keeping only 2 horses together

Difficult one.

As a YO I've seen liveries keep two horses/ponies together - and then take one out and go off hunting/competing for the day. The remaining pair-bond has then spent the entire day thoroughly miserable and in distress and calling for the other horse as well as frequently causing me concern that they would hurt themselves in some way and/or try to escape the field. It can be a huge worry - complicated by t he fact that often the owner cannot accept that the remaining horse/pony has been in a state all day either!

Our current set-up at my yard is that even if one horse is taken out then there are always others around; however some horses do have their pair-bonds and if that one is taken out will call even if there are other horses in the vicinity - it isn't "any" horse they are missing, it is "their" pair-bond.

All of the horses here will leave the herd quite happily and hack solo - that at least is a blessing! And something we have strived to achieve and to continue doing!

Instead of just "seeing how things go" and hoping for the best, I would respectfully suggest you may need to be more pro-active and take active steps to condition your horses for either one of them to be taken out and put back at any time: IME if you just leave two horses in a field for days/weeks without taking one out and putting it back again on a REGULAR basis, you are likely to have a pair-bonding problem if you then decide one day you're going off for the day and take one horse out. The other one won't be happy! If however you take both horses out and return them again so regularly that each one knows that even if one of the pair goes out, it will come back again relatively soon - then that will help a lot towards them being chilled about the other one being taken out of their field. It really is about getting them used to the "new normal". It will also help address any solo hacking issues.

Hope this helps.
 
I would try it and see.

Currently, I have 2. I can ride either out, past the other, no bother. That took some work, but only for about a week.

I have had 5 different 'pairs' since living here, none have been a bother. Well, they may have been at first, but they were trained to it by gradually increasing the amount of time they were separated, starting with the sort of separation they could cope with, and working up from there. Had a Shetland companion for 2 of them, Mr Red said never again LOL. I must admit that it seemed as hard as tweo actual horses!

At one time I had 2 horses competing at the 'three affilliateds', both at Novice BE, along with BD and BS; that took some work!

Only one pair got too pair bonded (funnily enough the two competition ones, and that needed stopping as they travelled to competitions together), and they did a couple of months with one out in the day and the other at night, until they grew some resilience, whereupon it no longer mattered who was where. Even at a competition, one could be offloaded and never a whinny occurred.

Two is bad enough when you only really want one, I wouldn't have 3. I am prepared to go two, for the sake of happiness. That is Rigsby's current job, to hang round and keep the baby happy. He also does a bit of hacking, which is nice.

TBH, for a companion, I am happier with a companion with benefits. It means that friends or their kids can come for a ride etc.
 
Hi all I think what I’m going to do is get one companion a slightly larger pony as that is who he is turned out with at the moment and he loves it. When one needs to go I’ll put the other in a stable and see how it goes I’m sure they will be fine though as this is what happened in his old home and I didn’t hear of any issues. Thank you for all your responses!
 
We have just 2, one is semi retired the other is in hard work.
the semi retired could not give two hoots if she’s left alone in the Stables or field for awhile, the one in work doesn’t like to be left alone in the stable but is okay in the field or if I am with him, but he is slightly younger and has lived with her since he was 2, where she was 9/10.
 
I strongly feel that little ponies need the company of other little ponies. As others have said, try it and see-I have two together, suits these two but didn’t suit my previous pair. A third is more work, more money. Littlies/ natives can be more of a worry in the summer and backbreaking to trim-some farriers don’t like trimming them ime. And it’s alway worth training little ponies and giving them a job, so that they have better prospects if you have to move them on.
I have a horsey friend who I pay to house sit.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Instead of just "seeing how things go" and hoping for the best, I would respectfully suggest you may need to be more pro-active and take active steps to condition your horses for either one of them to be taken out and put back at any time: IME if you just leave two horses in a field for days/weeks without taking one out and putting it back again on a REGULAR basis, you are likely to have a pair-bonding problem if you then decide one day you're going off for the day and take one horse out. The other one won't be happy! If however you take both horses out and return them again so regularly that each one knows that even if one of the pair goes out, it will come back again relatively soon - then that will help a lot towards them being chilled about the other one being taken out of their field. It really is about getting them used to the "new normal". It will also help address any solo hacking issues.
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this ^^ absolutely. Mine are fine but I always continue to put the work in and recognise that if I leave to go feral over the winter, I need to reintroduce the concept.
 
I have 2 at home. Elderly mare and a sturdy 13 hh companion. she is much happier with this pony than the small one I had previously. They go out together either ridden or lead and ride and the companion also goes for exciting runs on her own (with a rider!) every week to help keep her weight down as she is prone to stoutness. When this happens elderly mare goes in the stable with extra food and does call a bit and look out of the window but nothing disastrous. I feel lucky that they fit in well togther and really are no trouble. I wouldn't have a shetland for any money!! (love all your photos though!)
 
I have two at home, one ridden and one companion only. My companion came from Redwings and is an absolute sweetheart - he was very anxious when he first arrived but has settled in beautifully and the boys took to each other at first sight. They do object a little when separated and will call maybe once or twice whilst leaving each other but once they are apart ridden pony focuses on his job and companion pony goes back to grazing. This has been helped enormously by having one person on each end absolutely ply the pair of them with Baileys treats as the two are leaving each other - so suddenly being apart isn't such a bad thing anymore lol.

It required a little work to start with but a great deal of it was simply because the companion pony was in a new home with a bunch of strangers - and you'd have that with any pony. It's been so lovely seeing our Redwings chap coming out of his shell and learning to trust us - I'd highly recommend a rescue if you can, it's a really rewarding adventure :)
 
bella0987 said:
thanks do you think getting 2 shetties is a better idea so they wouldnt become unsettled when i separate them
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But that will be very expensive, as you still have feed, EDT, trimming, worming, insurance, the list is endless. So not a cheap solution by any means!
 
Only get a companion that has the same dietry needs as your horse. eg if yours is a good doer and need restricted grass get a companion that is a good doer if yoursneeds adlib hay/grass get a companion that needs the same. The hassle comes when you have the two ends of the scale as you are constantly juggling. I have all good doers and it works well If I go away a friend calls in or I employ a freelancer
 
The other thing I would add is that if you get just one other companion, I'd start introducing small periods of time where they are split up from day one - so them being apart is part of their normal routine from the get go. Can imagine it'd be quite alarming being left to settle for a week or two and then being suddenly parted from your only company!
 
Totally depends on the horses. I keep 2 horses at home. One retired, one in work. The retired one is often left when we got to events. He used to be a real stress head but nowadays he doesnt seem to care. I just make sure he's got plenty of hay, he often doesnt even look up from his grass when we load up and go!
 
I'll never go back to having just two. It was a nightmare if one went out. The mini Shitland solved the problem instantly. I also don't believe that minis have to have a mini friend....mine gets on great with the others and they groom him etc.
 
We have two. They both live in the field together and both cope well alone in the stable whilst the other is ridden. Some cope better than others but most can learn to get used to it with time and patience.
 
My shetland is a horror and evil with other shetlands but fine with bigger ponies, this is the reason he is on loan to me. He can certainly groom my 14.2 easily. If you do have two I agree with everyone who says take the time to take them away from each other regularly so that it becomes routine.
 
I had 2 for ages, the youngster couldnt care less and was happy to stay in the field grazing while I went out riding. He is worth his weight in gold for that. I've got 3 now and only 1 of them cant be left alone happily, but even he will settle and be fine if I put him in the stable. I found 2 a nice number, and 3 is 1 too many really, but with an oldie and a youngster if I wanted to ride I needed another so 3 it is
 
I have had 2s and 3s and i prefer 3s just because you don't have to worry about who is left behind.
Some of mine are just fine by themselves
Some are absolutely not fine regardless of the amount of training given, and get left in the equivalent of a padded cell if it's necessary.

A good rescue ought to know the personalities of their horses, they may have older ones that have been in homes before and ready to just quietly potter about, i have one like that. Often off by herself not really bothered about the others. it's worth a few phone calls to find out.
 
We've got 3 at home. One is retired and is pretty much happy on her own, or as a companion to either of the other two. One however, will not stay in the field on her own - well she does jump at BS (1.25) and team chases so just jumps the fence/hedge to get out. The middle one is fine with both the retired girl or the competition horse, but again not on her own! Luckily we have our own land and it all seems to work (at the moment). No idea what we 'll do when the old girl is no longer with us (will worry about that at the appropriate time!)
 
I'm Dun said:
I had 2 for ages, the youngster couldnt care less and was happy to stay in the field grazing while I went out riding. He is worth his weight in gold for that. I've got 3 now and only 1 of them cant be left alone happily, but even he will settle and be fine if I put him in the stable. I found 2 a nice number, and 3 is 1 too many really, but with an oldie and a youngster if I wanted to ride I needed another so 3 it is
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i also find 3 just one too many. But wanted a back up for when one of the old ones goes. And having a horse to ride is a bonus. I don’t think any of mine would be left on their own though. TB gets upset if old haffie gets taken out of the field without her, even if she can see her.
 
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