Owning more than one horse?

Well i have recently gone from one horse to two horses (begining of March) but i do get a lot of help from my Mum. I wasn't activly looking for another horse, but he was on my yard and came up for sale and i knew i couldn't let him go to anyone else. When i got him my other horse was still on rest from doing his tendons but as soon as i got Oreon i got the ok from the vets to bring Murph back into work so was worried about the time factor a little, although he's gone lame again so is back on rest.

The big difference for me i think is that im not a big competitive rider, in fact im struggling as haven't done much for nearly the last year but i had decided when i sat down and worked everything out that i would only exercise one a day and the other would rest (if Murph ever comes sound), as i don't need them really fit for competing, so it all depends on what you do and want to do and your reasons for getting a second horse.

That prob didn't help what-so-ever!
 
Sometimes I wish I just had the one to do but I like having to because I know that if one goes lame I've always got another to ride.
I have no problem to find time to do both because I start college at 9:30 so have plenty of time in the mornings and in the aftrnoons/evenings.
I don't struggle to keep 2 fit, if I know I will be strapped for time in the evening I'll get up an hour earlier in the morning to get one ridden but I really don't think I could cope without an indoor or a covered arena with lighting
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To try and save time next year I'm planning on kitting one of my stables out in matting so I can have one horse on a full bed and the other on matting with a sprinkling of flax so all I need to do is sweep it out.
 
When I first got Fudge Lady was in at night and he was living out, so I would turn her out, catch him in groom & ride him, then muck her out whilst he was eating, in the evenings I'd catch Lady in groom and ride her and then change his rugs whilst she was eating. These days they both live out and come in to be fed, groomed and ridden, they stay in at night if the weather is bad during the winter and come in during teh day in the summer when the weather is hot, I usually ride one, lunge, school or do some in-hand work with the other four days per week as I found it too time consuming to hack two. You'll speed up at mucking out and save time by making up extra feeds and haynets at the weekends when you have more time at least thats what I do as I work full-time.
 
I'm surprised at how many people say that it takes them double the time when they own 2 horses. You only make one trip to the hay pile, one trip to the feedroom, one trip to the blanket room etc therefore those journeys are no longer than if you had one horse.

I can't remember the last time I only had one horse and even then I only had a single horse for a year, the rest of my life I've always had multiple horses.

What I found when I only had one horse was that I was surprised at how long it took me, LOL!! I fully expected everything to take less time but in all honesty, apart from the riding aspect, nothing was quicker than it had previously been with 2 horses.
 
i find that for every horse over 1 you have to add approx 1/3 the time again (if that makes sense?)
not including riding time

that said i do like having just 1 to pamper!!
less good when it goes lame though!
 
Well after going from 2 on full livery in the UK, to moving to Spain and having 2 at home, which has now risen to 7!! I can say it is harder work, BUT I love it, mine do all live out 24/7 all year round (unless ive got one in at night, like at the momont, as shes due to foal) but where I used to spend 1/2 - 1 hour in the car most days driving to see the horses, now I use that time being with them/feeding/grooming etc....
Would'nt like it if they were all stabled, its much easier them living out, at least you can poo pick when you please.
And it cost me a lot less, it used to cost £110 per week for 2 on full livery, now it costs me £60 a week to feed all 7. (other costs are a little bit cheaper than in the UK, wormers, vets, etc...)
 
I have two horses (well, soon to be three) and work part time.

I am only riding one at the moment as the other two are a mare and foal. However, next winter I will have two to keep fit and compete, and one foalie too
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It was harder work when i got Grace, but I have to admit I did get into a routine. Some mornings it would take me 45 mins to do Hannah, whereas I can get both done in 1hr 15 mins now. It's all about being organised in my opinion.
 
I find that it doesn't take me much longer to do 5 or 6 horses than to do 1 or 2. The more you do, the slicker you become. I don't cut any corners but I do things in 'bulk' and multi task, for example filling a dozen haynets and simultaneously filling a dozen water buckets at the tap (I'm a woman so I can do these things!).
 
I would never just own one - cause if it breaks or dies you have no riding, so you need atleast 2, 3 is best. I never found 2 that much more, except for riding. But you can pony them, stand them at the tie rail, and literally jump off one and hop on the other, mine used to be caught together, and do everything together. The only thing I found that took twice as long was the farrier.
 
i have 3 and one on loan
one lives out back home with my friends horse as they are both retired.
my yearling and 17yo competition mare are both on diy and my loan horse is at same place.as soon as they live out its much easier.i work 9-5.30 each day plus some weekends
 
Ive always had more than 1 so never thought about it! But TBH I do think how nice it would be some days, if I did just have 1 single horse!

I have had 5 sometimes but it is a bit too many. Riding 3 a day is a bit much when Ive got to work etc. 2 is ok though
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i have one and look after another and dont find it adds much more time (one not ridden).
i am very organised though, and do things like filling many haynets at one time, and tend to make up a days worth of feeds while theyre eating brekkie
 
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