Reality of a Second Horse?

[BaaSheep44]

Hi All

i'm after your thoughts and experiences on getting a second horse. I currently have one on DIY livery at a yard approximately 30mins from my house. Yard is approximately 10-15 mins from work. How horrendous is it with two on DIY? How do you manage? Is every spare second consumed with horses? How do you manage holidays or even days / weekends away? I am lucky that I have a good and secure job, just more concerned about the time aspect of things and doing them both justice. For various reasons I dont really want to move yards, but equally conscious I do spend alot of time travelling.

TIA!

 

[rabatsa]

What is your reason for wanting a second horse? Is the one you have no longer capable of the work you wish to do? Has your horse no company at all?

Would you be better selling the current horse and replacing it with one that will do the job you want?

 

[JJS]

I have four horses on DIY livery and in my experience, two horses is manageable with a job and still leaves enough time left over for you to have a life. Three is where the balance tips!

 

[lauracwd2]

I have two but only because one is retired so I don't need to factor in exercising them. In some ways it's easier because I can turn out and bring in at a time that suits me as they always have company, the stable jobs don't really take that much longer once you get into the swing of it. I turn out and muck out both before work then after work fill haynets and waters and bring in. Probably at the yard for around 45-50 mins in the morning (I could probably be quicker if I rushed a bit) and can be done in less than 30 mins in an evening if I want - I usually ride or groom.
The hardest thing can be making sure the retired one gets enough attention so I try and make a point of occasionally bringing him in first at the weekend so he can have a groom and individual time.

 

[VRIN]

Double the expense! Double the amount of time needed!! One is a much better choice!

 

[gina2201]

Mine aren't on livery but I didn't find two much harder to look after more than 1 timewise.
When I was on livery they offered assisted DIY which was very much needed for early mornings and work.

 

[BOWS28]

I own a mare and have a full loan, both on DIY. I was worried about all the same things as you but i have found it alot easier that i thought i ever would. The key i find is being organised and prepared. I make up haynets and feeds for the week on a Sunday. All i have to do is put haynets in to soak over night/during the day and add water to the dry feeds. I muck out both fully every morning and leave their beds up (they are on wood pellets). Of an evening, i skip out, put beds down wet feeds and hang soaked haynets. That takes me no longer than 45 mins, an hour if i factor in time to have a chat lol. Then i ride or lunge both. i'm normally home and finished within a 2 1/2 hours.
I'm very lucking regarding holiday cover. We have a good network of girls up at the yard and we sort of exchange favours. But if no one is free to help, they go onto full livery for however long is needed. There is always the option of a freelancer too.

 

[AmyMay]

I didn’t find two much harder than one. But only one was ridden.

 

[paddi22]

it depends how much work there are in and what your expectations are riding wise?

I find it impossible to keep two fit, competing, and up to date with lessons, so I overlap their seasons. But mine live out so I ease off focus on one and then concentrate on the other in cycles throughout the year. If I had two doing similar stuff at diy i would struggle. I overlap them now cause i was sick orf rushing to do shorter hacks on two, or struggling to get both schooled properly. I find I can't so two justice at the same time. And i am self employed and have flexible hours

 

[The Trooper]

I have two, on DIY livery and work full time and I'll be honest, I really only have the opportunity to exercise one myself at the moment with it being winter. She still gets ridden, but, by my partner and my mother.

One is in at night, and the other is out 24/7. I think I would find it extremely difficult to have 2 which were in at night. Currently I'm up at 0445 each morning in order to get Bonnie fed, mucked out, rug changed and turned out and in to work for 0800.

Through the summer I intend to ride each of them almost equally on alternate evenings if I cannot get someone to ride Belle for me.

 

[oldie48]

It's not the looking after part that I struggled with it's the riding. When I've had two in work I've always had a sharer who came and hacked out with me and helped to keep them fit which made a huge difference.

 

[Cortez]

I have two now, down from three. Still a lot of work.

 

[catkin]

I did have two ridden horses at one point - to do them properly it does take over your whole life unless you are paying for help. The stable work wasn't too bad but you do need a lot of time to keep two ridden up.
Remember that an hour's ride actually takes more than an hour by the time you've tacked up, warmed up, untacked, washed or groomed off etc (and that's without anything extra that needs attention).
It also depends upon your yard set up - have you got schooling facilities close at hand or do you travel out for lessons? What's the hacking like - do you have a series of different length routes?
You need to be very very organised, and the characters of the horses themselves plays a big part - when I had two going I only had one who craved attention- would have been almost impossible with two.......

 

[TPO]

I found the jump from one to two really big each time I've done it but barely noticed two to three or even four.

I've been back to one since losing my TB in spring 2016 and it has made a noticeable difference to time and money. I did briefly take an older, ill and pretty much abandoned horse on loan in 2017 and, while I could easily afford time and money to keep him (despite inflated costs because of his condition), I did notice the difference going back to two.

I'm lucky that I now keep my horse at my parent's place and my mum has 2, she's constantly trying to talk me into getting another and so far I've managed to resist.

Unless you are really driven or have a goal in mind that horse 1 isn't suitable I'd definitely advise staying with one. Have an imaginary second horse for 2-3mths and put their livery/hay/bedding/feed/farrier/vet/dentist/rug/saddler bill money into a savings account; would you rather have that in hand to enjoy or be spending on another horse. Unless there is a specific reason for "needing" a second horse I'd use your time and money doing more with horse 1 and just see if anyone at the yard is looking for a horse to be exercised if you have time to ride more often.

This is from someone who has had four horses at a time and with hindsight I have no idea how I managed it time or money wise. I much prefer being a one horse owner with a life!

 

[Hipo]

I have 2 on DIY, one is my daughters but she is away at uni. I really wish I only had 1.
The good points are that I get the field just for my own as we have 2 to a field, so I can pretty much do what I like. They get on really well. If no one elses horses are out I can still put mine out.

The bad points are, twice the costs. I currently work very full time and have little to no time to ride, although will improve when they are out 24/7. Other liveries share turn outs/ bring ins and jobs as they share a field, as mine are together I have no one to share with.

 

[eggs]

I had two on DIY livery and told myself that it wouldn't be too much more extra work as I could turn them out together, carry two haynets at one time, etc. BUT in reality it is quite a bit more work and keeping two in full work is a big commitment.

I now have my horses (currently down to four) at home and have help with the riding.

 

[Ambers Echo]

I didn't find looking after 2 (or more) that hard but could never ride 2 consistently.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I've recently gone from 2 to 1 as my retired mare was PTS about 3 weeks ago. I'm already feeling that just 1 is a lot less work even though the one I've lost was completely retired and the young mare is worked everyday. And there's two of us and I don't currently work! Don't take on a second, especially a second ridden horse, lightly if you want to "have a life" as well would be my thought.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I’ve got two on DIY went from one to two last August and at the same time gave up my Monday to Friday services as can’t afford now I’ve got two. One is 24 and semi-retired. I haven’t found daily care that hard to be honest. Summer they lived out and did until the end of October as weather pretty dry so that was lucky although I gave myself tennis elbow from poo-picking.

They’re both on rubber matting and have good size wood pellet beds. They’re out together and get on very well and are easy to do and lead. The mild winter has meant very little hay needed in the field. I have 14 haynets that get filled at weekends and 20 lidded buckets for feeds that I also do at weekends for Mon-Fri.

They go out earlier and come in later on the whole so I haven’t used as much bedding or hay and they don’t fret to be brought in which has previously been an issue.

Daily is either ride younger one or not then t/o both, muck out, stick pre-made haynets in soak, top up field buckets if necessary, put hay out if necessary, chuck pre-made feeds into mangers. End of day bring-in, feet picked out and checking legs etc. They keep the same rugs on unless day temp is very different to night. Hang drained nets up, feed and done. Prob an hour morning and half an hour evening if not stopping to chat. Add an hour / hour and a half if riding. I also walk dog twice a day. In fact I got dog 2 weeks after new horse and he’s been much harder work than the extra horse. I work full-time but luckily flexi-hours.

Weekends are as above plus washing out buckets, mangers, automatic waterers making up haynets and feeds, extra grooming, tack cleaning, poo-picking.

I have however now got a couple of people hacking my old guy 2-3 times a week in return for jobs, I mostly get them to do the weekend type jobs as I find their mucking out isn’t that great. It does make a difference to how much time I spend at weekends at the yard.

I also fit in dog agility one evening a week, and work away sometimes.

 

[ihatework]

For me, doing 2 on DIY is in some ways easier - as it’s easier to manage your routine as you know your horses will always have companions.

The time factor for looking after isn’t significsntly different - still the same journey time, one trip to the field etc.

Obviously basic costs pretty much double.

The killer when I did it was the exercising, I only have the time and energy to work one properly. It’s fine if the other one is retired.

 

[pippixox]

If you are turning out together then two is often easier. But of course double the cost!
I would be more concerned on cost than time. You do just get quicker and more efficient with yard chores
I used to ride and lead sometimes when both of mine were in work.
As others have said- the main thing is why you need/want a second?

 

[blitznbobs]

It’s the exercising rather than the caring ... if you’ve got time to ride 2 you’ll be fine

 

[Julia0803]

This is really interesting and very timely. Considering a second at the moment as my son has really rather outgrown his cob height wise if not weight wise.

Jus to wish I could make him grow by another two hands and then there wouldn’t be an issue!

 

[scats]

In my set up, having two is much easier for me. However, working 2 is harder. I only have 1 in work currently and the other due to back in work but I’m struggling to find the time and energy to really make a start.
3 is a nightmare. At least I think so. 2 doesn’t feel like much of a step up work wise, but 3 really does to me.

 

[SEL]

I've got 2 on DIY, but one is a non ridden companion. In some ways it's helpful because they go out together so I don't have to worry about one being on their own if everyone else's horses are in.

I've just chucked them both out 24:7 with the lovely weather we're having and it's reminded me how hard it is having them both stabled over winter when you've got a job to do as well.

 

[Squirily]

I've gone from 1 to 2, to 3, to 4! As others have said its the riding which is an issue. Above 2 the extra time poo picking/mucking out takes its toll. My goal is to have 2, one to compete, the other to tick along and do bits and bobs with. One came in lame the other day and I was so relived there was one less to ride! Its certainly doable, but some things do slip such as having pristine tack or a social life. If there's a genuine reason for having another one don't let the time put you off, but choose carefully as it makes life a lot easier if they're easy going and will get along with your other one.

 

[SEL]

In my set up, having two is much easier for me. However, working 2 is harder. I only have 1 in work currently and the other due to back in work but I’m struggling to find the time and energy to really make a start.
3 is a nightmare. At least I think so. 2 doesn’t feel like much of a step up work wise, but 3 really does to me.

I keep reminding myself that 3 would be a nightmare every time I think about getting another one that could jump.....

 

[Translationsneeded]

It is pretty much double the cost and not far off double the work

 

[mums the groom]

I have 2 in rehab and ever mounting vet bills..... time wise I pay to have them thrown out in the morning and its about 3 hours a night doing jobs with the pair of them having 30 mins walking every night which is easier as I can do them together but not looking forward to having to separate them and riding both separately. also have to keep an eye on the time every night as have to get child in bed at a reasonable time. Sometimes think should of stuck at 1 but I'm sure most parents think that at some point .

 

[flying_high]

It is pretty much double the cost and not far off double the work

I ended up with two as my older one was semi-retired, and the idea was a younger one to compete.





My older one still needed regular suppling and muscle building work, and a regular 6 day a week work program to not lose muscle over his SI or stiffen up with general arthritis. He also needed bodywork, special care, and remedial specialist shoeing etc.





My younger one had some issues and needed a lot of high effort rehabilitation work.





So two worked out a lot of effort and expense, and I always felt I was slightly neglecting one for the other.





I don’t regret it as the older horse, was my horse of a lifetime, and I wanted him to be supported until was time to let him go.





But whilst loads of advantages of two – two to ride, instant field or barn or hacking companion. I would be slow to move to two again, unless it was the only way I could have a ridden competing horse.