Is 'two company-three a crowd' ?

[jgmbng]

OK....so I have my 19 year old Dales with a multitude of problems, who at best is a light hack. His field mate is my friends 9 year old cob and they 'tolerate' each other rather than being best buddies.

I so want another while I am still able to cope with three ( I'm an ancient 40 something )

I moved last June and the two have lived out successfully since then and I have the land and stables to keep another in this way.

My question is in the title really. I don't want to get another if its going to cause problems with the existing two.

 

[Thriller]

I personally think three is better that way one will always have company.

 

[Kezzabell2]

3 is better as they always have company while you're riding or at vets etc

 

[Auslander]

Agree - 3 is a better number, unless you have someone to ride the other one. I can't ride Alf at the moment, because Spike can't be left alone. It's driving me nuts

 

[Crugeran Celt]

Always had three together but when I was left with just two I ended up buying three minis to replace the one big one. It was a good move they are a very happy little herd and if I take one, two or three out at a time there is never one left on it's own.

 

[3OldPonies]

3 is better, I'm now 'down' to two and worry about taking one out and leaving the other, they've got a lot closer since the little 'un was PTS. Since one has a heart murmur I don't want to stress him too much. Having said that though, I'm not sure about getting another as that could cause even more stress. If they were both younger I wouldn't be so worried.

 

[PorkChop]

I have three - you never quite know how dynamics will change, but like the others have said sometimes very useful having three

 

[southerncomfort]

I have 3 and find it works really well. Smallest one is retired and quite happy to potter in the field while the others hack out.

 

[jgmbng]

Neither minds being stabled alone when the other hacks out so this isn't a problem. I do however think they are 'missing' another heard member as they do seem to look over into the adjoining fields quite often ( one side has sheep in during summer, the other is a field used for summer turnout for a nearby livery yard ).

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I have three and agree with everyone else, it's a good number.

 

[jgmbng]

Faracat....your little group of three look lovely, more of a herd than my two

 

[Mister Ted]

I think its best to keep things as they are.Possibly they are a bit bored in the field and maybe a large ball to amuse them would help.Taking on an extra horse is quite a handful and more expense although if you are up to it why not .Despite their indifference to each other they will have bonded to some extent. When my field sharer asked me to add her Fell mare to the field despite my misgivings I agreed.My horse was a gelding and she already had her other gelding in with mine and they got on well.When the mare was added everything went downhill.Her gelding began making overtures to her mare and my horse started getting bullied and nipped by them both.I would notice it when I passed the field and thought it would pass but things got to the stage where it became intolerable and I moved mine out the field.He is now with two mares and things are fine.So as long as its not two geldings with a mare things should be ok.

 

[Cocorules]

3 is better. I have 2 who are best friends but both appreciate number 3. Number 3 does not seem to mind not being part of the pair but I would love to have a larger herd. Not going to happen though!

 

[AngieandBen]

I have three and agree with everyone else, it's a good number.

Me too, my three adore each other

 

[AngieandBen]

I think its best to keep things as they are.Possibly they are a bit bored in the field and maybe a large ball to amuse them would help.Taking on an extra horse is quite a handful and more expense although if you are up to it why not .Despite their indifference to each other they will have bonded to some extent. When my field sharer asked me to add her Fell mare to the field despite my misgivings I agreed.My horse was a gelding and she already had her other gelding in with mine and they got on well.When the mare was added everything went downhill.Her gelding began making overtures to her mare and my horse started getting bullied and nipped by them both.I would notice it when I passed the field and thought it would pass but things got to the stage where it became intolerable and I moved mine out the field.He is now with two mares and things are fine.So as long as its not two geldings with a mare things should be ok.

I disagree!! I have two geldings and a mare, they get on brilliantly, she is the boss though. Plus I don;t find it that much harder than two. If you have the land and can be kept out most of the time its a doddle! Poo picking = about 45 mins a day, feeding = a few minutes! The rest of the time can be spent riding

 

[Mister Ted]

Glad your ones all get on.Probably why most livery yards keep mares and geldings in separate fields as it saves any problems.

 

[Honey08]

It should work for you as they aren't joined at the hip. My two are, and when we had three the two lovebirds just ignored and excluded the third. My mare would act like she was alone if we took her fave away, even when no 3 was with her. She'd still charge round neighing.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Do you want another horse for yourself? If so yes go for it.

I've got two. My daughter has three. Thinking 3 each would be a better number so thanks everyone lolol

 

[Jericho]

Three is better as far as company / herd dynamics are concerned but in terms of extra work I found it very hard...

 

[Kezzabell2]

my 3 before I moved the big one! now I have my friends pony to keep it as 3


nap time

 

[HaffiesRock]

I will let you know tomorrow as I have a 3rd coming.

 

[jgmbng]

The third one is for me. I want to do more than the light hacking I can do with the 'broken' one and feel if I don't do it now I never will.
I would love to have some lessons and not be limited to an hour or so hacking a few times a week.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I've got two. My daughter has three. Thinking 3 each would be a better number so thanks everyone lolol

Fantastic logic.

 

[Dubsie]

Depends on how they get one. Didn't work for us as No 1 in the herd always let No2 think No 2 was No1 - apart from crunch time whenever it REALLY mattered like going though a gate first or feed time in which case he'd put his ears back at No2 and be in charge. On introducing No 3, we put 1 and 3 together : No 1 and No 3 got on fine, as 3 acknowledged 1 was in charge.. However No 2 and No 3 did not. Even if No 1 was there they still didn't get on. I think the problem was No 2 felt he was the top dog in the herd and so did No 3.

 

[Nudibranch]

As said, depends on the horses involved. My old mare was always possessive when there were three, and happier in a pair. However if they do get on and you have the time then three means nobody gets left on their own. Personally these days I find three are too much work and that's living out on a huge acreage with no poo picking! Its the 30% extra for bringing in, feeding, grooming, farrier, vet...I stick to two these days!

 

[MagicMelon]

I personally think three is better that way one will always have company.

This. Two is the worst number IMO, I currently have 4 horses - 2 in one place, 2 in another. If you take one away even just for a plod down the road the other one frets. I'm about to go to an event and have to put the other one in the stable for the day just in case he canters about the field on his own. It's not a big deal, just easier if there's 3. They also get a bit more attached to each other I find, so if you take one into a stable for the farrier or something then the other one is wondering where they've gone.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I agree that three is better than two.

And for what's it's worth, we have had two geldings and a mare with no problems. Right now we have three geldings and a mare and they are a fantastic herd. We've also had just geldings, two of each and also two mares and one gelding and it has always worked out fine. All different shapes, ages and sizes too.