People with 2 (or more) horses?

RubysGold

RubysGold

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So Id like to buy a second horse (not yet, but maybe next year). Something that I can go out and compete on. Showjumping and the like.

How do you cope with 2 horses? I dont want Roo to feel like Ive replaced her. I fully intend on doing as much as I can with her, But she just wont be able to do alot of things. So do you find it hard to give both horses the same amount of attention?

Also, would you ever consider having horses at 2 different yards? Roo is perfect at current yard as its near home and brilliant hacking. We may never do more then hack, so arena isnt important. But if I had another, I would probably need to look at keeping it somewhere with a better arena surface. Have any of you done it and did it work?
 
I have two riding horses kept at home, older one hacks and six yr old does lessons twice a week plus some schooling and try to hack out once or twice a week hubby rides youngster and I ride sixteen yr old they seem perfectly happy.
 
Do you work? Do you have a relationship? I found it impossible when I had to go to work and spend time with the OH.

If you don't work, it would work fine unless the yards are miles from each other.

But part of me says that you have outgrown Roo and that it might actually be nicer for her if you found her a new person all of her own to love her full time?
 
have had 2 and even 3 for various reasons. Did try once having 1 at one yard and the other elsewhere but its a LOT harder. Not only is there the travelling in between but you can't help but get caught up with different people at each yard - and most annoyingly, you never seem to have what you want at the right yard.

Had one for ages, now back to 2 as my old mare came home. Will get off my back s*** to find her a sharer at some point as she is a lovely hack but main work goes into the youngster. My older lady just seems to be pleased to be home and tootling about - and costs me the same as the youngster as had to go through the entire catch up cycle with both of them of ..... saddles/bits/back/teeth and feet (oh and both needed to start their F&T again..)
 
Keeping horses at different places is incredibly hard you do not realise the time you put in just doing ordinary things Thankfully have my 3 in the same place now:)
 
We had horses at 2 yards and it was a nightmare, I had to go to both yards before work to feed and turn out and left the house at silly o'clock each morning so I could get to work for 7.30am. It could work if you didn't have to do that but we found you spent more time rushing between the two places than with the horses. We have 14, they all get the same amount of attention (mare and foal maybe get a little more at the moment!) on a daily basis, mornings are for rushing about and quick checks, evenings are for cuddles, grooming, better checks etc. The ridden horses get more attention when working but we try to make that up to the others with extra grooming sessions in the field, which they all love.
 
I have two on the same yard - I don't think I could cope with them being on seperate ones, I'd never have time to go home lol. During winter I work them alternate days as and when I can use the school. During teh summer I do one after the other (unless I'm feeling lazy :p ) though I have to keep to a routine. Either feed the horse and work the pony or work the horse then the pony - they both get horribly jealous of each other!
 
Cptrayes: NEVER ever in a million years! mine forever that one. I love her more then anything in the world.

I do work but am not in a relationship, I do tend to get caught up talking to people at yards though, so yes that could be a problem Lol
Would have to have a good think as to what yard they would both be suited at if I got one. Or how I could work another horse properly at this yard, most horses may go ok in our arena. Would soon find out :)
 
Really need to have them both at same place I take out fetch in together, get feeds at same time, muck out together, both turned out every day, someone in village works long hours and has three rideable horses on her own yard and copes fine, but they are her life.
 
I have 4, an OH and my own business! As you can imagine there is not enough hours in the day, what with riding three of them (one is a rescue), driving about to here there and everywhere for work, OH doesnt drive so I take him to work and fetch him most days too. Phew. No, two yards is silly! :)
 
Two yards, hard work.

I had horses on a DIY yard and then ponies a mile away on our own land, that was bad enough.

Having multiple horses? Hmmm, as I have mostly always had more than one (I think I have 11 of my own right now) I can't imagine just having one or two, that would be a luxury, I'd have time for myself! What would I do? Probably have to go out and get a job :eek:

With the Boarders too it is just as well I don't work because I'd be up an hour before I went to bed to get everything done, babies worked, youngsters ridden, lunged or led out. To split jobs between two places...oh no no no.
 
I have 2. However, my lad is virtually retired (he is 17 and has had a hard life been a comp. horse) I do believe that 2 are much harder to juggle than 1. But in my opinion they are worth it. Mine are on the same yard. I would not consider putting them on different yards.
FDC
 
I used to have 2 horses (3 at one point), I never had enough hours to spend the time with them individually and winter was particularly difficult. I find one horse a lot easier to manage.

You might never sell her horse but how about a sharer for her? It will certainly help with time.
 
Humm i think having horses on 2 different yards would be tricky, i looked after my friends horses for 2 weeks last summer they have their own fields and are really easy to do and i still found that might time didnt stretch.

Have you thought about getting Roo a sharer/loaner when you get a new horse? So you can move to a more suitable yard for you and your new horse, keep Roo close but not have to worry about her too much and not have to be rushing down there everyday.
 
My two are on the same yard and their stables are literally opposite each other in the same barn. When I first got Titchy she was the other end of the yard and that was enough of a pain, much easier now they're together and I would never have them on separate yards!

They don't appear to be jealous of each other... Genie's a bit of a grouch anyway and Titchy absolutely ADORES her.

Timewise the general jobs don't take that much longer than if I had just one to do... They lead out and in together, eat their feeds at the same time (and eat the same stuff), it doesn't take me much longer to fill an extra haynet or an extra water bucket, and they are both very quick to muck out. In the winter I can travel to the yard, sort them out completely for the day and travel home again in 40 minutes (yard is about 10 mins away).

Of course at the moment Titchy is not ridden, so when she's backed timewise it will be harder!
 
I have two- although one is my Dad's.
I find it very much depends on the situation, for example if I'm doing them both in the winter then it's a lot easier because one will be in the stable and one will be in a relatively close field and more often than not with the dark evenings at least one will be restriced to a half hour school slot.
Now doing them both in the summer, as I am for the 19th consecutive day now is a lot more effort- it takes at least half an hour just to catch them both from the fields as they're at polar opposite ends of the yard (and down very steep hills!) Coupled with AS exams it's a matter of not having the time to spare so I often lend one out to my friend whose horse is currently off work and if I do ride them both I often just have half hour in the school with one.
We used to have two on two different yards- complete nightmare even though they were only 5 minutes away from each other!
My advice would be if you have the time, then having two is great, if you don't consider how often you'd like both of them to be ridden and how much time you have to spend caring for each (stabled is harder than turned out!)
 
I have two :) They are kept on the same DIY yard but mares and geldings are separated so it takes ages to bring in/turn out. My gelding is 16 and my mare is 8.

When I rode I would ride them alternative days although since breaking my back the gelding has had a lot of time off as no one else rides him.

They both get the same amount of attention but its hard work. Im not working at the minute (waiting for back to heal) and am a student. I've moved yards so I can have access to a floodlit manege for winter but looking to loan the gelding :)
 
I have 2 that are kept at home, but even then it can be a juggling act. I run a small livery yard, and have a young child, but as my husband is a teacher have the advantage of childcare in the school holidays.

One is predominately a hunter and is being shared by a friend this summer. She is keeping him ticking over for me as don't like to let them down completely then to have to get re-fit come Autumn. This is working really well for all concerned and will continue down this route each summer where possible.

The other one is a younger model and although also hunts, I compete him over the summer. By having a sharer for the other one I then have the time and finances to concentrate on this one.

I think that you would be better keeping them both at a yard that has the facilities for your 'competition' horse, and maybe look for a sharer for the older one.

Good luck!
 
I have two, both on the same yard. When I first had two I had to have them on separate yards for several months while waiting for another space to come up at my present yard. It was a complete nightmare and never again!

Have you thought about a sharer for Roo? I have a sharer for my older girl and she loves her sharer. She gets 100% attention from her on the days she is up so I don't feel so guilty if I can't give her the same amount of time as I used to.
 
I had four (well three and a half) all in different places a couple of years ago. :D It would be near enough impossible to do that many yourself in different places but if you use livery services and grass livery with checks it works fine. There's no point keeping them all at an expensive livery yard with stables and facilities if you only need them for one horse and the others can be turned away somewhere.

Just see what there is in your area and what sort of care services they offer so you don't have to go yourself all the time.
 
Im afraid a sharer/loan is out of the question. Shes my baby and Im mightily overprotective of her. I wont have other people riding her if Im not there. Never have, and certainly can't now, after all the operation and everything, I have to be so careful about those legs now. I dont want another horse to 'replace' her, so if I didnt have time for both, the new one would have to go. Never Roo.

Think your all right about the 2 yards though. Unless I bought a horse that happened to be ok living out, But even then, probably difficult.
I'll have to have a think, and see how I could manage another horses exercise/care, I dont really want to move Roo again.

Thanks for all answers guys. Food for thought :)
 
I've tried keeping horses on 2 different yards (for similar reasons as you), and it doesn't work. Well, it didn't for me!

I now have my 2 horses together, and they sometimes get jealous when I am with the other one, but tbh, I find looking after 2, not a lot different from looking after 1. The worst part is that it's double the expense
 
hey, i have currently 3, have had up to 6...i don't think i could cope with only one neddie now, so used to having a herd! I love having more than one, for riding different horses, especially if your new one will be more competition horse, you can keep current one for your happy hacks etc! i think although time consuming i would go for it, wouldn't think about keeping them at different yeards though, that i think would stretch you too thinly.
 
I love having a 'herd'. We share our herd though so 3 belong to me and 1 to Sharer, but I do the mornings, she does her own 5 days a week and helps with mine as and when I need it.

1 of ours is pretty much retired so Sharer only has to exercise 1, 1 of mine is having some additional schooling from my friend and the other is my princess. I normally ride both at weekend then alternate days in the week. I am starting to think I might like to just have the 1 to ride but it would be very strange!

Seperate yards would be a nightmare. I just potter down the row of stables mucking out, doing waters and tying up nets, takes about 30 mins to do the 4!
 
I currently have two - did have three and will have three again - but all kept at home - its the only way I can cope (husband, 4 kids and a business to run!) - I'd never only have one as s/he would then be on their own. My boys have always got on really well - no jealousy at all ... making time to ride is my way of relaxing.... I'm lucky as I don't have to pay livery fees, so the extra cost is just shoes/food etc. Good luck to you - having one horse is fab, but having several is even better!!:)
 
I have 2 on 2 different yards, abotu 20 mins walk between both, I work full time but flexible hours. 1 yard I socialise with peopl the other I dont so tend to spend less time there. I make it work by riding both on my days off and alternating them on days I have to work.
 
I've got 2 & have always had 2, they live out full time, are led in & out, fed, have jabs & farrier together. So it's no more work than one most of the time.

It's also good as they are turned out in the same field so I never have to worry about them being left alone, I sometimes go to the yard & find that my 2 are the only ones in the field.

My yard does single sex turn out so whenever I look for another horse, it has to be the same sex as the one I've already got, to make things easier, so I always have mares.

They're on restricted grazing at the moment so I've got double poo picking to do, which I'm not liking much.

I couldn't cope if they were at differnt yards, as that would be too much like hard work for me.
 
My friend has 2, one of which she has had for 10 years.
When she bought the other one they were fine.
They are turned out together, brought in together etc.
 
I have three, all at the same yard and they live out. I would never keep them at different yards, it would be a nightmare, I know someone else that did this, and even though the yards were half a mile apart it is much harder.

Two horse to do isn't that much more than one I don't find. Although one of mine is very elderly and one is very small so I only really ride one. However I did used to have a sharer for the samll one and that was nice - always someone to hack out with, helped a lot when I got the third neddie with nannying him out on hacks. And also a help if I was ever away for a night or weekend.

It IS much harder when you are in a relationship and actually I have found it much more difficult since we moved in together - I didn;t used to see OH every day so would happily be down the yard til 9 or 10 in the summer, whereas I can't really do that now!

I would suggest maybe looking for someone to come ride out with you opnce or twice a week, as it is getting them exercised that takes the time.
 
I love having a sharer, she's great company and I don't stress to badly when I have to go away over night because she does things the same way as me and knows the girls really well. She used to loan the old dear so she loves her as much as I do. Seriously, don't see sharing as a bad thing, I have someone to ride with at weekends and my horses in effect have a 2 parent family!

When I got B, L just seemed relieved as she was getting older and more tired, it was like she knew B would take on the hard work! L has always been agressive with the others (less so now she can't back it up but she had to learn that the hard way) but right from the start she took B under her wing and was nice to her. B hates Ice but L likes her and The Shoe is fine with all of them, though she is Sharers really, so I think it's just herd dynamics rather than jealousy or anything.
 
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