Going from 2 to 3 - is it a lot more work..?

D

diddy

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 March 2011
Messages
277
Visit site
Morning all,

Just wondering about your thoughts on the above..? We’ve recently moved to a place on our own and acquired a second pony to keep my boy company. So I have my gelding & a 12.2 mare on loan for company, who my children ride when the mood takes them! Originally my plan had been to get another horse for myself – a youngster that I could back in a few years when I have more time (in theory anyway!) But I kind of shelved this idea as the kids were keen to get something they could use, hence the mare – who is lovely & a complete success so far btw!

So I stopped looking for the youngster. But someone has just appeared with a baby who looks/sounds exactly what I was looking for & I’m very tempted! Now that we pay rent on the field, getting another one won’t be that much more of an expense so it’s more about the time. I like the idea of having a third because the other 2 don’t like staying in the field if one goes out, so it will mean I can hack them out separately. Although of course it means that I couldn’t hack them out together & leave the youngster on its own – so will I then end up getting a fourth..?! (I’ve seen some of the stories on here - my OH is very patient but might have to put his foot down :))

What d’you reckon? I’ve found it a lot of work going from 1 to 2 but I love the little mare & am really enjoying both of them. The main reason we got a loan was because I wanted the option to return to having just the one on livery if things didn’t work out. But even after only a few weeks, I can see that that is probably never going to happen as I love being in my own place!
So – 2 to 3 – madness or a great idea..?! Thank you - I only have a packet of skips or a slightly brown banana on offer, but very happy to share!

Diddy.x
 
Sorry Diddy..... you wont get any help from me :D:D:D:... 3 is a great number - but the only thing i found difficult was the 3x shoes.... all mine were shod, 1 on 5 weeks and 2 on 6 weeks, apart from this.... I loved it.... currently looking at getting a 3rd myself -as it makes life so much easier when i take one out to a show :)
 
I've just gone from 3 back to 2 and its like heaven! They were all little natives but were stabled etc. I just didn't have the time to play with all of them and was fed up of three stables to do every morning and evening!
 
Really depends if all are stables or living out and if they are all ridden etc.

I was similar bought my own place and bought a yearling to keep my old boy company and she'll start work when he retires but couldn't leave her on own without OH brushing her (not practical). So got a loan Welsh A (not ridden-yet). I don't find it any more work and makes life a lot easier. If all are stabled and ridden then yes that would be a lot of work. You may find summer is more work as you'll be doing training stuff with he youngster but its never so bad when it's light nights and warmer weather.
 
Mynyddcymro said:
I've just gone from 3 back to 2 and its like heaven! They were all little natives but were stabled etc. I just didn't have the time to play with all of them and was fed up of three stables to do every morning and evening!
Click to expand...

Me too! I went from four to three to two, and am loving it! I do agree that 3 works from a pair bond angle, but even when we had 3, my mare hated one gelding and idolised another, so we still got it!

Three was more work as was going from one to two, but things like turning out - now I take two together, when there were three it was another journey, especially to the field down the lane.
 
I'm doing three but am looking forward to getting back to two when the time comes to say goodbye to my old mare.

Mine are in at night, so mucking out once a day, then stuffing four hay nets (huge horse has two), three huge water buckets (huge horse has muck bucket full!), three sets of vaccs, wormers, tack, rugs, and two sets of shoes plus one trim... NOT looking forward to having three shod from next spring when the youngster needs shoes.

The questions you need to ask yourself is 1. Can you keep two in work (plus any exercise of kids pony you give it)? 2. Will your grass/ land stand up to three, remember a baby will dash about more, and prob not respect fences as much either and 3. Will it become more of a chore than a pleasure. Only you can answer those, but from my point of view two is plenty!
 
Hello again,

I love hearing your stories - thank you! Not much consensus so far :) Should have added that mine are currently living out. We have the option to bring in 2 but not 3, unless they share or we get another stable. However, I'd like to leave them out as much as possible anyhow. Have 5 acres so potentially enough room to manage this if I get the fencing in the other paddocks sorted.

Sounds like mucking out is the big issue for people, which I don't have. Can you tell which way I'm leaning? Please talk me out of it immediately... :D

D.x
 
I have four! But two are foals, one is a ridden four year old they all live out 24/7 and then one veteran who is stabled when weather is bad. Due to his age, extra feeding, rugging and his talent to break fences he's more hardwork than the other three put together. Good job I had him first he made the rest seem easy. I'm lucky none are shod and only tetanus vacs so I don't find it too much hardwork or cost you just have to find your own routine
 
I have three... Bring all in and out together and just do everything at the same time.. Feeds haynets ect. All ridden but have flood lights takes me 3 hours to muck out and ride each of an evening and half hour in the morning to feed change rugs hay feild and turnout. It would be boring with less of them:)
 
I occasionally have the charge of 3 (but with only the very basics needing doing for 2), and I would say yes it really does feel harder than 2. It is no probs for me as only occasional but if it were everyday then 2 seem much easier (am lucky that none of them care about being alone though). :)
 
I don't find any noticeable difference in the day to day care between 2 and 3, however did really notice when we went down from 4 to 3 in muck out time :D. Three is a great number as you can ride one and leave the other two out together :), also really good when out for the day competing. However if you have a friend who hacks one out with you or you take 2 competing together then you may need 4 ;) and so on... :D
 
I have ummmm 6 lol.
Two are ridden, one is due to be started next year, one is a Shetland and the other two are 7 month old foals lol. All of mine live out 24/7.
I do find it hard sometimes to spread myself around the time I need for all esp as the foals came to me unhandled. But it can be done. However, if mine were stabled for ANY time at all I would personally struggle with more than two.
So er, Im no help at all lol :p
 
Would there be any option to take this youngster on loan with a view to buy to see how you get on?

The worst thing would be if you bought it and then found you couldn't cope. It's all about getting in to a routine. Is the land at your house? It makes a big difference also if you don't have to travel.
 
I had 3 and went to 2 and the difference is unbelievable! I was travelling to see them as they were 40 min away from my house at the time and all stabled. It takes so much less time but I am also looking at getting a third as the ideal horse seems to have came along... :D
 
I've got 3, Mare and foal and my ridden mare.

I want to bring the other mare back into work in the Spring and find someone to hack out with me so that would leave my youngster on his own.. not sure this is a workable option and I'm already worrying about it.

It sounds like you could have the same issue ?

I'd personally like to go back to having just one , I've not had less than 2 for 15 years :rolleyes:
 
I kidded myself that 3 was not much more work than 2-I was wrong! think of it being 50% more **** to shovel. I still have 3, 2 mainly live out and are really low maintenance but still have to poo pick, insure, get them trimmed, wormed plus one is in work and another needs starting next year. I love them all, but 3 is hard work-and I have them at home.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top