Do I need a companion/ 2nd horse?

Antw23uk

Antw23uk

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Hi guysngirls

We have moved to a new property and I'm now fortunate enough to own 3 acres and a block of 3 stables. My boy (the best horse in the world) has been on loan since July last year and he will be coming home in July. He is a sane and sensible chap but he is turned out individually because he is a bit of a sod when turned out with others and just doesn't leave them alone and he is fine with this. When he left me he was the kind of horse you could leave out last and he didn't really care but sadly since being on loan he has turned into a bit of a 'wait for me' fool and now doesn't particularly like being out last ... Not an issue really, as I said he is sane and sensible.

When he comes home he will eventually go from his current routine of out at night, in during the day to full turn out for summer (the joys of making your own yard rules hey!) BUT on my plot of land its just going to be him. There are paddocks either side with horses in and paddocks up the top all with horses in so visually he is always going to have horses and ponies in sight and I will be adding a stable mirror as well.

My question is do you think this is enough? I like to think I know him pretty well and he is a pretty awesome level headed kind of guy who 'should' be absolutely fine but the closer we get to him coming home the more I'm a bit worried about him being 'alone' in his stable even though he can visually see other horses from his stable and on livery he has always been fine stood in on his own.

I'm pretty poor from moving house and although day to day I can afford him, of course I can, I'm not in a position to go out and get a 2nd horse or pony .... and to be honest I don't really want one! I personally think one horse is a joy, two horses is a job!

Can I have some reassurance, some advise or anything nice and positive please before all my hair actually goes grey and/or falls out! Pic of the best pony in the world just for good measure :)

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My horse was never in the same paddock with other horses but, as you propose for your's, there were horses to the left of him, right of him and behind him, all of which he could touch if he wanted. He was always quite happy with this set up neither he nor they came into a stable except in exceptional circs. So for him it was not an issue but he had never been used to being with others in that way.
 
From your description I would expect he would be fine. You can always get one later if it becomes an issue.

My old mare lived alone quite happily for 2 years with no other horse in sight, but she was always very independent and never much cared for other horses. My current boy is very sociable and went a bit nuts with no company for 3 months after we moved here, even with other horses around. I took on a rescue pony as a companion and TBH the extra costs and work are surprisingly minimal for me. Mine aren't stabled, I have enough land to not have to poo pick most of the time and I do my own trimming, so its really just worm counts, teeth etc. I do have a job for the pony too though (have a young daughter and he is broken to lead rein) so its not quite the same.
 
One of mine would be so happy with this set up, the other would be miserable. All you can do is try and see how he reacts. If you do need a companion I imagine there are lots of companion horses out there needing homes so you will probably find one fairly quickly.

If you do get one, get one whose needs match your horse's which should minimise the extra work. People make the mistake of getting small ones thinking they'll be easier but then find they need to be kept off the grass in the summer so not only are they not doing the job they were bought for but they create more work with mucking out etc.
 
annagain said:
One of mine would be so happy with this set up, the other would be miserable. All you can do is try and see how he reacts. If you do need a companion I imagine there are lots of companion horses out there needing homes so you will probably find one fairly quickly.

If you do get one, get one whose needs match your horse's which should minimise the extra work. People make the mistake of getting small ones thinking they'll be easier but then find they need to be kept off the grass in the summer so not only are they not doing the job they were bought for but they create more work with mucking out etc.
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Thanks everyone. Yes I agree with the matching companion. No point having something that lives on fresh air and needs a bare paddock if my boy is the opposite! Thank you :)
 
This set up would almost be heaven for one of mine. In fact, if you got rid of being able to see neighbours horses too he would be in total heaven! He is an unsociable boy!
 
I'm sure mine would cope but doing it for the second time with a companion I would consider a couple of sheep if you have the set up.
 
I have had two horses here who are happy with that set-up, and we had one who made his views pretty strongly known to the contrary.

With the one who was not happy we got a companion within 24 hours. The others had neighbour's horses next door and really could not care less one way or another.

Jay has had a couple of horse come to stay for a while, and he is, if anything, a bit cross when they come, and relieved when they leave again! But, to compensate, I do spend a lot of time with him, even if not riding. I think if they are alone you have to provide more than the basics of living, you are also the entertainment, the touch, the discipline when handling etc....
 
We sold one and the plan was to find a pony club loan home for the other pony, but no-one seemed to want him so he's stayed here on his own. To start with he seemed a bit lonely without the other which wasn't surprising so we sent him to friends for a couple of weeks with their ponies and then he came home and has been much happier (to be back away from the attentions of a lively youngster in with him and 2 the other side of the fence I think! ) , but he seems good friends with the dog and is quite happy, even though he only sees a few horses come up the road he doesn't call to them.
 
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