just compare against general feed, vets, farrier etc costs.

Thanks again!

 

[honetpot]

Not a lot. Mine get trimmed every eight weeks, they get hay and grass, and little else. The old ones get their teeth checked every six months, and if you are going out they need vaccinating. I have six under 14.2 and two cows and my hay bill was less than a £1k.
It cost as much to feed bad un as a good un so I would buy two of something young, as the auctioneers say, to grow in to money.
The biggest cost is maintaining the property.

 

[Auslander]

You probably need to factor in the cost of 2 companions, if you will be taking the ridden horse away to compete/hack etc. There are horses that are ok left completely alone, but they are rare creatures!

 

[catkin]

I allow the same amount of money for our companion's keep as for my ridden pony.
Mine are kept at home so although there may not be livery charges everything else is for two. The actual amounts for each element may slightly different - for example my companion eats less as he's smaller but he's messier in the stable so uses more bedding - but overall it sort of evens out.

It is much easier if both can be kept on the same basic routine.

If you haven't got a companion yet have you considered perhaps offering a home to a horse from a reputable sanctuary? We have loaned a few over the years - they have been fab.

 

[chaps89]

I find it’s quite a bit cheaper than a ridden one
- reduced insurance
- no shoes (presuming ridden one is shod)
- no chiro etc
- no lessons / school hire / clinics / events etc
- smaller so eats less hay
- no saddle checks
- no new tack

So day to day it’s pretty much the same, they still need trimming, worming/worm counting, maybe a token feed etc etc, but overall on a longer term budget it’s less.

 

[Squeak]

I find it’s quite a bit cheaper than a ridden one
- reduced insurance
- no shoes (presuming ridden one is shod)
- no chiro etc
- no lessons / school hire / clinics / events etc
- smaller so eats less hay
- no saddle checks
- no new tack

So day to day it’s pretty much the same, they still need trimming, worming/worm counting, maybe a token feed etc etc, but overall on a longer term budget it’s less.

This has been my experience too. The non ridden companion is much cheaper for all the reasons that Chaps has listed above. In the summer when they're out 24/7 and needed no hay or bedding and was only on a token feed, he pretty much cost me the £30 to trim every 7 weeks and some fly spray. This increased over the winter to include hay and then there was just the dentist and worming on top.

 

[smolmaus]

I'm going to second looking at your local equine rescue for a companion. They will be able to tell you the upkeep to expect, a vet history, what kind of horse or pony would suit your grazing arrangements and try and match personality too. You may very well get lucky and find one that copes perfectly well with some hours alone while your competitive horse is away.

Good luck not having all 4 stables full this time next year tho.

 

[Red-1]

My companion (black cob in my avatar) is a lot cheaper than my ridden one. Well, he was right until he had a £1650 vets bill for colic LOL.

He doesn't have rugs, is only trimmed not shod, is on a zero worm count so is only wormed once a year (bots), doesn't have more than a token feed.

However, he is also, like many companions, older and has medical issues. So, he is on specialist forage, his teeth are twice a year minimum, regular blood tests for his conditions, likely to need medication in the next year or so...

He is fine with being just the one companion, all of mine have settled to that with some patience and training. He is ridden occasionally and either horse is fine with the other going out hacking right past the other in the field. In fact, horror of horrors, there have been times when there has been just the one horse here (although that is not my preference) and they have been fine too. Two is what I aim at though. I wouldn't fancy three!!!

 

[Slaktare]

Thanks everybody, this has been a huge help! We are definitely thinking that we will go to one of the local equine rescue centres to rehome a companion and there are a few nearby that look suitable so will be getting in contact over the next few days to see if we can find one that will match what we need.

Thanks again!

 

[Red-1]

Thanks everybody, this has been a huge help! We are definitely thinking that we will go to one of the local equine rescue centres to rehome a companion and there are a few nearby that look suitable so will be getting in contact over the next few days to see if we can find one that will match what we need.

Thanks again!

Just a thought, I am really glad that my companion cob (in my avatar) is still rideable, even though I don't, generally. He had medical issues that meant he was not right to ride immediately, but I bought one that would possibly have the potential to be ridden in the future, even though it wasn't that important if it wasn't to be.

He did come rideable after rehab, is ace fun, is something for friends to ride, or as a companion for baby horse on a hack, or for me if baby horse is having some time out. He even carried mum's ashes to church for her internment.

He can retire whenever he would like to, has been ridden maybe 4 times this year, but still I appreciate that he is rideable.

Besides, if a horse is truly not capable of a once in a while potter round the block under saddle, I do question the quality of life they have in a field.

When my companion was a Shetland, I would even hop on and ride in on him when fetching in from the field. He was only 18 months old when we got him, feral, but by the time he was 4 he had been long reined and backed. Useful as a lead rein, even did school pony rides!

If one is being sent a a true non ridden companion, I would look very hard as to what the reason was, physical or mental. A half hour potter on the lanes is not a huge effort for a horse who still enjoys field time.

 

[milliepops]

Not sure that's entirely fair, my oldies are 25 and 26 and have been retired about 5 years, they regularly charge round the field but I would consider it unfair to saddle up at this stage... the legs would be willing but their bodies are thoroughly deconditioned to it.

Good luck op. My companions cost peanuts, some are my own, some in the twilight years of a permanent loan from rescues. Hay in the winter, foot care, jabs and worming, not a great deal else.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

My oldie is 26 and has been retired 7 years or so. He is a companion to my ridden horse. He is a relatively good doer so not majorly expensive feed wise. We do our own hay which He has ad lib. His feet are done twice a year. Farrier checks every 6 weeks when ridden one done but generally leaves them alone. Teeth twice a year but sometimes thr dentist says he's fine and doesn't do them but always checked. Wormed twice a year , vaccs once a year. He is totally sound but he definitely wouldn't cope with any sort of work now which is a real shame as he looks and moves beautifully.

 

[Orangehorse]

I have a very small companion pony for my horse and he is the 4th one over the years. He can be ridden by grandchildren having been a riding school pony, but seldom is.

He gets teeth checked, regular farrier attention and tetanus jab, he gets the same feed as horse but in considerably smaller quantities. He gets groomed.

I had a "rescue" pony before, it was a bit of an emergency, but never again. She was nervous and difficult to catch, I think the basic good nature was there, she was OK with familiar people but would run a mile from those she didn't know, so could be tricky. I absolutely dreaded that they escaped because I knew that I would never, ever be able to catch her. She had some health scares too, so that was worrying.

For a companion you need something that is a) easy to catch, b) doesn't bite, kick or do anything nasty to horse or human, c) healthy, or if not 100% something that is controllable and not too expensive.

 

[I'm Dun]

Not sure that's entirely fair, my oldies are 25 and 26 and have been retired about 5 years, they regularly charge round the field but I would consider it unfair to saddle up at this stage... the legs would be willing but their bodies are thoroughly deconditioned to it.

Good luck op. My companions cost peanuts, some are my own, some in the twilight years of a permanent loan from rescues. Hay in the winter, foot care, jabs and worming, not a great deal else.

Its different with older horses, but lots of the charities try and fob off young horses that can't be ridden and its probably something that needs discussing on a case by case basis with the charity. Not all charities are equal sadly.

 

[Red-1]

Its different with older horses, but lots of the charities try and fob off young horses that can't be ridden and its probably something that needs discussing on a case by case basis with the charity. Not all charities are equal sadly.

I think it is also different with a horse you have owned for a long time as opposed to one you are thinking about buying.

 

[milliepops]

If someone is specifically looking for a companion I don't understand why it's fobbing anything off tho. The bonus of loaning from a rescue being that you can end the arrangement if necessary. Bit easier than buying a companion that you then may have to rehome yourself.
I'd only ever recommend one of the reputable charities with sensible loan schemes.

 

[SEL]

I've got two non riddens and one who is ok with light hacking.

I have the basic vet cover with Harry Hall (also covers public liability)
Teeth done annually
Tet and flu annually
I worm count 3x year and worm once year unless they need more
Minimal hard feed as good doers but the very wonky one has a lot of joint supplements (he's been with me years - he'd be too wonky to take on day 1 as a companion)
Hay bill over winter is my biggest cost but out 24:7 so no bedding
Make sure you get something that mirrors your partner's horse in terms of grazing requirements.

I think a fair bit cheaper than ridden tbh. All have a small rug wardrobe and no need for saddle checks, boots, bits etc.

 

[Nicnac]

My companion is on permanent loan from a rescue. Cheap as chips to keep but then she's very teeny tiny!