Non-rideable companion horses are important

kippen64

kippen64

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Australia
thinkingabouthorses.blogspot.com.au
When I set myself up with my own place, I will be buying one, possibly two non-rideable companion horses to use as baby sitters for my young horses. Would love to hear from others on the joys of horses who successfully do a great job without ever being ridden or driven.
 
There is something about horses that makes them incredibly fascinating and rewarding animals to keep even if you can't ride them.
 
I wish you were over here - you could have had my mare! She's a fantastic companion/field ornament!

My old gelding was possibly the best companion horse ever. He hadn't done much work for about 12 months before we lost him, but one of my friends got a little colt who was only a few months old. My gelding adored him. He was very protective over him, played with him like he was a youngster himself, but would also tell him off when he got out of hand. Prior to this he had also been a companion to a two year old colt who he also looked after. Even though he was a TB, he was very low maintenance.
My friends youngster unfortunately had to be PTS after an operation went wrong. My boy never got over his best friend not coming home and rapidly went from being a healthy horse to completely giving up.
 
Wagtail said:
There is something about horses that makes them incredibly fascinating and rewarding animals to keep even if you can't ride them.
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Totally agree with this^^^

I wish other people would think the same and not judge though, just because I choose to spend my money on a horse I can't ride....
 
We have a TB ex racer who used to work (raced and ridden), but is now permanently lame (doesn't stop him thundering around the field though!! He just shouldn't be ridden) but he's incharge of welcoming new horses and keeping them company.

Here's him having a play with Viking :) (Louie is the one in the neckless rug)

[youtube]hP6EA-W6Adg[/youtube]


ETA: I forgot to mention he's going to a friend soon to continue his companion job :) She used to ride him and loves to fuss him. She's hurt her arm so can't ride even if she wanted to. It'll be good for both of them!
 
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Annielusian said:
We have a TB ex racer who used to work (raced and ridden), but is now permanently lame (doesn't stop him thundering around the field though!! He just shouldn't be ridden) but he's incharge of welcoming new horses and keeping them company.

Here's him having a play with Viking :) (Louie is the one in the neckless rug)

[youtube]hP6EA-W6Adg[/youtube]


ETA: I forgot to mention he's going to a friend soon to continue his companion job :) She used to ride him and loves to fuss him. She's hurt her arm so can't ride even if she wanted to. It'll be good for both of them!
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He's beautiful and so obviously enjoying himself :D
 
Holly Hocks said:
Totally agree with this^^^

I wish other people would think the same and not judge though, just because I choose to spend my money on a horse I can't ride....
Click to expand...

I think you'll find that there are plenty of people that think this way. I don't think people are actually judging others merely expressing their personal opinions.

Myself, unless there is a welfare issue, I don't really mind if people ride their horses or not, bring them in, keep them out, dress them up, don't dress them, do the bling or the matchy matchy stuff, breed from them or not, it is none of my business.

I have several hayburners. The majority of them are ridable, I just chose not to ride them;)
 
Iv got an unridden companion, a 10yr old 17hh beast! Lol! He gets exactly the same treatment as my tb who's ridden. I try and do some inhand work with him and he regularly gets equissage treatments so he doesn't get left out! He's a very sociable horse and loves human company, always first to the gate, loves coming in every night etc. He's a real character and loves his job! Hoping to get him doing a bit of light hacking soon, although think he'd rather just be a field ornament!
 
My 'own' mare is unrideable. I don't give a flying fart what anyone thinks. I look after her as I would any other of my rideable horses in the past.
 
What a shame you are so far away !
We have a youngster here aged 5 who has a deformity of his back, he's sound. and the sweetest personality, his breeder is at a loss what to do with him as he can never be ridden but has kept him alive as it feels wrong to euthanise an otherwise happy horse.
She can't really afford to pay us to keep him forever so is offering him free as a companion, but is wary or advertising him incase someone comes along and isn't genuine. He would be ideal for your purpose, and anyone else wanting a similar horse for a companion please pm me and I can pass your details on to his owner.
 
I have a retired pony and 2 who are 3 and so starting out on their ridden lives. The retired pony is so useful though she keeps them in their place and keeps one company when the other is out. She also gives the others confidence. When she passes on I will be after a non-ridden companion to carry on.
 
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