How many horses is too many?

Youngsters don’t count really ?

I have 5 which is probably two too many. I think two in work is all I’d be able to manage. Retirees or youngsters 3 is a good number, but only if you don’t have to pay livery per horse. 2 max if you do.
 
My sister and I could do with another! Because we're not on a yard, but rent privately, and they are both older, I worry about something happening and being left needing to find a companion at short notice.
So three is the right (minimum!) number!
 
2 for me. 1 in full work and the other in partial work (though she tends to have the winter off)
I enjoy lots of other things too- in a normal world that is- like shopping, going for coffee, meeting friends... 2 horses allows me to have the best of both worlds. I have gone to 3 several times and no doubt will do again at some point, but 2 is a very manageable number.
 
Muddywellies said:
I have 1. I personally don't want my entire life to be horses. Theres a big wide world out there, and covid has given me a real hankering for freedom....
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Frankly the only reason I haven’t gone insane is the fact I have to go to livery everyday. My life feels blissfully normal because it IS just work horses and bed lol I’m very grateful for them right now.
 
If i was on a yard, just 1 would do me!

I ideally want 1, but have 2 for like-minded company...

But at home, they need other horses, and 2 isnt a good idea, as i know!! They eventually bond too much....so 3 at least, so you can work with one and the others can keep each other company!
Something im struggled with as i dont want the extra time/expense of 3, yet the set-up needs 3, or just sell the 2 and be out of keeping horses at home.
Sure i’d love a herd but time and finances say ‘no way ho-zay!’
 
Equi said:
Frankly the only reason I haven’t gone insane is the fact I have to go to livery everyday. My life feels blissfully normal because it IS just work horses and bed lol I’m very grateful for them right now.
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Yup
I haven't missed anything really throughout lockdowns because life is 100% normal ? only horses and work ?
 
I have 8. 4 are ridden, which is difficult in the winter due to the short days. I keep them at home and don’t work. When I had a full time job, I had 2 ridden oldies, 1 I was breaking in and 2 unridden. Not sure how I did it!
 
Agree, it depends on your circumstances. Not working, with no family to look after, I'd say 3 max. I work full time, DIY, have a high maintenance dog so 1 is more than enough for me.

I like to potter on with them too so feel too many would stop that
 
11 ?? 8 plus 3 foals/yearlings, they are pretty much free range tho, either breeding stock or OAPs
It has been hard this winter not having much help due to Covid
 
Really depends on how many need ridden, facilities, time, finance, energy.

When I was doing them myself around work I struggled to enjoy 2 ridden horses, although was fine with 1 ridden and another 1-2 in the field.

At the moment I have 3 I’m responsible for and another 2 I have little to do with. But it’s a doddle because the ridden one is on competition livery and the other 2 are out 24/7, unridden and I share jobs and checks with a friend. Suits me just fine these days
 
I believe the correct answer is N-1 where N=the number at which your OH leaves you.

I am yet to test this theory with one in work and one retiree on DIY. That's enough for me anyway. I won't be getting another when Arch goes - and the plan is for Charlie to be my last. By the time he's old and retiring I'll be hitting retirement age and OH and I want to travel a bit then.
 
Isn't it like push bikes N+1 where N is the number you have now !!

Youngsters don't need the time ridden ones do but at some point you (depending on age of current ridden one) they will need the time.

I like 4 (have three currently as poxy covid means the baby can't get up here) mix and match in two pairs is easiest for managing them in our set up.
 
Annagain said:
I believe the correct answer is N-1 where N=the number at which your OH leaves you.

I am yet to test this theory with one in work and one retiree on DIY. That's enough for me anyway. I won't be getting another when Arch goes - and the plan is for Charlie to be my last. By the time he's old and retiring I'll be hitting retirement age and OH and I want to travel a bit then.
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lol my oh says I can have another as long as it has an stripy nose’ and he can have another car ... so I guess we’re getting a pony and a car then
 
I had two, 1 in work and 1 retired and that was enough. I had time for both of them, but 2 in work would have been a stretch. Now I’ve just got my retired pony and I feel absolutely lost so I’d like to go back to 1 in work, 1 retired eventually. Ideally, I’d want 1 in work on part livery so I could just worry about the riding, whilst looking after my retired pony on DIY. I can dream!
 
I have always thought how much easier it would be having two (one un-ridden) as then I wouldn't have the nightmare of sharing fields at my yard, I could have my own. I couldn't have two ridden though, I just don't have the time.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
I have always thought how much easier it would be having two (one un-ridden) as then I wouldn't have the nightmare of sharing fields at my yard, I could have my own. I couldn't have two ridden though, I just don't have the time.
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i'd never willingly go back to having one on a yard again, for this reason -if you have 2 together then it really gives you a lot of freedom, doesn't matter if you're a bit early or late, never have to worry about what the neighbour is doing etc.
 
Equi said:
Frankly the only reason I haven’t gone insane is the fact I have to go to livery everyday. My life feels blissfully normal because it IS just work horses and bed lol I’m very grateful for them right now.
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But hopefully we won't be be in lockdown forever. Like you, I'm at the yard every evening, and I'd be really struggling if I didn't have that. But once we get the green light, we'd like to get out and about and enjoy this beautiful country of ours. We would struggle to do that both time and money wise if we had more than one horse.
 
blitznbobs said:
lol my oh says I can have another as long as it has an stripy nose’ and he can have another car ... so I guess we’re getting a pony and a car then
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When I got to 5 my OH made me promise that I wouldn't get any more . I kept to my promise , and even when I fell completely in love with a stunning pony that had been sent to me to break and sell by her breeder I didn't crumble . It was only when I mentioned to my OH that I had someone coming to look at the pony that weekend that he confessed that he had secretly bought her for me for our wedding anniversary the next month .
Well how romantic and utterly selfless is that ?!?! Or so I thought , until he then mentioned , ever so casually , that he'd also bought himself a brand new Harley Davidson V-Rod ( which , incidentally cost 8X's more than the pony ) . Got to love a man who can't live with a guilty conscience ;)
 
My equine dentist first visit, when I asked how many she has, the number was so eye-watering i dont recall exactly, but definitely over 50, may have been 77...i recall thinking not far off a herd of 100!
She does hunting, breeding etc...
she’s superwoman in my eyes with handling my mare’s teeth and attitude so well “oh she’s sweet, not a bad bone in her body”...while we’re being dragged about! (Previous owner didnt warn me about not liking dentist)
...but when i found out her herd number, well....she’s evidently capable to rule the world LOL ?
 
thefarsideofthefield said:
When I got to 5 my OH made me promise that I wouldn't get any more . I kept to my promise , and even when I fell completely in love with a stunning pony that had been sent to me to break and sell by her breeder I didn't crumble . It was only when I mentioned to my OH that I had someone coming to look at the pony that weekend that he confessed that he had secretly bought her for me for our wedding anniversary the next month .
Well how romantic and utterly selfless is that ?!?! Or so I thought , until he then mentioned , ever so casually , that he'd also bought himself a brand new Harley Davidson V-Rod ( which , incidentally cost 8X's more than the pony ) . Got to love a man who can't live with a guilty conscience ;)
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That’s sweet and hilarious! ???
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
I think for me 3 or 4 is ideal these days, rather than the double figures I had 15+ yrs ago.......
I had 3 till I had to get tiny Fuzzy pts in early November. Apparently I will be back to 3 by sometime in March, if not 4. Oops!
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now you can't make a cryptic remark like that and think we're going to let it pass....!
 
I'm really enjoying just the one which is why im so reluctant to get a companion (using the neighbours collecting habit to keep my horse company) I've had two in ridden work at home before and it felt like a job more than a hobby in the end.
Im tough at the moment because its winter and im mucking out daily but come spring/ summer i think i will weaken and get another! :(
 
thefarsideofthefield said:
When I got to 5 my OH made me promise that I wouldn't get any more . I kept to my promise , and even when I fell completely in love with a stunning pony that had been sent to me to break and sell by her breeder I didn't crumble . It was only when I mentioned to my OH that I had someone coming to look at the pony that weekend that he confessed that he had secretly bought her for me for our wedding anniversary the next month .
Well how romantic and utterly selfless is that ?!?! Or so I thought , until he then mentioned , ever so casually , that he'd also bought himself a brand new Harley Davidson V-Rod ( which , incidentally cost 8X's more than the pony ) . Got to love a man who can't live with a guilty conscience ;)
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That's even better - not only does he buy you a horse, he buys himself something that will keep him busy so you can spend all your time with the horses without fear of recriminations! I bought my OH a set of golf clubs for this very reason (not randomly, he said he was going to take it up) but they've just sat in the garage for about 10 years.
 
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