How do you find the difference between 1 and 2 horses?

Lintel

Lintel

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Hello, do excuse having a crazy moment and thinking of buying another horse- barely having time for the one but have fallen head over heels for another!

Those of you who have more than one tell me the in and outs and ups and downs, and what situation your in livery/own land etc?
-Thorntons box of choccies is open and definatly up for grabs!
Thanking you in advance!

*hoping phase shall pass* :rolleyes:
 
i find time for the mucking out etc but riding the both i find hard time wise. They are both on DIY 9 miles from home and i work strange shifts sometimes starting at 5am and sometimes not finishing till 1am so i have to play it by ear as to when im doing them. luckily i have my mum and stepdad to hel me out when im not about to do them but it does make riding difficult and also im quite often very tired by the time i get to the yard :o
 
I keep my horses at home, have got 3 but only two are at home/need daily attention. I bought a second horse at the end of the summer and I will be the first to admit that it is harder then I expected it to be. My new horse is very clean in the stable but still mucking out two, doing water, hay etc seems to take so much longer. As does getting them in at night, washing mud off etc.

Cost wise she doesn't need feed so just costs me hay but obviously farrier bill has doubled and I seem to have had endless treatments for the new one trying to sort out behavioral issues (chiro, saddler, bowen etc.).

Riding two a day is also more difficult then I anticipated, my older horse doesn't need riding every day, he is 17 and ready for a quieter life which is why I got a second riding horse who gets ridden priority, but a few days a week I do try to get them both out. By the time I've mucked out and ridden them both most of the day seems to have gone.

I'm not spending as much time with them as I would like and it has been a long hard winter that I will be glad to see the back of.

Just realised how negative it sounds :o I'm sure if you ask again in the Spring/summer I would answer in a more positive way...
 
I've found its a massive difference for two ridden horses. The actual care of them doesn't take much longer (mucking out etc) but its a huge difference keeping two ridden horses compared to one. Instead of dedicating 'lots of time' to work with one, you end up splitting it into 'just enough time' each. Money is the same. Instead if a 'really nice new rug' for one it becomes an 'ok' rug each.

It's different if you've got an unridden horse (e.g youngster) but I've have two ridden horses before and found it hard to dedicate much to both at the same time.
 
StormyMoments said:
i find time for the mucking out etc but riding the both i find hard time wise. They are both on DIY 9 miles from home and i work strange shifts sometimes starting at 5am and sometimes not finishing till 1am so i have to play it by ear as to when im doing them. luckily i have my mum and stepdad to hel me out when im not about to do them but it does make riding difficult and also im quite often very tired by the time i get to the yard :o
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I also work the oddity of shifts! Shift work :rolleyes: *rolling eyes again....* The joys! It's the riding I find pretty damn hard- especially in the winter with such great motivational weather! How about cost wise? Do they just DOUBLE or is there abit of a merge?
Thanks for the good reply!
 
I look after three - one of which is mine - and it's all down to routine and how you manage your time. My horse is having a holiday at the moment so I'm not having to find time to ride.
One of the ladies whose horse I look after turns them all out in the morning before she leaves for work (means I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn :p ) then I go up late afternoon (or evening if I'm working) and do all the mucking out etc and bring them in for the night. I'm also a single mum so it can be very difficult to juggle taking a toddler up to the stables, especially with the horrific weather we have had.

Although my situation is different from yours because I have a little help, I'm just trying to point out that it's all about time management and finding a routine that suits! Sorry, this post was probably completely pointless haha, I've been a lurker for a while and finally decided to post something lol :D
 
cost wise double livery obviously, basically double for hay unless one eats less than the other, feed... isnt double as im still not using all that much but one is getting different supplements so that costs more, farrier - double, insurance... well one is only 3rd party and the other is £44 a month, vacciations- double, tack... depends if they are different sizes and planning on riding them out at the same time but can get away with one bridle with different bits but obviously different saddles...so yeah pretty much double :o
 
I used to have my own land a few years ago and kept 5 horses. Altho they never went without, i always felt that i never had enough time to do what i wanted with each. I came to the conclusion that i would be better with just one that i could devote all my time and energy on.

Its hard, i know what you mean when you see another horse. We have just the one now, but i'm always thinking in the back of my mind, oh but i wouldnt mind... :) I know hubby wouldnt let me tho, and we are now on a yard, so costs would just be silly.
 
heebiejeebies said:
I look after three - one of which is mine - and it's all down to routine and how you manage your time. My horse is having a holiday at the moment so I'm not having to find time to ride.
One of the ladies whose horse I look after turns them all out in the morning before she leaves for work (means I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn :p ) then I go up late afternoon (or evening if I'm working) and do all the mucking out etc and bring them in for the night. I'm also a single mum so it can be very difficult to juggle taking a toddler up to the stables, especially with the horrific weather we have had.

Although my situation is different from yours because I have a little help, I'm just trying to point out that it's all about time management and finding a routine that suits! Sorry, this post was probably completely pointless haha, I've been a lurker for a while and finally decided to post something lol :D
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Perfect post thank you! - Congrats on your first post!! :D:D
 
I went from 1 to 2 ridden last August and have found it harder when they are ridden going from 1 to 2!

They also live 10 miles apart and I have another non ridden pony, ones in livery so no difference mucking out etc but riding wise my older horse hasn't been ridden as much but my mums hacks him twice a week and I ride in field weather permitting and my new horse is just in Normal work and as she is young I concentrate almost entirely on her. It's fine in summer as both ridden ones are in livery
 
I dont find much difference from one to two although riding would take a lot more time but caring for them the time is the same as I have them out 24/7 and it takes just the same time to poo pick for two as it does for one as you still have to walk the whole field. We have four hoping over this summer to get down to two my old friend and her naughty companion I wont know what to do with myself as it will be so easy.
My circumstances have changed recently so it makes sense
If you love the other horse go for it it really doesnt make much difference in time just increases some costs not all but most will be doubled things that stay the same are fuel to get to them our biggest outgoing, in our case livery as we rent a field and grooming kit and equipment as mine share although I know many have something for every pony individually. As mine live in close proximity anything one has the other will have anyway so I am not worried by cross contamination
 
Don't do. I've done it before and wished I hadn't. Unless of course you have a rich husband and all day to spend at the yard!!!
 
I have to say having two is really difficult when you work full time. As others have said it's not so much the looking after it's finding the time to ride them both. I love my boy but life would be easier if i hadn't got him. Having said which i'm glad I did but I don't do nearly as much as I used to with either of them. If I was you i'd think very carefully before doing it.
 
We have always had two so used to it, originaly they were in DIY livery and I worked full time but didn't find it difficult. We then mover to our own yard and had a third which again wasn't to bad because I didn't have to travel to see to them. Now have 5 and it is a lot of work. Riding two and looking after them is the difficult bit unless you have some help but never had two needing riding at the same time.
 
Grass DIY with 2 ponies, work fulltime. Paddock is cleaned every day and ponies fed. I barely see them in daylight just now so nothing done with either Mon-Fri. Weekends seem to be mega busy - dog sitting, being a taxi, riding lessons at riding school so not a lot of time at the moment then either.

I find the daily work of looking after them doesn't take much extra time.
Its the spending time/exercising them that I struggle with. One needs backed and I've done little preparation work with her because I'm spending so much time riding the other one - she needs work to be happy. This is the longest she's gone without work and she is mega grumpy :(

If I wasn't so fond of them both I would sell the younger one to someone with more time, but she's my baby so she's going no-where.
 
Lintel said:
Hello, do excuse having a crazy moment and thinking of buying another horse- barely having time for the one but have fallen head over heels for another!
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On this alone, I'd say don't.

I had two for 5 months, both were on working livery, so either one or the other was used in the school depending on day (both did 3 school days a week).

Despite the fact that they were supposedly taken care of on the school days, I found myself trying to groom/faff with both each evening after work, and I just seemed to be stretching myself too thin in the hours I had available.

When one had to be PTS, I moved the other to a part livery yard and she was all mine for the first time.

Yes, I loved having two horses, but I wouldn't do it again. (Not that I could afford to now anyway!)
 
OP you said you find it hard to cope with one horse time wise so why on earth would you want another one? Heart ruling head I think!

As others have said; it's not quite double in time as you can turn both out and bring in at the same time but it is bl**dy hard work and riding both equally is really difficult.

I have both mine at home and work very long hours.

Don't do it - it wouldn't be fair on either horse if you already struggle with one.
 
I have two, although one is retired. I moved to a new yard when I bought the second that offers 24/7 turnout, and frankly I've noticed no difference in effort (I've actually been looking after a friends horse two). Cost wise its noticeable, but I've budgeted for it, and as only one of mine is ridden time to ride is no more of an issue then with one horse for me. I don't think I'd cope with two that need riding though...
 
If definitely takes me a lot longer than I anticipated. I only have one ridden, though I do ride for someone else a few days a week as well. I had my boy down to a great routine last winter, could muck out, turn out, hay etc and be gone in 20 min. Mare is so messy by comparison, eats double the hay and takes double the time. I feel like ALL I do is the horses..! I can do both completely in an hour, probably a bit less if I rushed, but for some reason I thought it would take me 10 - 15 min longer for 2. I cannot wait for this winter to be over.
 
I moved from one to two a year ago and have found it much harder than I expected, I work full time and struggle to have enough hours in the day, again it is exercising them both that is the problem and also spending any quality time with them just to do thorough grooms and keeping them both trimmed and tidy. By the time I get home of an evening after doing the basics with the neddies it's just tea, half an hour of telly and time for bed, no housework gets done, which means all housetraining stuff and errands have to be done on a weekend, which is the only time I see my boys in daylight, my whole life seems to be spent chasing my tail!
 
I have 2 horses and a shettie! its not too bad riding wise as one is 28 this year so doesn't require a lot of exercise, more just fun hacks. the other is 3 in may, so isn't ridden yet!

the extra poo picking takes up a lot of time and its really hard in the winter when its dark morning and evening! they live out too, so they don't get much time to come in a get fussed! neither of them would cope in a stable so this is the best option for them!

I would say if you struggle with time already, dont get another horse and it will be difficult, esp if they are both ridden, and it will be hard work for you!
 
I have 3 which I keep at home. I am at university and have a part time job.
I do have my mum who helps me out with mucking out etc when I'm really busy.
If both horses are in full Competition work then it can be difficult. I find it quite easy fitting in working 2 if say one is a youngster who is only worked 3-4 times a week for a short period. I always make sure that I am not schooling both on the same day to keep a bit of variety.

I have to say I do get fed up of it at times but other days I love it! There are pluses and minuses for having more than 1.
If you are struggling with motivation to ride one and struggling with time then just stick with one.
 
I've found that I need to double my time and then add another half hour to get everything done :o
Trying to do three with limited time is a nightmare and I can be at the yard for up to 5 hours :D
 
I find going from 1 to 2 has been a challenge. I'm very lucky as my Mum helps me, rides my mare sometimes, sees to them when I can't etc.
Also the cost of everything doubles, livery £70pw rather than £35. Farrier £120 rather than £60 etc.

Mostly I just don't have the time, or often the energy, to give them both the amount of attention they deserve.

Although neither are going anywhere, and I love them both very much, I wouldn't have 2 horses again. :)
 
Kallibear said:
I've found its a massive difference for two ridden horses. The actual care of them doesn't take much longer (mucking out etc) but its a huge difference keeping two ridden horses compared to one. Instead of dedicating 'lots of time' to work with one, you end up splitting it into 'just enough time' each. Money is the same. Instead if a 'really nice new rug' for one it becomes an 'ok' rug each.

It's different if you've got an unridden horse (e.g youngster) but I've have two ridden horses before and found it hard to dedicate much to both at the same time.
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^^^^This, I agree with, even though I have the time if I want to, I'm finding that I want to do other things these days too, my OH helps me a lot, and we have two mini girlies as well, we are both at home all day and so I try to spend time with him too. I guess my enthusiasm is waning and I have to say that I think I should sell my younger lad...anyone want to buy a Welsh cob, 15.2?
 
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