What would you do?

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Princess16

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We have two fields, both of around 2.5 acres, one for summer and the other for winter. We have a pony who is out 24/7 with a field shelter. He is alone but has horses and sheep adjacent to him although TBH he doesn't bother/ stand with them half the time. He has a lot of social interaction with humans and dogs and at weekends somebody is there more or less most of the day usually in the summer.

I have read so much about horses being herd animals and needing horses. Because of the size of fields (summer one is strip grazed off) I'm just wondering if it's doable to get another?

Went up today and just felt sad he hadn't got another pony there to play/groom with even though he has the others in adj field and is certainly happy in himself.

Really don't know what the answer is ? Someone help me decide if keeping two is doable on what really isn't a lot of land but at the same time I think of ponies kept locked up in stables with little or no turnout so what's the difference really? am I a bad person?
 
You are not a bad person, and the fact that you are really thinking about the situation proves this.

It does depend on how well draining your fields are, but I definitely think your acreage is more than enough for two.

I think if it were me I would try and borrow a pony for a few months to see if it makes a difference and to see if it suits you too :)
 
you could try fostering a mini? we have one who is a fab little companion and costs very little to keep and is light on land. if you do get a larger horse you have to consider if it will stress if you take your pony out. my mini throws a little tantrum when the other goes, but settles after a little while and goes back to munching. I know three of the others wouldn't stay by themselves if their partner went out - they'd end up impaling themselves on a gate or something!
 
5 acres is more than enough for two, the only issue is that two can become too attached to each other and can make riding an issue if you end up with them being tricky to separate , three is a far easier number to deal with so two small ones would be ideal company for yours, you are not bad keeping him alone but he would have a more enjoyable life with a friend or two, just be careful if you get something small, minis, welsh a's etc can be a problem keeping their weight down especially in summer 2 1/2 acres would normally have far too much grass for the average small pony to cope with.
 
Just wanted to add that the 5 acres is split into two separate fields I.e. Not together as one.

Pony is not ridden at mo.

Thanks for replies. So I guess if I am looking at companion it would be a Shettie? My only worry with them is a) they are hovers so would hate for mine to go without and b) they are escape artists. We have electric fencing.
 
This is sort of my dilemma. Whether to add a third because my two are a bit dependent on each other. It's just more grass eating when there isn't much around, more hay, more poo to pick !!!
 
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