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Post by wabuska on Jan 1, 2009 13:59:41 GMT 1
Well this is it, I don't want to end up doing that, and as this mare is a sweetheart, windy day, jumpy youngster, who will I take out? We're talking it all through before making any decisions. I have a companion mare too, so it's three horses to care for, well two and a pony. I have two stables I can use, the third being used for junk etc., so we would have to rug and rotate. That worries me less, than timetabling riding, but oh it would be lovely to just ride out without training even once a week!
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Ann NF
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Post by Ann NF on Jan 1, 2009 13:59:44 GMT 1
Having a sensible horse/pony to ride out alongside a youngster or a spooky horse is a very good thing, if you can afford the time and finances for both. My son`s pony, Flaky, was always a bit unpredictable and riding out with either Rufus or Hamlet helped all round. Now the two old boys are at Rainbow Bridge and their sane, steady influence is really missed. When my sharer and I start to work with the two NF youngsters, it would be so good to have another calm "been there- done that" pony to give them confidence and sensible company out on the Forest.
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rosi
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Post by rosi on Jan 1, 2009 14:16:33 GMT 1
If you have found the right horse, then I think that you should go for it. Your relationship with Flynn will not suffer at all, but may actually grow in strength. We have three, my husbands horse, my older boy (18 yr old) and a youngster. I was concerned about losing the bond that I have with my boy, but if anything, having Stanley has taken years off the two older horses and they play together wonderfully well. I have also found that they take confidence from each other - a case in point being that the two older horses followed the youngster onto the horsewalker after seeing him stroll onto it. I think that you should go for it.
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Post by sara on Jan 1, 2009 15:02:11 GMT 1
Sounds brillient Kanga. The only thing I can think of is the herd dynamics? Sometimes if you have an established herd of 2, they may not except the new horse?
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asbo
Advanced Poster
Posts: 390
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Post by asbo on Jan 1, 2009 15:20:14 GMT 1
i had 2 bsja'ing and had one yearling, all on diy while working 6 days per week, was pretty hard work and tbh i was glad when i retired my mare and only had the one to ride.
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Post by june on Jan 1, 2009 15:39:31 GMT 1
When I commuted daily to London we had 5 horses on livery. We'd get off the train at about 7ish each evening and head off to the stables to exercise them. It was pretty tiring but doable with the two of us. Now we've got 22 and they live at home. We have people to help and it is much easier!
The only downside I can see is that you enjoy the new horse so much you will concentrate on riding that one rather than working with Flynn, but as long as you are disciplined and set aside time to work with him then I think it will help.
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Post by jadehollinshead on Jan 1, 2009 16:15:17 GMT 1
im at school from 8-3, i go to my nan and grandads until 5:30 everyday, so im not down at our yard until 6 at least. i got my 2nd on xmas day, marley, school days are coming up again now, and ive found it that im more focused on doing the jobs, i get done quicker, giving me a huge amount of time left over to ride both and fuss around its great
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Post by stybba on Jan 1, 2009 17:25:16 GMT 1
I have two at home, floodlit school, I work part time, have a 18month old son, and mum lives across the road for easy babysitting, and TBH I still struggle to do two, in fact, only Tilly is really rideable at the mo' and I struggle to ride her enough! However, it is handy to have one sensible one to help with your confidence, so I absolutely understand your reasons for wanting this mare. Sorry, not very helpful.
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Post by jakeandbarneysmum on Jan 1, 2009 17:42:47 GMT 1
I have two. But my OH is seriously involved, and we have them at home, so all round it's a lot easier than managing on my own at livery. I have to say that I think 2 seems to be more than double the work of 1, if you know what I mean. I have problems with green eyed monsters - little ginger ones. He's been evil to Jake since Jake arrived (8 years ago!) to the point where we have to keep them apart, or Barney will attack. I've taken Jake to lots of clinics and to camp this year, and it is VERY refreshing to have him on his own - the work seems to take less than half the time, I don't have to worry about what "the other one" is thinking or doing, and I can just concentrate on Jake. Having said that, I still dream about having another horse that's more up to fast work/jumping than Jake is!!!! (Couldn't afford it, so it's just a dream... sigh!!)
I think, if you want it bad enough, you'll manage it. But think hard, luvvie!!
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Post by wabuska on Jan 1, 2009 17:54:30 GMT 1
Tortured!
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Post by jakeandbarneysmum on Jan 1, 2009 17:57:33 GMT 1
Sorry!
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Post by kt with Hanni on Jan 1, 2009 18:19:32 GMT 1
Would be lovely to have 2 unfortunately I could not afford it financially and time wise I struggle to give Hanni enough exercise ( I work full time) so I know I could never do this unless i had money and worked part time or not at all :-) If you have the time and money go for it but just remember what time you are spending now I expect double that amount of time? I like your reasoning for doing it though as I think that would increase your confidence no end! Hard decision :-) What about loaning one so you can see if you can cope time wise?
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gixer
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Post by gixer on Jan 1, 2009 18:23:27 GMT 1
I ended up with 2 when I was younger, initially the plan was a younger horse to bring on and to keep my TB company but that didn;t work out so I px'd the younger for an old hand. It was sooo nice to be able to look forward to a nice chilled out long hack on my old boy and then to do the serious schooling work with my TB in a relaxed frame of mind. I still hacked out my TB just not overly far and stopped venturing into fields (he went and I had no say about it) I did teach the TB to lead from the old boy so if time was short I'd go out on the old 'un leading the TB along. Did me wonders! and helped make sure riding was still fun.
Kanga Do it! if she's hardy enough and not something that needs pumping full off food then the cost implications aren't too bad as you have your own land. having somone you can ride out and forget about all the schooling will do you wonders, help your confidence and help you know where you want to get flynn too.
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Post by ojoj1869 on Jan 1, 2009 19:10:05 GMT 1
i have 3 at diy livery...ok one is my daughters pony and during the school week i do this one aswell every morning before work... the other 2 are 3yo youngster who i was given in August last year and a 23yo cob who has hunted all his life... i initially took on loan the 23yo to ride out beside my daughter as he has been there seen it done it and has been fab..this was great and worked well... then offered the youngster who i personally mother and grandmother and as he was an unmarked page and will be a share for me and my daughter eventually grabbed him with both hands....but boy has been hard work to keep up the commitement to all three. i started the 3yo in september and thankfully he has been really easy and taken everything in his stride..he is now ridden out twice weekly sat/sun and ridden in school once week in an evening just to keep him ticking over till the spring...he was only three in june..so still a baby... i work 30 hours a week 4 days and never have enough time to do everything for each of them and run a house and look after the family etc...i feel really gulity not being able to have the time to give a serious grooming session just a quick flick where it matters...the tail that could have done with a wash weeks ago still needs doing.... i use the 23yo as the lead when taking my youngster out but i want to ride my youngster and my oldie but obviously cant do both at the same time...so i generally end up riding the older one whilst the lady who has helped me with the youngster gets the ride... (... i then feel peed off not being able to ride him unless i go out with someone else...i wont be in the same situation come spring /summer as the 23yo is going to go back home so i can then really concentrate on my youngster... i personally having done it wouldn't have a second rideable horse through choice, its never ending work leaving little time for the more pleasureble things like riding/grooming just spending time with them.....i dont think the winter helps and i,m sure it will be much easier during the summer months when all are turned out 24/7... do you have family kanga? or someone who would help out....i have just very guilty about not being able to give 100% to each horse it is just impossible...
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Post by dashequestrian on Jan 1, 2009 19:35:31 GMT 1
I have three at DIY, two of which are ridden plus one shetland x youngster. To be honest, there are days (especially in winter) when I wish I only had the one ridden horse. I don't have the time to ride as much as I'd like and am constantly feeling pushed for time. On days I do ride one of them I feel guilty as I don't have much time to spend with the other two. I wouldn't part with any of them and don't regret getting them, but it can be a bit of a slog on cold mornings when I see other owners get their one horse out and stable done in record time whilst I am still at the yard hours later sorting them all out! (I do look after a couple of my friends horses as well though). My main riding horse has been off work while he transitions to barefoot (has been very footy) and the other ridden horse is pretty unfit. I am trying to get them both back to fitness and I must admit I am struggling to fit in all the necessary riding / in-hand work. If I just had the one it would be a doddle. Mind you, you already have two horses so an extra one probably won't make a huge difference (I REALLY noticed the difference when I went from one to two horses, but when I added the third one it didn't seem like a lot of extra work at all.
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