ponies sharing a stable?

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riding_high

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what would be the biggest sized ponies you would put in a stable together?

i know shetlands are ok to share a 12 by 12 stable but what would be the maximum you would go up to before it being unfair?
 
On my yard two cobs share a large stable. They have been together all their lives and share perfectly but I guess they are an exeption.
My loan horse used to share a stable but bullied her companion even though they were good friends
 
I have had my Shetland and 13.3 cob in a large cattle shed that's about 8 foot by 30 foot at a guess although they were very close friends, I wouldn't do it with any of my others
N&F
 
Iv got to 14hh in a foaling box as the half blind old man won't stable on his own anymore so has to stay with his companion as his safe guard. Box is twice normal size so big really
 
Way back when I were a lass (about 1864) ponies often shared stables, as long as they are paired thoughtfully and after much observation. I guess a rule of thumb for size of area is: can each pony lie comfortably without legs getting tangled?
And have they both access to food and water?

If you look at the marks on the grass in the dew on a summer's morning, you'll see just how close they choose to sleep...
 
When YO gets a new lot of 3 (pony) foals, she puts them all in a stable together for a week or two, with access to a small yard. Never had a problem and they seem to enjoy it in there together!
 
There are a couple of 14hh (roughly) Fell-type ponies who share a biggish stable on our yard. It doesn't seem to be a problem, they're old friends.

I just wonder what would happen if one got cast though? Would the other one panic and get injured?
 
I've had a 14.1 and 15.1 mother and son combo in a 14x14 stable for 3 weeks in the summer, whilst building were being fixed. Also had a 15.2/16.2 mother son combo in the same stable, when there was a stable shortage.
 
Mrs b how true is that, my lads share a 24/24 stable if not slightly bigger, hay net on each wall but they still share and when I'm up early in the morning iv caught them a few times lied down with legs tangled up with each other. Think it helps the old boy as his eye sight is bad but as long as his friend is with him he's fine and stays side by side in the field as well.

Def 2 ponies who would have to go together when the time comes. Best of friends.
 
At an RS I went to when I was little, two ponies shared a stable. I think one was 12h and the other was about 13h. They were insepperable though. Their names were "bundy" and "ted". I think it's a good thing the Internet wasn't for use by joe public back then cause "bundy" was my favourite pony!
 
It's amazing how well ponies can use a space, mares and foals often do. We used to have 2 that shared very happily a 11x12 stable (14.2 and 13.3) with no issues, would even choose to share if you left the doors open!
Back in the dark ages (forgive me Mrs B but I was obviously there then too) but sharing was commonplace for ponies, but then we didn't have all the rugs or options like we do now.

Btw it annoys me how people and organisations like the BHS harp on about minimum stable size and when you pitch up at somewhere like Stoneleigh for an event and get allocated a 10x10 tarpaulin and ramshackle bolt stable even when you've declared you have a huge chunky beast! And guess what, even though his ears touched the roof and he had to duck to get in, plus the stable mate spent half the time trying to extend theirs into his stable, he managed fine!

IMO if they get on = no problem, if they don't, then have the vet on speed dial (whatever their size!)
 
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Got two 12.1hhs at home sharing a 12 x 16 (it's an odd shaped corner box) atm. They are brothers and have been together forever. They usually live out but one has a foot abscess currently so has to be in. We did leave his brother out (with his friends) but he just would settle at all, kept calling to each other etc and galloping about so just stuck them in together in the end as we don't have another stable spare currently. They are absolutely fine together. Have two separate piles of hay and separate water buckets but they seem to share most of the time.
 
a couple of winters ago my 15hh 2 year old filly shared her 12 x 12 stable with a NF rising yearling colt. He was her "friend" and she was only the one stabled overnight in the yard and would have gone a bit nuts on her own so he was stabled with her. They loved each other and it worked perfectly.
 
one is a bit dominant of his territory, as in he will kick the walls between stables especially at feed time. the other one is dopey as heck.

i personally feel it would put too much pressure on them and may cause bad manners towards other horses and ponies and also towards people as they would maybe feel one is getting more attention. that probably doesn't sound right but i can't think of any other way to word it.
 
I had to do it recently to get the ponies away from the flooded river -both exmoors, one 12h, one 13h in a 12x14. not ideal but needs must-they've been together 3 years and get on well (one is 18, one is rising 4). wouldn't do it as a long term thing-they actually have a stable each in the valley but river has burst its banks 3 times this year so when I feel its imminent I bring them up to the yard.
 
riding_high said:
one is a bit dominant of his territory, as in he will kick the walls between stables especially at feed time. the other one is dopey as heck.

i personally feel it would put too much pressure on them and may cause bad manners towards other horses and ponies and also towards people as they would maybe feel one is getting more attention. that probably doesn't sound right but i can't think of any other way to word it.
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Then no. As I said in my post, only if it is done after thoughtful and careful observation. And it has been observed that this would not be a good pairing for a shared space...so no, in this case. Please don't.
 
Think temperament and compatibility is far more important than size. If they get on well enough to share a stable in the first place then it's size doesn't matter as long aa they can easily move around each other without bumping into one another. If they DON'T get on well enough then even the biggest foaling box is too small.

I know quite a few full sized ponies (14hh+) who share a standard sized stable with no issues what so ever ( inc being bucket fed). I've got two (big!) horses Id happily shut in a stable together. And had others I wouldn't even consider it, even though they're friends in the field.
 
We kept a 14.3 chunky cob in a stable with her very best friend Sue sheep :) Stable probably 12X11. They wouldn't have stayed apart and the mare used to wait for Sue to come in if she got left behind :)
 
Mine do...the stable is left open and they quite happily go in together plus I have shut them in when they both need to come off the grass etc, I've never shut them in overnight, usually just for an afternoon at a time. The Shetland is the only pony I can trust with the Exmoor when it comes to food and space, he adores her, she is like his confort blanket :p

twosome.jpg
 
Kallibear said:
Cross posted. Absolutely agree with Mrs B: you'd be a fool to put a low ranking woose in with a dominate territorial aggressive kicker!
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it's not happened yet and probably won't happen but because of this weather and the lack of stabling etc people are trying to work out how to get enough stabling. so far it's down to 2 12.2hhs sharing.
 
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