Two horses in work (maybe!)

[Ladybird L]

I bought a second horse when I resigned myself to the fact that my girl was only gonna be a pasture pet after an injury. But 9 months in the field works magic… Pony #1 has just been cleared by the vet to bring back into work! I think I’m going to wait till summer ‘25 but then, I may have two in work.
How do you manage? Is one short ride each p/d better, or a long ride every two days? What are your top tips? I’m not going to loan/share either of them, the new one needs too much understanding and I’d be afraid Pony would get hurt again.

 

[Spotherisk]

Ride and lead, great way to bring her back into work without weight carrying too.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Isn't it great when they come back. Similar thing happened to us. My husband's horse was diagnosed with chronic PSD and prognosis was that he was unlikely to come sound for anything more than a field ornament. We decided to give him a year off and bought another so he had something to ride. The second horse has turned out to be something of a superstar and the first one is now sound and bouncing back stronger than ever, rehabbed and ready to go. It was much easier during rehab when he was only being ridden 5 mins, 10 mine, 15 mins etc. a day.Same position as you in that we wouldn't want to loan out the first one for fear of injury re occurring. Some days husband schools them both and other days he just hacks one out. Alternates between the workload and if the second one is competing or not.We are very careful with the PSD one and don't want to do too much but riding him keeps him sane. Its a juggling act and I keep a diary of who does what but i don't get too stressed if no one gets ridden. Ride and lead won't work as one of them is very dominant and won't tolerate any of the others near him. Perhaps work out your aims for each one and work backwards from there.

 

[Cragrat]

Ride and lead, stagger their day off, and alternate who gets the long ride and who gets a short ride/ lunge session

 

[SEL]

I've got one that's hacking only and the other in more work. I work part-time so the happy hacker does 2 longer hacks (she can manage up to 9 miles) & the odd spin around the fields.

The younger one does more of a mix and is my priority - mainly because he's an idiot with too many days off.

 

[Ladybird L]

Thanks everyone! It is absolutely brilliant

 

[pistolpete]

How brilliant. Sharer? Someone to ride with. Or maybe just do alternate days. Probably suit both.

 

[Caol Ila]

Managing two in work....with difficulty and questioning life choices.

I can't face getting a sharer/giving up control over my quirky Highland, so I muddle along. The PRE needs/wants more work, so she gets it. When she was a baby, the Highland got more work. I really struggle to keep both at long distance kinda fitness. But the Highland is happy with an easy workload so long as he gets enough turnout and attention. He's also trickier because he doesn't hack alone, and he's more likely to get wound up by major weather changes, weird stuff on the yard, etc., whereas the PRE is a bit more consistent, less reactive to random sh1t, and she hacks solo. It's certainly easier to keep her fitter, so there's that.

 

[cauda equina]

Tow horses in work will at some point turn into one horse in work, so you could regard them as one to ride and a spare!

 

[Red-1]

I have had 2 eventers in work. I liked a friend to ride one when I could get them! I then taught my husband to ride him. One of them wouldn't have been a good candidate for ride and lead.

Otherwise, I would lunge one and ride the other out on working days. They were both competing BE Novice so needed work in them. I had an arrangement with a farmer to do fast work on his fields and would do laps of canter/trot.

Now I have lower level ones, I do ride and lead as well as have a friend ride one. I am also teaching my boyfriend to ride so he can help. They are heavier types so I would prefer not to lings as much but then they don't have to be even 1/10th as fit!

 

[scats]

Alternate days or two days for the ‘top’ one and work the other every third day. Thats mostly how I work it. Millie does 2-3 days in a row then Polly does the day Millie has off.
I’m generally too busy to do the two in one day.

 

[JackFrost]

I find it difficult having two in work. Effectively you have only half the time to ride each horse and I feel they each only get half the attention they should.
Might depend what facilities and back up you have for riding if there's bad weather or you need a non riding day for any reason.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve currently got two on the go! It was never the plan. It’s quite hard work but been ok so far (only a few weeks in!!) might not be as great over winter. I do intend to ride and lead. I also didn’t used to ride on weekends but not I give one a day off on Friday which is my busiest day work wise and ride one on the Saturdays instead.
I’m quite enjoying it tbh! It’s like a bit of a victory each day

 

[poiuytrewq]

I find it difficult having two in work. Effectively you have only half the time to ride each horse and I feel they each only get half the attention they should.
Might depend what facilities and back up you have for riding if there's bad weather or you need a non riding day for any reason.

I do agree with this though. I’d rather one really.

 

[millitiger]

I like to do longer/fewer sessions.

So usually alternate days Monday-Thursday for 'proper' focussed schooling sessions.

Fridays tend to be groundwork, lunging or short stretch session under saddle, for both.

Weekend days for both, either competing, longer hacks or fast work.

So each working 5 days/week.
Both would be fit enough for Novice eventing or Advanced dressage with that.

 

[Ladybird L]

Thanks for all the replies! I have lots of ideas now, I’ll have to give ponying a shot now to see if they won’t kill each other!

 

[TheMule]

I won’t have a sharer either, but I do have a lovely local woman that comes and hacks out with me. She doesn’t contribute towards costs but she will look out for them if I'm away for a couple of days and brings gifts of apples and fly spray!
Makes it much easier

 

[pistolpete]

Yes I’m an ad hoc sharer to one of my share ponies. Can work well with the right people.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I ride both some days when I have the energy if not I do a bit of groundwork and lunging with one and ride the other.

 

[SEL]

In order to ride and lead I'd need 4 horses so no one was left alone....

Mr sel has gone a funny colour at the thought of one more.

So keeping 2 in ridden work and not letting the retiree get too fat means I don't sleep!