Would you/do you keep two in one stable?

[MrsElle]

I was talking to someone today about my decision to get a companion pony for Ellie as sometimes she is out first/in last and gets a bit wound up being out for a period of time alone.

My son's two ponies used to share a stable and Ellie has a huge stable that would be plenty big enough for her and a small pony.

However, the woman I was talking to was horrified at the thought of keeping two in one stable. I never had any problems with my ponios and one used to sleep with his head across the back of the other, bless!

So what do you think? Obviously it wouldn't be possible to keep two horses in an average sized stable, but a 16hh and a perhaps 10hh in a very large one?

 

[Hollycat]

I don't see the problem as long as the pair had bonded well and there wasn't going to be any bullying. After all on the continent youngsters are often kept in barns with not that much square metres per horse. Only prob I can really think of is that ponio may eat more than his/her share of hay/hard feed nicked from the horse - which could be damageing if small pony prone to lami. Just need to get a compatible pair really

 

[Spyda]

Mmmmm... could be tricky. The horses would both have to be extremely tolerant of one another. I'd be concerned incase a scuffle were to break out when no one was around. Neither horse would be able to get away from the other and it could be tragic.

If you were to go down this route, how would you determine the pony to buy as a companion? I dunno, it's risky. It's done, I know. But I'd think it's more luck than judgement finding two horses of such differing sizes to share the small space of, even a large, loose box.

I'll be interested to hear what others have to say, though.

 

[spookypony]

At my first riding school, they kept three horses in one very very large stall for years. Never any problems with them; they seemed perfectly happy and polite.

 

[iconique]

It depends if the get on! I keep my two old ponies in a large stable, they are mother and son, she is about 43 and he is 25, he's going blind and actually enjoys the company.

They haven't always been together and we try and make sure that they get out as much as possible. One usually lies down and might have a roll while the other stands by the door, although sometimes they both lie down. They never tread on each other and the only problem usually arises when the old mare comes into season!!! (she shouldn't at that age!)

 

[alison247]

our two over 14hh shared their stables 10 x 10. we left their doors open so they could choose a stable or be out on the yard. They were always together when I went up in the morning.

 

[DuckToller]

I would say no, as the bigger one will always bully the smaller one unless it has an exceptional temperament.

Years ago I got two ponies from a riding school that closed down and they had shared a large stall, where they were tied up together. As I had a large barn I put them in together, and straight away the bigger one would make faces and push the smaller one out of the way of hay, no matter how many piles I put in.

Also I noticed the smaller one rarely laid down, if at all, as he was always wary. Got OH to subdivide barn and the smaller one was very much more relaxed and ate much better.

Similarly I have penned ponies, and at one competition we penned two so-called friends in one large pen, and watched as the dominant one constantly moved the other one round and round, they would settle for a few minutes, then the dominant one would just quietly insist the other one moved over, again and again. I got out my electric tape, cut the pen in half, one very happy pony much relieved to be left alone!

 

[kerilli]

depends totally on how well they get on, tbh i wouldn't in a stable that wasn't absolutely huge, as there's nowhere for them to go if they get bullied, and a lot of damage could be done.

 

[MrsElle]

Just wanted to ad, I wouldn't just chuck them in together and let them get on with it, would make sure they got on well in the field first and then perhaps introduce them into one stable from two if all went well. If it didn't they would stay in separate stables.

 

[1357]

i have to shetlands and they go in the same stable but you have tio make sure the are bonded first so they don't fight

 

[nicnag]

Yes with no problems, my old mare and my pony were almost literally joined at the hip so they stabled together in a 30' x 30' shed. Must have been funny at night as the pony liked to poo all in one place and the horse liked to spread it around but cover it up, must have been a few arguments! For a while I thought I was going off home leaving the stable door open as the pony kept being found in the yard in the morning but we found out the big mare was opening the door, turfing her out and shutting the door behind her!

 

[PoppyAnderson]

At HOYS this year, all the driving pony pairs were in their stables together and the stables weren't that roomy.

 

[DuckToller]

Yes, I can see this would work, as they have been together for years, and they trust each other. Sweet!

 

[Cash]

It might be a bit dangerous for the pony if yours does get wound up in a kind of scared way... but i don't know!
Several of the little ponies at the yard have been known to share stables happily (3 in one sometimes!!) but recently one kicked the other in the mouth

they're normally best friends, so just shows that things can happen..... but i guess if they do get on well, no reason why not!

 

[Passtheshampoo]

Wouldn't it be cheaper for you to pay someone to bring her in /turn out for you when you aren't able to get to the yard in time?

 

[YorksG]

Our retired mare shares her stable with her friend Sue the sheep, they get on very well, share hay and both lie down at the same time. Sue often walks under the mare. They had known each other for a good few years before this arrangement began, as Sue used to live with her sister and her mother, but when she was the only one left we felt it was unfair for her to be on her own overnight, so she comes in and out with the mare.

 

[palomino698]

Only if they were similar sizes and appetites, knew each other very, very well and were very bonded, and neither had shoes on their hinds. Mares can be very territorial, one of ours will be fine for ages, then has a day or so of "How dare you breathe on the same planet as me?", and in a confined space would kick seven bells out of her best and favourite friend on those days!

 

[Happytohack]

As others have said - if they get on really well, then there is no problem. I kept my 17.2 and 14.1 in the same stable for a while when we were rebuilding our yard. They had been together for years and have always got on well. They looked so sweet lying down together and there weren't any problems at all. Mind you the stable is huge 16 x 18, so they had plenty of room. The only problem I can see in getting a much smaller companion is the risk of laminitis. I have a 8hh pony and he is able to go out with the others at this time of year, but in the Spring/Summer he has to have restricted grazing. So a small pony will probably not make an ideal companion

 

[Lulup]

Personally I think you could be asking for trouble. If your mare gets wound up at being left out alone then it would be far better to come to an arrangement with another livery for perhaps you to turn hers out at the same time as yours in the morning/her to bring yours in at same time as hers in the evening etc.
If you buy a companion pony then your mare could become overly attached to it and you could then have problems seperating them etc. and I would strongly advise against putting a pony in the same stable as a much larger horse unless they had bonded over a long time period - in fact even then I would only do it in exceptional circumstances - especially if the mare has back shoes on. Could all end very badly.
You may also wish to consider that your mare, as an older horse, is likely to need far more feed/hay in winter and grass in summer than the companion pony which may end up with you having to restrict ponies grazing and turning it out on poorer grazing or for shorter timescale anyway..
I would strongly recommend that you take some time to get to know/enjoy your lovely new mare and let her really settle at the yard/with you by asking other liveries to join forces before you even consider adding another pony into the equation.

 

[bugaboo]

Have know people who do it at the riding school i taught at when i was pregnant we kept 2 ponies together but i would not encourage it nor do it myself.
I just think that a horse should be able to have its own private space and food.
If a fight were to break out as often happens with horses one could possibly get killed its just does not bear to think of personally i would never do it.

 

[becca114]

I have kept my donkey in the same stable as a pony. They got on brilliantly and had no problems.

 

[muffinino]

We used to keep our scurry pairs together with no problems, though they'd usually pair bonded. Having said that, when one died and was replaced by his son they were put together in a stable from the start and there were no problems. They would all be in a field together then brought in for a few nights before a show (pairs sharing stables), then kept in lorry side stabling together, never any problems. It came in useful when you had 2 pairs at HOYS for a week and stables costing £50/night, no shavings included! I think they gave the scurries special treatment to allow them to share

TBH if we could take the partition down between T and his boyfriend they would happily share. They've been in a stable together at feeding time when T ran in to P's stable (naughty boy!) then stood next to him as he ate - they didn't fight, T just looked confused

As it is half the partition is missing so they can see each other through the wall

 

[PapaFrita]

If they got on OK then yes I would. I used to keep my foals together after weaning, although I did feed them apart because Flynn was a right sod for pinching Kip's food.

 

[glenruby]

I kept my two 14.2hhs in the same stable one winter - the stable was 16x16ft. Ponies were turned out to 4 acre field from 7am til 3pm , were then brought into turnout pad with open access to stable. Wet and wild nights, both were shut in stable. Both were in work and hunting for most of the winter. Fed at nigt in the stable witout ever having trouble - in fact it had its benefits, the mare was a poor grubber and it was the only year she kept weight on! She was th boss and the gelding idolised her. They had both been kept on livery together for previous winter and then spent summer turned out at home together so were well used to each other.

 

[amandaco2]

i wouldnt with anything other than mare and foal
one will always bully the other and one could get seriously injured

 

[Bossanova]

Yep if they got on well.
Yard I'm at keeps two youngsters together. I've seen 2 ponies live together quite happily and my ancient pony shared a stable with our foal when it was weaned

 

[Chumsmum]

I keep my two mini shetlands together when I occasionly stable them and never had a problem - they are good friends and the relationship is 50/50, I think they toss a coin to see who is boss that day

 

[glenruby]

Most TB stds and many of the top acehorse trainers will keep 2 or occasionally 3 yeArlings or weanlings in a stable together for company. Infact we had a weanling full brother to a recent Derby winner who came for treatment to the hospital and his stable mate wa brought with him for company (another weanling - sharing the same stable). Its commonly done with youngsters.

 

[GT_02]

I keep my shetland in with another at night time and we've never had any problems.

 

[PurplePickle]

Only ones I knew got on extremely well and wouldnt kick each other, I cant do it with my current 2