What sort of Companion?

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PercyMum

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I have just moved my 2 horses home and am concerned that if I am out competing or hacking that the other one is by himself and may do soemthing daft.

I'd like to start looking at getting a companion for when either of them are out. However, I don't want to rush into it so am investigating what is the best sort of companion so would appreciate other peoples experiences. I have just under 2 acres so would not have 24hr turnout but would get a decent amount. Would get lots of love but I don't want something super-high maintenance (ie laminitic or sweet itch).

I thought about a Shetland or a Donkey but I have no experience of either. A friend suggested a goat but I live on a busy road and whilst I have good fencing, I would be worried about it escaping.

Any thoughts? :)
 
I always find a companion which is a similar size and of similar dietary requirements to the other horse is best. Much easier to deal with on a daily basis if you can treat them the same (within reason obviously before anyone shouts about treating all horses as individuals!)
 
Irishbabygirl said:
I always find a companion which is a similar size and of similar dietary requirements to the other horse is best. Much easier to deal with on a daily basis if you can treat them the same (within reason obviously before anyone shouts about treating all horses as individuals!)
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Eeek! The other 2 are a 17hh WB and a 16.3 TB. I can't afford another one of them - they eat me out of house and home as it is :D

Was hoping that something smaller and more economical might do the trick...
 
Lol! My "companion" is also a 17hh WB so feel your pain!
Well in that case, something smaller that wont explode on grazing your two biggies need!
Guess you could always tape off an area for a little one so they can still touch over the fence when your off out on your other one?
 
Really something with similar dietary needs. If you have two poor doers its very difficult juggling a third on restricted grazing & rationed soaked hay if the other two get ad lib haylage 24/7 & need the richer grass.
You could look for a poor doer pony, so at least it won't cost as much as another 16.2 to feed. Or advertise for a livery with a retired/turned away horse, with you providing the daily care.
 
So I am guessing a companion has to be equine origin? Shame, I quite fancied a sheep pottering about the place. Mind you, the TB would probably be terrified of it... :eek:
 
I've always kept mine in farms, and they've paid no attention to the sheep or cows there! Maybe the pigs but not of the required behaviour! Lol!
 
I've got a 13.3 Highland on loan as a companion. I had a friend's secA here before that but he had laminitis and was more work than my two put together and he ended up stabled or in an area on his own so not much use as a companion. The Highland doesn't have a history of laminitis and has similar requirements to one of mine so she's very easy to do. She also rideable which means if I want some company hacking in the future I could get her a sharer. If you are going to keep an extra horse it may as well be one that you could make use of in some way as there are plenty of sound healthy horses looking for a good home atm.
 
I got lucky with my companion, shes a british riding pony 13.2hh, slim and energetic (bit crazy too lol), never been majorly overweight and never had lami but doesnt drop weight in winter either when fed just forage, shes been a perfect companion for my TB. Both of them have been on lush grazing all summer and ad-lib haylage all winter and both are now slightly porky. Couldnt cope with giving one as much as they want and the other having restricted, would have drove me mad! They are out there just takes a bit of looking at type etc, mine has been loaned out last week as a companion to an aged pony now im moving my boy onto livery.
 
LynH said:
I've got a 13.3 Highland on loan as a companion. I had a friend's secA here before that but he had laminitis and was more work than my two put together and he ended up stabled or in an area on his own so not much use as a companion. The Highland doesn't have a history of laminitis and has similar requirements to one of mine so she's very easy to do. She also rideable which means if I want some company hacking in the future I could get her a sharer. If you are going to keep an extra horse it may as well be one that you could make use of in some way as there are plenty of sound healthy horses looking for a good home atm.
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I did think that but I don't want another monster and I really want something low maintenance which is why I thought perhaps a donkey (excuse the ignorance - do they get laminitis?). I'm also 5'9 so anything that I can ride is generally going to be quite large.
 
PercyMum said:
Eeek! The other 2 are a 17hh WB and a 16.3 TB. I can't afford another one of them - they eat me out of house and home as it is :D

Was hoping that something smaller and more economical might do the trick...
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Definately second the similar nutritional needs companion - a fiend has a cheapy good doer pony companion and 9 months of the year it has to be separated from her 17hh ridden horse - on a tiny paddock, it has soaked hay in winter and muzzled almost all year. It's a right pain in the backside and she spends more time faffying with keeping weight off the companion than she does riding her main horse!

I only have 2 at home and if I put one in the stable with some hay they are more than happy to wait while I ride, can you play it by ear to start with and see whether you really need one? I complete mine so sometimes out all day at an event - the companion winnys when the trailer pulls in but no big stress!
 
Polos Mum said:
Definately second the similar nutritional needs companion - a fiend has a cheapy good doer pony companion and 9 months of the year it has to be separated from her 17hh ridden horse - on a tiny paddock, it has soaked hay in winter and muzzled almost all year. It's a right pain in the backside and she spends more time faffying with keeping weight off the companion than she does riding her main horse!

I only have 2 at home and if I put one in the stable with some hay they are more than happy to wait while I ride, can you play it by ear to start with and see whether you really need one? I complete mine so sometimes out all day at an event - the companion winnys when the trailer pulls in but no big stress!
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I'm hoping this will indeed be the case with mine and once they are settled, I can leave the other at home without a problem. I just thought I would be organised (for once!!) and do a bit of research and opinion-gathering before I get to the point where I might need to get one and therefore avoid making a mistake thats unfair on all.
 
What you really really need are two companions!! then you can take both your big horses out at once and your companions always have a companion!

The companions, being a pair of small shetland ponies live on fresh air and water and will charm the pants off any visitors you within minutes.

If i knew how to i'd post a photo of the ideal pair of companions you need, a pair that I don't need anymore!
 
PercyMum said:
I did think that but I don't want another monster and I really want something low maintenance which is why I thought perhaps a donkey (excuse the ignorance - do they get laminitis?). I'm also 5'9 so anything that I can ride is generally going to be quite large.
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Not all Shetland ponies needs restricted grazing, try to get one that without problems are living on similar grazing to what you have. Besides if you get a smaller pony or donkey as a companion, get one that you can drive, then your height isn't any problem and you could still give him/her a little occasional exercise.

Shetlands
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Shetland cross mule
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Donkeys
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:)
 
My TB has a Shetland companion pony. It is do-able.
They come in at night and have separate rations of hay and feed. Even in summer its worked ok though. Shetlands can be muzzled and TB's can have slightly rubbish grazing topped up with hay it has too work for me as the TB is absolutely obsessed with the Shetland!
I found one way that worked was too leave the TB with my other horses and Shetland in his fenced off paddock then when I wanted to ride put the other two in together just for the time I was out with my horse.
Its a little more hassle admittedly than another horse that I could chuck out and leave alone totally but there is no way I could afford another TB (or would want another) My Shetland costs me virtually nothing and was being given away free so apart from wormer and a trim now and then he's problem free
 
Actually I could do you a lovely companion combo TB and Shetland happy to live out as long as they are together they couldn't give a damn who else comes and go's! ;D
 
I NEEEEEED a shetland with a sledge - how cute??!! :p

My grazing isnt great so maybe I could get away with a Shettie... Although hoping the 2 boys will be fine by themselves!!
 
I don't know about none equine friends, but we have an exracer as a companion. He's 16hh and good doer type (but not so much he gets lami etc just doesnt need hard feed etc). Hes barefoot, only gets a taster of chaff as hardfeed just because the ones in work get brekky so he doesnt feel left out, and is generally very cheap to keep. Possibly worth considering a loan from a racehorse rehoming centre if they have a suitable candidate? Just an idea :).
 
PercyMum said:
I NEEEEEED a shetland with a sledge - how cute??!! :p

My grazing isnt great so maybe I could get away with a Shettie... Although hoping the 2 boys will be fine by themselves!!
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Haha, Yes we considered this! Our shettie long reins beautifully- I suspect he's been driven maybe so we figured we'd sledge behind him.
On further thought obviously a harness was required or we'd be getting towed by his mouth so it was a failed plan before we started but what fun that could be ;)
 
I'm going to be looking for a companion for my 16.2hh TB within the next couple of months. I was planning on getting a shetland!
 
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