Going from one horse to two?

[Jesstickle]

Another pro is that they keep each other company My pair love each other. They're not clingy particularly but they have a very nice pair bond and I get to keep them in a field just the two of them meaning I don't have to coordinate with anyone else re bringing in turning out etc

 

[JenJ]

Just wanted to add that my situation is perhaps similar to yours - I bought my horse last September, he's been injured on and off since then, and when he has been in work he's shot my confidence to bits by bucking me off. He's currently on a month off for back issues, and is having xrays next week for suspected kissing spines.

In June I went on a riding holiday and fell in love with a bombproof confidence giver, and brought back her home with me! Today she has taken me on my first cross country in nearly 20 years, despite me being terrified.

Yes two horses is harder work (and mine are both on working livery!) but I love them both to bits. The first, if he doesn't come good, will be my expensive pet, and the second will be the horse I always wanted.


If you can afford it (which you clearly can) there is no reason not do

 

[Daisy2]

I have two, why? Because they need each other for company, my children used to ride but now I ride out with friends to help exercise them, I dont ask for any cash we just enjoy each others company. As for the cost they are both on grass livery rented field from farmer and is cheaper for both of them than one at a livery yard so no it does not have to be double the cost, there are cheaper ways around it. They are both barefoot so cheaper for trims, I dont clip so dont rug, although I do have rugs They are strip grazed in the summer and then have the rest of the 13 acre field to munch on over winter so no hay bills other than when there is heavy snow or poor grass yield.... I dont feed hard feed and at the moment they are pretty close to where I live so petrol is not an issue. Good luck!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Not if they're both lame

I have 4 1/2 and I have never had 2 lame at the same time

Not if one or both of them is lame

as i said never had both mare and son lame at the same time and there is always someone who will lend a horse here

Not if they don't get on in the field and you have to separate them...

well if they are together they will stick to each other for company , if there is more than the 2 they will bond with another horse]

Yep....! And double the chance of you getting accidentally injured as well.

well i have 2 cars AND A HORSEBOX must be more chance of having an accident then
well as i said i have over 4 1/2 horses and look after 7 liveries so io must be well over due for an accident or injury then think i better not get up in the mornings stay safe lol.


There ya go
Ps: you might end up with 4 1/2 like I did

 

[Dancing Queen]

Thinking of this. I have no children and work full time, but I'm no spring chicken.
Can anyone tell me the pros and cons, please?

No cons just advantages: plenty of hardwork, more mucking out,loads of rugging, more grooming, lugging more hay and straw,more time spent with the horses - double the enjoyment and love.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I used to keep my mare at part livery. She wasn't happy there so I moved her to DIY. I then got my filly and keeping both of them at DIY was cheaper than having just the mare on part livery. Timewise, having two horses is not that different to having one horse, but I only had one to ride.

If you have the money, the time and have thought about it carefully, then go ahead.

PS. The only problem is that you might end up with three like I did!

 

[Mince Pie]

I have a cob and a TB, at the moment my summer routine is:
AM: Bring horses in, ride one and lunge/free school the other and then feed. - takes about 1 ½ hours.
PM: Feed horses, groom both whilst eating, turn out and then muck out - takes about 40 minutes.

Winter:
AM: Feed horses, quick groom, change rugs, turn out and muck out - takes about 1 ¼ hours.
PM: ride one, lunge/loose school the other, change rugs and feed - takes about 1 ½ hours.

They cost me about £460 a month which includes everything - wormers, feed, hay/haylage/bedding, farrier, vacs. competition fees, lessons.....

 

[OhCappaGino]

I just bought number 5 2 weeks ago!!

I wouldnt have it any other way!! Im 19 in two days, working twelve hour shifts on £4 something as im not over 21, have no money, no friends (well i do, i just dont see them ha!) no life! (havnt even been out on the town ever)

I have un horsey parents, so they are all mine to do.

Cant ride any, Shetland,Sec A, 2 yearlings, and one 4 year old wich is just started getting broken in few days ago, so at the mo paying ridicolous (sp) for them to eat all day!!

But i wouldnt have it any other way!!

 

[Mitchyden]

I've had at least two for the last 20 years.

Yes it's very hard work if they're both working and you do spend a lot of time thinking about juggling riding time. I ride every day and alternate horses but the problem comes when you can't ride one day - then it gets stressful! As I compete one and the other is having to be worked to fuse a bone spavin, I have to then ride two the following day which with a full time job means getting up at 3.30am! (I hate riding evenings!)

It's hard work but if Zara doesn't come sound with her bone spavin I will be looking at buying another while she becomes a field ornament!

Go for it and get this horse.

 

[Bustalot]

Thank you OP for posting this. I am also currently thinking of going from one horse to two (one very handsome field ornament, the other my new superstar, yet to be found! ) Good to hear the good and bad points, its doing my head in thinking about the whats and ifs, maybe should just go for it!!

 

[MiCsarah]

I didn't like having 2, found it hard work to fit everything in. I was at a horsey college at the time so luckily I had people to help me out with riding etc. I would definatly have 2 again though if my boy has to be retired from his bone spavins