Costs/budgeting for a companion pony

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I'm wondering if those who keep a pony purely for companion purposes could kindly specify which type of costs they budget/pay for them?

Also, more specifically, do you tend to insure them?

If so, what would be the best insurance policy for a companion?

Thanks in advance for any replies :)
 
Not exactly a companion, but we do have a retired pony. She costs us more than the ones in work, as she is more difficult to keep weight on, due to her age. She is not shod these days, but then of the ones in work, two are only shod on the fronts. I think that to be fair to the companion you have to expect to pay the same for the keep of the companion as you would for one in work. We no longer insure any of ours, except for third party and public liability
 
hi,

my old mare was a companion for years. costs as follows:
£15 per week livery (if you have own land then n/a!)
£20 foot trim every 12 weeks (my other horse shod every 6 weeks, companion only needed trimming ever other time if that!!)
£20 month food and haylage (tho not a good doer so sure this could be reduced)
£17 every 3-6 months for wormer
£20 per month for bute/supplements as old

mine was 31 when i had her pts so alot of the above costs could be eliminated as bute etc was as she was old. i never had her insured due to her age
 
YorksG said:
Not exactly a companion, but we do have a retired pony. She costs us more than the ones in work, as she is more difficult to keep weight on, due to her age. She is not shod these days, but then of the ones in work, two are only shod on the fronts. I think that to be fair to the companion you have to expect to pay the same for the keep of the companion as you would for one in work. We no longer insure any of ours, except for third party and public liability
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Oh, gosh, I know where you're coming from! My oldie costs me a fortune!! She has cushings so can't have grass, therefore haylage all year round. She is on both topspec senior and Baileys outshine = £sss! etc etc. Lots of feet trimming 'cause of the cushings and teeth rasping due to her age & cribbing etc etc, but all these factors mean that she is not suitable as a companion for the chubby broken one.

I have borrowed a NF in the past, urgently, when I needed a companion (when one of mine died) and he required minimal feed/feet/teeth etc etc. I am now considering getting something similar for the broken pony and feel that it may be better to buy than borrow. However, I am unsure about insurance as much as anything. I deffo don't want an oldie as I know how much an oldie needs (which i am happy to give to the oldie that I have - but I don't need another one!).

As per the title I am looking for a companion rather than a retiree. :)
 
This is probably a very silly suggestion, but, how about a youngster, who could then go on to be the 'replacement' for the broken one? The broken one could then be the companion for the new ridden one IFYSWIM. If you are just looking for a companion then I would buy rather than loan, as how would the broken one cope if the companion had to go home? I would think that insurance would be the same as you do with the others, as let's face it horses are such delicate little flowers and be poorly whether they are in work, companions, or as in our case be the 'spare' horse. Our 'spare' horse had a bout of colic less than eight weeks after we got her, she doesn't know she is the spare :D
 
Hi

Initially I bought a companion/rideable pony after visiting ILPH and as they took over Ada cole(Essex who were really nice). I found these a waste of time..long story and lots of driving thinking I could re home. I am sure there are good stories too. I passed the inspection gave my criteria drove miles to Norfolk and they wasted my time and theirs.

But I sold on the companion as he was wasted with me(he was rideable). I tried to get a shetland anything and it was just as bad as looking for a riding horse for me. I even rang a shetland breeder! Someone did suggest a youngster but I am not experienced enough etc.

I have just retired my arthritic old boy and he wont be going anywhere(I think he is worth his companion weight in gold). I cant get him insured due to a claim via NFU and they start wacking the premiums up at 13 years of age. So I decided it was more cost effective to pay out of pocket which I appreciate not everyone could do.

I do have to bring him along the road for the farrier etc so I have BHS Gold membership which covers us for public liability etc for any horse we own or ride etc.£59 per annum.

He costs me hay in winter and I have just had his shoes off so £20 a trim. I dont pay field rental but have done at £15 per week. Handful of pony nuts and my time poo picking and odd brushing! I only worm a couple of times a year as I poo pick daily etc. Good doer lives out unrugged 24/7

If he got a minor illness I would pay out but if he was majorly ill I would put him to sleep as he is elderly and has had a good innings!

Got to say I thought finding a companion would have been a piece of cake, hearing of rehoming etc but it was not! My OH said to me now you have a ready made companion who I know really well and he wont be going anywhere as I am now looking for a riding horse.
Ask around or if you have facilities see if you can share with another owner if you cant find one. I suppose just make sure its not got mega problems.
 
YorksG said:
This is probably a very silly suggestion, but, how about a youngster, who could then go on to be the 'replacement' for the broken one? The broken one could then be the companion for the new ridden one IFYSWIM. If you are just looking for a companion then I would buy rather than loan, as how would the broken one cope if the companion had to go home? I would think that insurance would be the same as you do with the others, as let's face it horses are such delicate little flowers and be poorly whether they are in work, companions, or as in our case be the 'spare' horse. Our 'spare' horse had a bout of colic less than eight weeks after we got her, she doesn't know she is the spare :D
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It's not a silly suggestion at all as I have considered the idea of a youngster, but don't feel I would have the time to devote to teaching it handling etc if my horse population increases (I plan on buying a riding horse this summer, and the chubby broken one we are attempting to put in foal). Also, 'cause the chubby one is so very chubby (seriously, I've known 12hh welsh ponies that were easier to keep trimmer than this 16hh WB!) then I rather need something that is also an exceptionally good doer to live with her. Of course if the oldie doesn't come back into work again due to her sarcoid treatment then it will be problem solved.... Except for the lack of anything my mother can ride - which would then be a whole other problem!

I'm just pondering because if I DO get a riding horse, and the oldie CAN start hacking again, then we can't leave the chubby broken one behind on her own...
 
I had a welsh A mare as a companion for my broken fattie - it worked really well, we did break her in and she was very useful when friends kids visited as we could pop them up on her and all go for a walk with the dogs! When I had to have the broken mare put down I decided against selling her and she is now in her 3rd home teaching friends children to ride - she is really worth her weight in gold - she is also very well bred so maybe one day I will breed from her but for now she has a job to do and has for the forseeable future! I did have her insured fully but it was very cheap as she was only worth a few hundred pounds but was very useful when she ran through a hedge and damaged her cornea!
 
I got a section A as a companion for my gelding when he came to live at home with me- she's been very cheap to keep. She gets her feet trimmed every 8-10 weeks depending on wear and thats £20. No livery fees because she's at home. She's a very good doer so apart from a handful of hifi lite to put vits and mins in she doesn't have anything- so a bag lasts her months. I only have 3rd part insurance on her because my parents work from home and have people around the horses. I don't see a need to add vet insurance because she has been very healthy so far and if something needed to be done I could find the money. They're also out 24/7 365 days so no bedding etc.
 
i have a 3yr old minature. biggest outlay was a field shelter and fencing to contain her otherwise virtually nothing. she has a handful of hi fi lite and small amounts of hay and a foot trim every 8 weeks which is £10 when my farrier is up .shes had teeth checked when others done but no charge as hes just looked at them and her yearly booster. i bought her rugs off e bay and she is adorable.
 
Yes, for fencing reasons I don't think I would go for a mini or a shetland, more likely a welsh or newfie. :)
 
Well I have been trying to find a home as a companion for my Shetland mare who i don't really want money for because she was gifted to me, and all I have had is timewasters!
 
Our beautiful shettie companion was a freebie from an HHO member and we love him to bits. He costs practically nothing apart from the occasional hoof trim (which he didn't require at all through winter) and a little bit of food. He's not insured and is never sick or sorry, a good doer with a nice nature.
 
I recently purchased a mini .....he is a super quiet little thing ....with a great temperament and wonderful little character :) .....as he's at home there is no livery, he's out in a small paddock, with missy whom is on the other side due to the grass being quite long, three rows of electric fencing keeps him in .
Cost wise, teeth are needing done ....im expecting around £30, feet trimmed £15-£20 and the usual worming . I also got him castrated which was £35 . He really does cost me very very little and he's a joy to have around the yard :)
Col x
 
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