How to manage 2 horses??

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lynsey1808

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Hope you can all help!
I'm facing a possible dilemma with my gelding. He's 8 yrs old and is currently having treatment for arthritis in his coffin joint. He's coming up to his last steriod injection and to be honest I have to face the fact that he may never come fully sound.
I would never get rid of him but would obviously would want another horse. Problem is I cannot afford to have 2 on the livery basis I'm on and also work full time.
I'm thinking possibly grass livery for the both of them but this will be a lot more work than I currently have and do have quite a demanding job.
Do people want companions?? He would live out quite happily but is a TB so would need the usual rugging etc.
Any suggestions or peoples experience would be very helpful!!!
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Its hard hun when it comes to this situation, Im lucky because mine are at home but you need to think about whats best for you and the horse, why dont you consider full loaning him local? At least that way you can check up on him and visit him regulary and if your circumstances do change you could have him back. ?? Would be a shame for you to not have a horse to ride..x
 
What about full livery? I know its expensive but sometimes its worth the money. I have two horses, WB/TB eventer who although on her holidays at the mo, needs rugging up and feeding well, and a happy hack, who although he is a cob, suffers from chronic mud fever in winter and a pollen allergy in spring and summer. I have considered grass keep, but I have my own business, and work long hours. Our turnout is a 2 minute walk down a very dark lane, and it would mean faffing about in a pitch dark 25 acre field to get them in. On top of that, my horses are cared for and are brought in and are ready for me when I need them, so I get all the nice things. Its not cheap, but it works for me.

I did consider one on grass keep and one on livery to save costs, but with the cob's health issues, and the fact that I just dont have the time, th is works for me.

Good luck.
 
Really difficult - I was in a similar situation and ended up keeping both on full livery. We previously had horses living out and had contemplated doing both, but the time we were spending on maintenance of fields etc meant not enough time to ride as well anyway. What about sharing / or looking for a sharer for new horse?
 
I have my two tbs on grass livery. The farmer puts hay out for them in the Winter and they are well rugged and I have no problems with it. I also work full time and I have found it to be a very good arrangement.

Monty is nearly 30 so is only lightly hacked but he is happy enough when I take Zoom out for a ride. He has arthritis and I have found he is much better living out since it keeps his joints moving. I wouldn't discount it, especially if you can find somewhere where there are other owners. I have a rota so I get two nights off a week. If you get a good routine going, it is actually not too time consuming.

TBH I think you would have trouble rehoming him as a companion since people generally want ponies that are rugless and live on fresh air.
 
Which type of grass livery were you thinking off, as I don't think it would be more work than on DIY... I spent loads more time now my mare has to come at night (annoyingly) when she is out 24/7 it's much easier and at least you are not quite as resticted on times too. i.e I have to be down the yard as earlyas poss to get her out, whereas on grass it's not such a rush.
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I know how you feel as I have been in this situation. My gelding has been semi retired, but I wanted more from my riding so I got a youngster. Like you I wouldnt ever part with him and I didnt want him on loan
You can cut corners to save some money.
I use round bales and one lasts my two (including haying the field) two weeks (about £40 a month down here) Sqare bales were costing me a fortune.
I have taken shoes off the older one, he is happy with Boa boots
Instead of feeding a balancer, they now have a powdered supplement.
Filling 4 hay nets a night is a pain! but i lead them up together and mucking out on shavings only takes 15 mins for both.
They also live out all year in the summer.
Now and again I get held up at work, and my boy used to be the last one in waiting for me. They always have each other now.
It can be done
Good luck x
 
Mine live out 24/7 and they take me less time to do during the week than they did when they were coming in at night etc. I spend more time doing chores at the weekend in the winter, such as poo picking, but then I dont stand around chatting to other litveries like I did before so it probably balances out!!
 
Thanks for all your replys, glad I'm not the only one!
Firstly, I haven't looked into grass/retirement livery as yet, it's pretty early days so that is something I will definitely look into.
When I said more work I meant maintenance, poo picking etc. At the moment this is done for me, but hadn't thought of the plus side of not mucking out etc, so could be ok!.
I agree that he wouldn't be a first choice companion, if I was looking I would want a shetland not a bloody great TB!!
A sharer for the new horse is something I thought about briefly and will think some more!
Thanks to you all
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What about letting him go to the blood bank? Maybe post for some peoples experiences? my understanding ( and I am happy to be challenged on this as it was second hand information) was that they will take horses upto 13 years old. The horses live as a herd. A friend did it with her youngster - she felt he was too nice a person to not have some chance of life but he could never be ridden again. Might be worth some investigation? Failing that, there is no reason why a TB couldn't live out. We had a 27 year old TB living out although his owner did "prep" him for the winter by sending him into winter on the tubby side. Rugged up, ad lib hay and a feed a day does seem to work - there are some 9 grass liveries at our yard and they are looking good and doing well.
 
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