People with more than one horse.. How do you do it?!

[Klix]

Exactly as it says on the tin!! I have a fairly easy mare who I have on d.i.y livery, I work full time and she fits around my day perfectly exept for morning turnout as she's on only one out so decides its time to do laps of the field!!

I'm getting there .. Honest! I'm thinking of getting a companion/project horse for me )and her) time ect isn't an issue nor is day to day upkeep .. But how on earth do people with multiple horses keep up financially with annual vacs teeth insurance physio and every little unexpected Payment I between.. Not tO mention the additional worry!!

A pretty pointless post however I can offer one very scruffy collie that needs a bath and a clip?!

 

[dressedkez]

Difficult one in terms of cost - though a young (say filly native pony) that is not likely o be laminitic - will not need shoeing / will only need tet (not flu) once every couple of years / no hard feed / no rugs / no gelding / no clipping / could live out 24/7 (with shelter etc.) might be the answer? Plenty about looking for good homes, but if you have to pay livery costs etc.......
I have three (that are stabled at night and in work, of sorts, just keep them ticking over to do a bit of hacking and hunting) work full-time, four kids at home etc. etc. But we have them at home, and we all muck in (quite literally) and do a bit - morning stables take us 20 mins - evening similar. Deep litter shaving beds / (big) bale of hay close to the stables / and field within 20 yards. I don't know how people do DIY livery and keep family / jobs together and manage the expense - hats off to you.

 

[L&M]

Having gone from 2 horses back to 1 recently, I have realised how much easier life is!!

Financially I am better off, and have more time to spend with family and friends, and have a lot more energy.

I realise now that having 2 was making horses a 'chore' but now I have time to enjoy the simple jobs such as mucking out and tack cleaning.

Good luck if you get another, it can be done, but is blooming expensive, not to mention hard work.....

 

[Echo Bravo]

did have 5 now down to 4,but I do own my stables and land,my lot are stabled at night and turned out everyday whether they want it or not and when it's raining heavy they do not,then you get 4 dirty looks when you turf them out,it says a lot. 15/20 minutes per stable to muck out but I've had nearly 50 years of training and they have a bale of straw every second day,so they have a nice thick bed.If it's been raining heavy I leave their outdoor rugs on and don't touch them/mild I put their stable rugs on after a really good grooming which they enjoy after that I'm knackered go home and start on dinner.

 

[Klix]

It's not so much the work.. Reading your replies so far (which are greatly appreciated!!) it's more the worry I think!! If something happens to one (or both!) hats off to those, even if they are kept at home, that have 4/5!! I just about cope with one mentally at the moment!

 

[Echo Bravo]

Mine go from 13 years down to 17 nearly 18 months,so looking forward to 65 birthday as that is when Lenny will be 3,my horses keep me fit also do a lot of damage as yesterday my older horse when having his teeth done barged into me and something popped, I felt it and still amBut couldn't live without a horse or dog about the place, keeps me young broke and crippled.