How many horses can you have/cope with?

T

tasel

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 April 2008
Messages
1,318
Location
On the go...
Visit site
Ok, so my young mare (due to injury) will now most likely go out on loan as a broodmare. Still have to discuss this all with OH, but I think since she has always been so determined to be a broodmare, maybe it's just for the best. In the end my mare will probably always get what she wants!

I am now looking at horses to loan for the time being, and have viewings set up. Will most likely be an older horse rather than a young one, just because I want to "recuperate" after all this drama with my mare and just have fun. Now, the problem is, I know in a year or two, I will get a younger horse again. At the same time, I may be keeping the loan horse... and what IF my mare then gets returned... I'll end up with 3 horses!!! Still hoping my mare will turn sound after a year or so off.

Does it really take much more time to look after 3 horses if most of them will be out on grass?? I know if all of them had stables, the muck out would take longer... oh well. I am probably just getting paranoid, and shouldn't be thinking about all these what-ifs!
 
I think when you start collecting them gradually you don't really notice the extra time involved (I've now got three and it started out being, well if you've got one.. you may as well have two... etc! ;) ) But like someone has already said, it's the costs that increase rapidly so could you afford to have three? If so you'll be fine - if not then the loan horse going back would certainly be an option and you'd then be left with two :)
Kate x
 
lizziebell said:
I don't think "time" would be the main issue, but it will "cost" 3 times as much.
Click to expand...

I know - but given two would be on grass livery mostly, the cost of all three would still be a lot less than what I used to pay for full livery for one! Yes, it was a lot - cost almost the same as the rent we used to pay for our 3-bed house!!!! Didn't realise it would cost so much less if I just mucked out myself!!! :eek: Never thought about it before, because in my mind, full-time work = full livery. We're currently on DIY and loving it.
 
Last edited:
i have 3 and plan to put one in foal so will be 4 but if i were on a yard no way could i afford them as i have a very cheap field and stables thats the only way i could afford them.
 
tasel said:
I know - but given two would be on grass livery mostly, the cost of all three would still be a lot less than what I used to pay for full livery for one! Yes, it was a lot - cost almost the same as the rent we used to pay for our 3-bed house!!!! Didn't realise it would cost so much less if I just mucked out myself!!! :eek: Never thought about it before, because in my mind, full-time work = full livery. We're currently on DIY and loving it.
Click to expand...

Not just the livery costs though - feed, shoeing, insurance, vets bills/ vaccinations, worming, extra equipment. It does all rapidly add up. I have 3, soon to be 4 (for a short period) - I have no livery costs as I keep them all at home, but the other costs you also need to keep an eye out for. One month all mine needed the vet for one thing or another and that was a large bill - nothing worth claiming on insurance, but it all adds up.
 
lizziebell said:
Not just the livery costs though - feed, shoeing, insurance, vets bills/ vaccinations, worming, extra equipment. It does all rapidly add up. I have 3, soon to be 4 (for a short period) - I have no livery costs as I keep them all at home, but the other costs you also need to keep an eye out for. One month all mine needed the vet for one thing or another and that was a large bill - nothing worth claiming on insurance, but it all adds up.
Click to expand...

Ah, ok... thanks for that. Max. two I guess, then. Didn't think about shoeing as my mare only has the front done and is now going barefoot. And yes, insurance + vet...
 
I had two on grass livery and to be honest, I didn't really notice too much of an increase in time when i got Zoom. Feeding wise, I have a good routine and often feed 5 since I help a friend out and it takes only a little longer than doing one!!!!!

I think it depends what you do with them. Monty was only in light work since he was elderly so I would usually take them both out ride and lead twice a week and then ride Zoom twice more each week. I could have dealt with another one if it wasn't ridden but, especially since I have no school or facilities, I can only cope with 1 and a half ridden-wise.
 
Money & time are the 2 major factors, i currently have 4 however one is a foal ive just bought so is not yet living here & wont be for quite a while.

Costs will increase & time the more you have basically just times everything by 3.
Problems ive found are when there's illness you only need one to be ill & then your time will get eaten up like never before as you will have the ill horse & the other 2 still to do & ride.

In reality 2 is a good number to cope with, 3 can start to become to much when you try to factor in full time jobs & having a life as well lol. I ditched having a life & any spare cash years ago when i went to 3 horses lol wouldnt be without them though:).
 
I have five, two are ridden, one is lunged, one is retired and the last is a first pony that we've hung on to and has a little rider come in to ride her.

When they are out at grass it's not really a problem to deal with them. Having them all stabled at home with turn out in two small areas only is a) costly - all that feed and bedding b) takes a big chunk out of the day.
 
I have 3 & 2 donks. I would say that its having 2 to ride that is the thing I find difficult. Looking after them I really enjoy. One is going out on loan, just because I know that she would prefer more work/fun things.
 
I have 3 and the only way I can keep them (whilst doing a full time job) is grass livery I just wouldn't have the time if they were all stabled especially during the winter months. However, none of my are ridden so I have no idea how I'll manage when they are all in work, although I'm sure I'll fit them all in.
 
When I worked, I couldn't cope with more than 2 ridden - and that toook organising to get everything done at either end of the day. I also had no spare money either - being single and paying rent/livery/general expenditure

We've currently got 6 of our own - one on holiday so out at grass - but the others go out during the day and are in ticking over work and I ride a little racehorse of the YO - so still 6 to work each day - at the moment, it's easy as they're mooching about with hacking and a little light schooling

Once they all pick up and start proper fittening work (and the holiday horse comes in) about mid-end June...... then it'll be harder.

It's all horribly expensive though - would love it if they could all get turfed out in a big field together and not need feed or riding..... if only they were broodmares!!!
 
I have 2 and work from home, and am lucky to keep them both at home. They are both in full work and compete in the summer and hunt in the winter. The main thing I find is the expense of shoeing as they both need doing every 5 weeks. Time wise, I find it easy in the summer as are out 24/7, but Winter is hard work, especially trying to keep them hunting fit with the shorter daily hours and unpredictable weather.
Some days I wish I just had one, but it is nice that mine share the workload, and if one is 'not right' there is always a spare!
 
I have four but three are youngsters. This is the most i have/will have due to costs and time especially during the winter. I have, in the past had two of which both were in work. I wont do that again, at the moment only one of mine is in work and that is all i can manage time wise. To be honest, mucking out wise it only takes me 20 mins to do them all but riding wise obviously can be up to an hour just for one horse!

It is all about routine & management....it can be done though!
 
I have four to do atm - two live at home and two on grass livery...it's interesting juggling my time as I also work full time and have a house to keep and family to look out for!
My rising 4yr old mare is "worked" every day and the 2 yr old filly is checked and fussed over and handled at the same time. I don't have to poo pick so that saves me loads of time there

The boys at home are poo picked twice a day and the weanling has a small handling session - his companion gets a fuss and a brush as well.

I'm hoping by winter the weanling will have been gelded and can join the girls and his companion can go home - otherwise I really am not looking forward to getting up at 5am to get them all sorted before work

Costs - I buy feed in bulk and use Copra and grass nuts which last ages. I also buy own brand grass chaff and Mollichaff Alfalfa which is good value compared to Dengie. Hay bought in bulk so get a good price on that

I get a good deal on Trimming as I have a few to do. Insurance costs me £60 a month all in - I have my PA & PL as a BHS member which saved me loads when I switched that from the NFU, any vets visits I try to group to save call out fees.

Sometimes I think I am bonkers........
 
I have often wondered how people do it. I have owned Archie for over four years and during that time I feel he has had quality time spent on him, given the fact I also have a family and work practically full time. However, late December I thought I would get him a little companion, non ridden, to keep him company. Living out 24/7/365, I didn't think it would make any difference but it made a huge difference. I felt I had a duty of care to her to give her as much attention as I did to Archie, so my time was split in two. OK, he is ridden but she needed a change of scenery so had plentiful walks out and as for grooming time, etc, it all added up and became too much in the end. I didn't feel I was giving them both the time they deserved. Also, my finances suffered more than I had anticipated. I thought getting a little pony I wouldn't notice but with an extra £50 p/m just for the field livery, endless ad-lib hay, hard feed and so on ... it also took its toll.

For me, more than one just isnt an option.

I admire those with more than one but just don't know how they manage to give all their horses the time they require. Mind you, I have always been a rubbish time manager ;)
 
I have 4 horses, only 3 in work and they all get ridden every day and adequate amounts of time and care. I have had all 4 in work at once and it was fine, again all ridden and enough care and attention. However, i don't have much of a social life outside horses so i look forward to stay away shows as this means i can enjoy a drink with friends...or 10!
 
I have 5 – 4 ridden as one is my retired first pony, I seem to have collected them over the years thinking each time that an extra one won’t make much difference! Down from 6 as I lost my old (also retired) TB last year. I find time and money wise this works fine in summer when they live out 24/7 on pretty good grazing, but both become a push in winter with the extra feed, bedding and haylege; and of course the shorter days and mucking out as well as riding to do. Shoeing would be the main big additional cost, and then bad luck when they all need the vet at the same time. I am lucky that they live at home so don’t have any livery costs, and save a lot of time on travel this way too.
 
I have 6 but look after 7, hmm time is well spent.
Two are my kids ponies one of which is being backed, my little girl rides at least four times a week.
Three of them are yearlings, I find they take the most time, I want them to be handled right. I dont ride as much as I would like on mine, but that will change in the next few weeks due to my work.
Number 7 is my mums he is 4 and will be backed in the next month or so, once he is we have a sharer for him, as my mum is not able to ride.
On the cost side they are all on livery, all have insuarance etc
Oh and myself we dont go out at all, the last time was 3 years ago. The three kids love it they are 2, 5 and 7.
I kind of think if I can cope any one can. oh I work pretty much full time at the mo
 
We have 7 with us, but 2 are fully retired, 3 are yearlings (altho they get more handling than the other 2 being ridden) & the other 2 are just coming back into work. Its hard work, but with proper management doable.
As we keep ours at home time is the major factor, altho they have cost us significantly less this year in extras (everything but livery) as we have been able to sort out our own set up. Made own hay, kept everything barefoot, had grass throughout winter (even in the snow hardly put any hay out as they just left it & dug for the grass!) time vet visits together, used rubber matting & sprinkle of shavings (only used 80bales for 7mths in with 7-8 all winter) group insurance. There are ways to cut the costs but you just need to search for them. Cost wise there is no way we could have 7 on livery, we had 4 before we moved & that was pricey enough, even at the cheapest (if slightly iffy) DIY yard in the area.
Good luck if you decide to build up your numbers, if you do it gradually you will hardly notice! We started with 1 9yrs ago & I could never imagine going back to that now!
 
Why does she have to go on loan as a broodmare, why add to the population? why not put her on loan as a companion, I am sure there are plenty of people out there for her.

I never found it hard having 6, was 7 but lost one, although they were all youngsters so didn't need riding at the time, although they kept me busy and sane, I do however find it hard to ride them all every day with only having one pair of hands lol but I wouldn't have it any other way, although I was ever only going to have 1 horse!
 
RSL said:
Why does she have to go on loan as a broodmare, why add to the population? why not put her on loan as a companion, I am sure there are plenty of people out there for her.
Click to expand...

RSL - she is a very well put together, very impressive and well-bred Warmblood mare. She won awards as a foal before I bought her - and continues to turn heads, because her "lameness" due to injury can't be seen really, unless ridden. If she wasn't injured, she'd be worth quite a lot, and in fact the stud farm owner in Germany (huge place) even asked me to breed from her one day as they thought she would be a good mare to breed from (even offered to hand her to me in foal!).

I have looked at all the famous stud farms in the UK and what type of broodmare they use, and to be honest, without even being biased, she is at the very least as impressive as their broodmares, and in fact, there aren't that many Warmbloods in this country with her bloodlines either - she combines some of the most legendary European stallions there are! So she is worth breeding from - and she will only be bred to stallions that have proven themselves in the sport. The resulting foal would be impressive for sure.

She can't just be a companion - she's not that type of horse. She likes something to obsess about and she "showed" me more often than not that she wanted so eagerly to have a foal of her own.
 
I have 6 all rescue cases.
I work full time in a equine shop and have a 9 yr old son. I ride a couple a day and lunge or put on walker the others. I get up a 5.30 am to get mucked out etc before work and finish at yard 8.30pm then go home to cook dinner etc. I get no time to myself and keep them all on diy livery with limited turn out in wet weather. Sometimes think about giving up or cutting back but as soon as I do I get offered another horse which is going for meat. They aren't old nags we are talking young healthy horses who people just can't afford any more and had no luck selling. Have a stunning mare now I need to home dark dapple grey 10 yr old sports horse for token price
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top