People with precisely 2 horses (or previous experience of same!)

spookypony

spookypony

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My garage-into-stables conversion was done this weekend, and all that remains for having a bad-weather-paddock-protecting area this winter is to fence in the hard standing! The plan is to have the horses on the hard standing when it's really grotty out, with free access to the stables. However, there are only two stables (11 ft x 10 1/2 ft), and the hard standing is only about 10m x 10m (though could be extended later). This speaks to me of finally sending Girlfriendmare back to her owners (she has been on loan as a companion), and having only the Spooky Pony and Ballerina Mare here.

Advantages are obvious: one less mouth to feed, and less worry about arguments in a more confined area.

Disadvantages are also obvious: I think the Spooky Pony rather likes having her around (though it's difficult to tell), and I worry a lot about what one horse would do alone, while the other is out competing or training (which is likely to happen several times a week).

What are your experiences of keeping just two horses together? It wasn't a problem last winter as Girlfriendmare wasn't bothered (just got on with eating), and she never left, but both the Spooky Pony and the Ballerina Mare are slightly more sensitive souls, and I don't want either of them hurt or enormously stressed.
 
Depends on the horse, My 2 are awful, have recently added my newly cut (9 weeks ago) gelding into the mix so there is 3 now, in the hope this will help with the separation anxiety
 
Tbh I have never had problems when I have had two, as I do at the moment. I generally take the attitude that they have to get used to being in or out by themselves. I have tended to find that the horses that stress in the stable settle pretty quickly in the field. I suppose it depends on the temperament of you and your horses!
 
I found that they got very clingy when I just had 2 and it was difficult to take one away and leave the other. Went up to 4 at one point which was a good number but a lot of work and expense. Now have 3 and that seems to be working. 3rd is a pony who is ok being left on his own.
 
I never had any problems. When we just had 2 sometimes both had to be alone while the other went hacking. They shouted for a few mins but soon chilled out and got used to being alone for periods. Depends on your horses though. Some won't cope as well as others. X
 
I have a horse and a companion. I just shut the companion in the stable and he has to put up with it. If I am going away for overnight I get someone to put him back out in the field when I left and he keeps everyone awake with his neighing! Luckily he is sensible and doesn't try to jump out. When I had my horse as a youngster HE had to stay in the stable when I took the other one out and he was fine. Now, however, I think he would go beserk if left alone, judging by his behaviour when he was on box rest. Some horses don't mind, others can't bear to be separated.
 
I had problems with 2 as well, not just stressing along but I had trouble brining one in while the other waited for me to come back for him. Getting a third sorted out my problems.

Is there no way you could rotate the access to the hard standing so that 2 horses are out and a third is in his stable at all times until you get a chance to extend the hard standing?
 
We only have 2, Frank and his blonde ;), been together the last 9 years. Girlfriend couldn't care less if he's not about and will happily go out in the field for the day etc. He's had a couple of overnight stays at the vets recently and again fine. He frets a little more about her and I generally leave him stabled so he doesn't wind himself up in the field. He's pretty quiet if noone is about but will do occasional girly neighing if he thinks you are around (they are at the back of the house).

There is a strict hierarchy (Frank is in charge) so no problem bringing them in etc.
 
You need horses that don't get overly clingy. But the problem with that is it's often because they're not best friends. We often force two horses together that would never normally choose each other as friends.
I've got two, an old mare and a young gelding. They hang about together and groom etc but I know, having had them with others before, that they'd never have choosen each other if given a chance. They're fine to separate thankfully but it's sad that they don't have a genuine BFF.

Real pair bonds are lovely to see but a right PITA to separate. Or if one if a clingy type.
 
yup, Frank def isn't allowed to do much grooming! He is moving house in a few weeks and I think he might enjoy a bit of male company again.
 
I shut big old horse in the shelter or stable with food and take Madame Frou Frou out. He yells when we leave, sometimes I can hear an occasional shout when I'm riding in the hills parallel across from us, and he yells when we get back. But it doesn't kill him and he gets a carrot for his nerves :-DD

He doesn't settle in the field however, so I find it best to stick to that plan.

What I am NOT allowed to do however is ride through the property twice on Madame without coming home....a big hole in the VERY thick OSB stable lining illustrates the displeasure......double barrel a go go from 17 hands of cross ID...:-D
 
I had two for just under 4 years. Misty was retired then (she came out of retirement at 32!). She pretended to hate Harry, and would shout for him when she heard us coming back from hacks, but I didn't have any problems. Kept them at home, neighbour has a horse but they could only see him on rare occasions.
 
You need to get used to going out on there own ASAP. It can be a real nightmare even down to bringing in. Can you keep doing things with one seperatley but so they are in view initially.
 
When I had two there were very pair bonded and I had to take the pony everywhere with the horse - lessons etc as he wouldn't go on his own, although the pony would happily hack alone without the horse we had to lock the horse in his stable and he never really became happy with this and would stress and beat the stable up. He was a stress head though but getting a third did help a lot. I currently have 3 (not the same 3 all different ones) but if I sell or lose any of these 3 I will just stick with 2 and they will have to get used to being left on their own as I only need 2 and winter is hard enough without an extra horse to muck out/feed/exercise. My horses are in my garden so I wouldn't have a livery here but if they weren't I would prefer to do that as it's company for riding with and less work/expense than keeping a companion.
 
I've always had two which has had its problems as welshie is suffers terribly with SA and also cannot be left in a stable on his own but can just about manage turned out. They cannot see any other horses from their stables as the paddocks are out of view. I have a large stable mirror which has helped when one has had to stay in on box rest etc. Now have 3 as just got youngster but I'm keeping companion Shetland as it is easier with 3 and he more like a large dog! It is hard when you keep them at home for these reasons.
 
I have two. They are very pair bonded. Strangely if you leave one out in the field alone and take the other out riding they go mental and charge round. If you leave them in the stable or on the hardcore turnout (which is quite big and easy enough for them to canter up and down if they felt like it) they don't bother at all. They are so good together that they lead in together as easy as separate. I haven't really done much competing for the last few years, and think I may have issues with them calling if one is in a class and the other can see them, we will see.
 
A lot of different experiences, then, and it seems to depend completely on the individual horses! Soon the Ballerina Mare will start making little trips too, and then we'll start to see how things go...??
 
I had my two at home on their own when I first took them off livery. They had been together for 11 years and one was more attached than the other. If I hacked Fainne out then Breagh was happy staying home alone but I couldn't take Breagh out along as Fainne galloped around like an idiot the whole time. At the beginning I couldn't even take Breagh out to groom in sight of the field as Fainne panicked immediately. I then got a companion pony and Fainne was happy staying with the pony until I retired her!! Once I stopped riding her the bad behaviour when I took Breagh out started again and it almost feels like it is pointless having the pony now. She's fine whilst I am grooming Breagh but as soon as the tack comes out she starts galloping about. Even if I ride in the arena she stands screaming at the fence and fencewalking. She seems more upset at not being ridden than she does about being left alone.

I do think when they are settled in their environment they handle being left alone better than when they are new to a location. It took mine several months to settle in their new home before they were comfortable being separated. If I were you I would try taking the one you plan to ride away with the companion pony so you can see how the other one copes before you give the companion back. At least that way you know what you will be dealing with.
 
I've never had any trouble with any of mine, they might stand at the gate and call, but soon tire of this and get back to grazing. My dad's horse, on the other hand was a PITA and had to be brought in whenever her pals went out without her, if left out she'd jump out or run through fencing. This has led to her being kept alone for periods so she cannot get overly attatched.
 
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