Quality Time Two Horses

[Jazzy B]

My mare has come back from loan and is now retired and I have my lad too. They are on different yards, literally only two minutes away from each other so this isn't the problem but I just don't feel that I am spending any quality time with either of them and just constantly poo picking and mucking out!

Those with more than one horse how do you share your time and do you sometimes feel bad because really there isn't much you can do with a retired horse other than brush them or is there more I could be doing or have I just got the January Blues!!!!

 

[LouS]

I make time, if I'm really rushed I'll alternate days to work one or the other. Mucking out takes me 5 mins per box so that's not really an issue. They get a quick groom every day then they are worked. I don't find it too difficult even with a full time job, the winter is a bit depressing but we do have a flood-lit menage so I can ride til late, the only time I have trouble is when the ground/menage freezes.

 

[dollymix]

I find is a bit of a struggle sometimes too...can't imagine how difficult it would be on two seperate yards...even if only two minutes apart as it's stil two seperate feedmaking, mucking out etc! Would it be possible for you to bring your mare to where you keep your gelding, or visa versa?

With mine, I try to alternate their days. Although of course, both still get mucked out, rugs changed, quick brush and feet picked out. I ride on alternate days as I don't want either too fit, and on the day i ride them, I give them more time and fuss. A thorough groom, more attention etc.

The one that doesn't get ridden, still gets a chat and a cuddle; but doing this is the only way I have found to keep things ticking over well. I have a full time job (supposedly 8:30-5 - but quite often unexpected late nights as I take photos/cover events) and a husband and dog, who probably demand more than the horses! I try to get home before 8pm, but we usually don't have tea until gone 8:30 (good job I have an understanding OH really!)

I can't wait until summer comes along as it just makes everything so much easier! Daylight definitely helps with horses.

 

[3Beasties]

I'm struggling this year more then usual, more through lack of motivation then anything! Think I have a bad case of the January blues

 

[bonbeau]

I'm finding it a struggle, I have 3 at home and 1 at a livery yard which is only a 2minute drive so not too far. I work with horses too so I am constantly mucking out all day!
I pretty much gave up with riding over the worst of the winter and christmas as I knew I would end up getting really stressed out if I didn't find the time regularly but really missed it and felt bad that they weren't getting enough attention.
One of the worst things is choosing which yard to go to first if the weathers rotten or its getting dark I have to choose who gets to come in first and who has to wait....good job they don't know!
I am currently trying to sell one of them but with no luck yet, which is becoming quite frustrating. One of them is on loan as I'm helping a friend out who couldn't keep her so she will go back in the summer and I'm hoping I will be left with my youngster and shetland and my life will be so much easier!!....or not with a youngster but at least I won't have soo much bloody poo to pick up!!!!

ROLL ON SUMMER

 

[TJ&Ozzie]

I am struggling this winter with my 2 living out. feel like I am constantly trudging through mud and poo picking whilst looking at my 2 hairy, muddy horses. Those with flood lit schools and stables etc are very lucky at this time of year.

 

[traceyann]

I have four and always worry about the lack of time for each ones my cob and my wb always get left has there so well behaved most the time they just get on with everything. My spanish and tb get more of my time as there quite nervous so everything is done more slowly I dont have to ride the cob and WB everyday there the same after a week the others do Its constant juggleing cant wait for summer.

 

[Ladylina83]

Before Christmas my 2 were on different yards ! it was killing me - much happier now they are together - back to wasting hours at the yard and being on time for work

 

[Luci07]

My semi retired mare will be going out with her sharers to do in hand veterans. She is still being hacked out 4 or 5 times a week (previously evented so this is not much work for her). Can't do ridden as she has arthitus in her neck so won't work in an outline. She is 23 and looks great but it will be nice for her to go out!!

 

[Montyforever]

I'm struggling a bit, we've not got a school so I can only lunge when it's dry :/ and can't really groom as they come in wet or have just rolled its frustrating but we've only got a few months before the it warms up a bit'

 

[eatmoremincepies]

I generally like to be fairly "natural" but I do expect horses to work, if they're fit for it.

So grass livery = no mucking out (ours includes poo picking/harrowing) or rug changing, except when weather changes.
Light rugs if not clipped = relatively clean horse, just carve out clean space for bridle & girth. I don't use boots (don't for hunting/BD so not much point for anything else!) so just wash off hooves daily and legs completely once a week.

Our horses are happy being out, even old and TB types. It works well but I have friends who are on DIY etc who work themselves into the ground because they are convinced their horses could not live out - I honestly think the vast majority can with the right management.

If the worst comes to the worst, some time off in Dec/Jan/Feb won't do much harm so maybe you can decide not to ride and take the pressure off.

 

[Irishbabygirl]

I have two but one is retired so least only one to worry about working! The retired one has the field shelter converted to a stable over winter so as its in his field I just shut him in and deep litter shavings in it so that saves time. Roll on summer, miss seeing them in the daylight during the week!

 

[Jazzy B]

thanks everyone, think definitely had the January blues this morning as spent the afternoon with my lad making him beautiful for dressage which he loves (his a proper diva) and then went to see my girly who came for her dinner and carrot and when I started giving her a bit of a fuss she gave me a look and wondered off across the field, so she's clearly not too bothered that she's not been groomed today - I just find it very odd having a retired pony that doesn't need to be kept fit etc etc!!!

 

[Spotsrock]

I allocate time and I have help. Work mates daughter this week became my sharer for semi retired pony. She gets 20 mins walk and trot in floodlit school on decent horse once a week and to pay me all she has to do is spend same amount time grooming and fuss her. The other 2 I allocate time for but every time I handle them so lead to or from field rug up feed etc I hug and fuss them. They don't do too badly.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

After having had just the one horse up to relatively recently; then I took on a friend's little mare on loan - and wondered how I was gonna cope!!

My horses both live at home with me; my yard is on my own property so a lot easier I guess, but there's still the chores that need doing.

There are also three other horses in another field who don't belong to me, they're liveries.

All the horses come in at night at the moment; this suits everyone and also preserves the grass. I've got used to "doing my two"; the first month was a helluva shock but I've got used to the routine of it now.

I try to ride one each day (am self employed so possible to fit clients in when not riding); if the weather is really awful like horizontal rain and/or high winds, then I'll give them both day off and they can chill out in the field together. I ride one at a time, not ride & lead; this is a deliberate thing as I want them to be confident hacking out solo without the other; also when they do come in at night they're in separate areas and can't see each other, so think that's helping. The worst thing IMO about keeping two horses together is the pair-bonding problem; luckily here if I do take my boy out then little mare can see the rest of the "herd" in the other field. If I take little mare out on her own then His Lordship whinnies for the first 30 seconds then its head down and the usual male priorities of Self, Stomach, and S@x predominate!

Yes, its harder work with two, but not the huge difficulty I'd envisaged; and something I've found with my boy is that having the mare with him has really sorted him out - coz if he does decide to behave like a t!t then she just won't have any nonsense with him and its made him a much nicer horse all-round coz in the past he'd has attitude problems when he's been ridden in company.