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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
 
| Just like the title says. It can be a bit daunting or intimidating to think about moving from running/riding 1 horse to 2. I'd like very much to do it but I'd also like to hear tips and tricks for keeping two legged up, splitting time and attention at runs, riding a young one at the same time as a more finished one, etc.
Any advice, words of encouragement and wisdom are VERY much appreciated.
Anything from bringing a new one home to daily routine to a weekend of running - tips/suggestions? |
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Location: Not Where I Want to Be | two would be a vacation |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I used to haul 4. I had saddles, boots for everyone, got my runs spread out how I liked. I excepted it is a lot of work and did not complain, good exercise :). Now I just haul 2, nothing to it. Edited to add the most tiring part for me was when I got home, taking off ice boots, soft rides etc,. I always made sure stalls/feed was done before I left and ready when I got back home, one less thing to when I am tired and ready for a shower.
Edited by rodeomom3 2017-04-13 11:40 AM
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | You will figure out a routine. There is no real science. - Which one is easier to ride/warm up?
- How much time do you need to dedicate to get each prepared to go down the alley (how many drags)?
- How much time do YOU need to mentally prepare for each run?
- What style is each horse? (ie I don't liek riding a horse that is more free after a total push style.)
- Which horse are you most comfortable on? ( I like riding the more difficult one first?
- DON'T LET A BAD RUN ON 1 CARRY OVER TO THE 2ND.
?As far as exercise, you will learn what each needs. Colts/Young ones ususally need more riding and tuning. The finished horse can usually be ponied of the Young one to keep them in shape. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| I am in your boat. Just bought a second horse...I do not know how people do it with more than that...I leave for work at 6am and get home at 5pm...I don't have indoor arena or an outdoor for that matter...road ditches and grass lots...sometimes fields in the winter...it's all about time management...I have one horse that's pretty low maintenance wise which helps with the one who isn't...I pony one or the other...if I can't ride I lunge line...keep your barn, tack, etc...organized it helps...have headstalls, bits, pads, etc...for each horse so you're not swapping tack all the time. Once you "learn" what your horses need it'll get easier...it's trial by fire, at least to me.
It's not easy, but nothing with horses is. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| 1DSoon - 2017-04-13 11:31 AM two would be a vacation
For some, sure. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| RedHead84 - 2017-04-13 11:39 AM I am in your boat. Just bought a second horse...I do not know how people do it with more than that...I leave for work at 6am and get home at 5pm...I don't have indoor arena or an outdoor for that matter...road ditches and grass lots...sometimes fields in the winter...it's all about time management...I have one horse that's pretty low maintenance wise which helps with the one who isn't...I pony one or the other...if I can't ride I lunge line...keep your barn, tack, etc...organized it helps...have headstalls, bits, pads, etc...for each horse so you're not swapping tack all the time. Once you "learn" what your horses need it'll get easier...it's trial by fire, at least to me. It's not easy, but nothing with horses is.
I'm in the same boat, work all day and no real arena to ride in. Empty dirt fields right now, which is great.
Stays light til 10 in the summer so that helps a lot. Just curious about the time required to keep two legged up nicely. Sadly my finished horse is one that requires a lot of miles even now. Just how he is. I've thought about leaving one saddled/tied while I ride the other away and then switch so that they don't get too buddied up. Hate horses that are buddied up..
IDK, even though some are super heros and ride 3 or 4+, two is still an adjustment when you are used to ONE.
Keep the advice coming!
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| star1218 - 2017-04-13 11:45 AM
RedHead84 - 2017-04-13 11:39 AM I am in your boat. Just bought a second horse...I do not know how people do it with more than that...I leave for work at 6am and get home at 5pm...I don't have indoor arena or an outdoor for that matter...road ditches and grass lots...sometimes fields in the winter...it's all about time management...I have one horse that's pretty low maintenance wise which helps with the one who isn't...I pony one or the other...if I can't ride I lunge line...keep your barn, tack, etc...organized it helps...have headstalls, bits, pads, etc...for each horse so you're not swapping tack all the time. Once you "learn" what your horses need it'll get easier...it's trial by fire, at least to me. It's not easy, but nothing with horses is.
I'm in the same boat, work all day and no real arena to ride in. Empty dirt fields right now, which is great.
Stays light til 10 in the summer so that helps a lot. Just curious about the time required to keep two legged up nicely. Sadly my finished horse is one that requires a lot of miles even now. Just how he is. I've thought about leaving one saddled/tied while I ride the other away and then switch so that they don't get too buddied up. Hate horses that are buddied up..
IDK, even though some are super heros and ride 3 or 4+, two is still an adjustment when you are used to ONE.
Keep the advice coming!
Yes, if I ride 2 per night. I saddle both and one stands ties to the "patience post". It's good for them.
There is no "time requirement"...it's what works for that specific horse. And sometimes you don't find out you didn't ride enough until they act like a total nut job at the barrel race. It's what keeps us humble. I'd day if your finished horse requires a lot of time...teach the young one to pony...it can be hassle...but it may be your only way to get things done. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 408
| I ride two sometimes three (if I have to work my hubby's horse). I am pretty fortunate to have an outdoor arena with lights so during good weather it is not a problem, I can ride until late BUT what I am having a very hard time with is running two horses!!! Both of my horses are so buddy up that it's a NIGHTMARE to take them both to the same barrel race. They get so distracted and unfocused that it takes all the fun away ughhhhhhhhhh  |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| star1218 - 2017-04-13 11:45 AM
RedHead84 - 2017-04-13 11:39 AM I am in your boat. Just bought a second horse...I do not know how people do it with more than that...I leave for work at 6am and get home at 5pm...I don't have indoor arena or an outdoor for that matter...road ditches and grass lots...sometimes fields in the winter...it's all about time management...I have one horse that's pretty low maintenance wise which helps with the one who isn't...I pony one or the other...if I can't ride I lunge line...keep your barn, tack, etc...organized it helps...have headstalls, bits, pads, etc...for each horse so you're not swapping tack all the time. Once you "learn" what your horses need it'll get easier...it's trial by fire, at least to me. It's not easy, but nothing with horses is.
I'm in the same boat, work all day and no real arena to ride in. Empty dirt fields right now, which is great.
Stays light til 10 in the summer so that helps a lot. Just curious about the time required to keep two legged up nicely. Sadly my finished horse is one that requires a lot of miles even now. Just how he is. I've thought about leaving one saddled/tied while I ride the other away and then switch so that they don't get too buddied up. Hate horses that are buddied up..
IDK, even though some are super heros and ride 3 or 4+, two is still an adjustment when you are used to ONE.
Keep the advice coming!
That is how I do it when I have more than one to ride/compete on. They get saddled and tied up at the same time and I ride one at a time. I hate ponying horses. I don't like the horses sharing bits, pads or boots. Sometimes we have to share saddles, though. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I used to ride one and pony 2.
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | take them to a smaller show to see how they handle being separated when you go to warm up and run the other. When I started running 2 of mine I thought they would be fine because I had ran the gelding for years and he never cared, and the new mare had been level headed at all the races I had taken her to. Turns out they are morons when hauled together. At least I was prepared after that first race.
ETA that throughout the winter I haul to the fairgrounds and one has to stand tied while i ride. They never did anything. But the race was a different story lol
Edited by livexlovexrodeo 2017-04-13 12:18 PM
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I run 3 at the moment..2 rightys and 1 lefty..all very differnt styles...and i have 3 young ones that i ride as well....i sometimes will pony the older ones but i try to ride them all...i just make sure to ride the young ones first so i have daylight..at jackpots i get everybody saddled and booted and run in the order that works...its really not that big of a deal :)...m |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | I started hauling 2 last year again after hauling 1 for 6 years. I forgot how much work it is- ha! It's easy yet exhausting at the same time if that makes sense? 1 was just SO EASY lol
I also work full time, I typically pony my solid mare off my other. I never have had buddy issues. I do lunge also too if I can't get them both worked. I always put miles on first, then come back and tie my veteran up and work my young horse a bit.
I don't know how I'd do 2 that needed tuning, with working full time and having a family.
Good luck! It's fun, expensive, but fun ;)
ETA: each have their own saddles, pads, boots, etc. It would be a nightmare sharing things.
Edited by SmokinGirlie 2017-04-13 1:10 PM
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | I had 5 that I was running for a while. Thankfully 2 were super solid veterans that always made me look good. I'm down to 4 now and my boyfriend takes care of keeping the little one legged up so I'm really only working 3. I alternate who gets ridden/worked the hardest and when time allows I ride everyone on the same day. Again, it's very helpful that one is my solid finished rodeo horse but the other two require a considerable amount of slow work during the week. It's rare that I run all 4 at the same race, but I try to concentrate on riding the horse I'm on, forgetting about a bad run, and just doing my job for each run. Boy, it is nice to hop on the old faithful one though!
I always try to pre enter if possible so my runs are split up, and I plan on getting everywhere early but leaving late in order to take care of multiple horses properly. After a while, it does get easier since you'll figure out a routine for each horse and find ways to make everything work at races. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| Running two is easy if they are similar styles and training. I've got two that are pretty much point and kick.
It's that dang training thing that gets in the way for me though! When I was training the second one of the two above, after running old faithful for years, well....I screwed up old faithful a few times!! Forgetting who I was on and that I didn't need to help him at all was a challenge! Now they are both at the same spot. EASY!
It'll be interesting to see what I cacn screw up with the old ones while training my new filly. lol |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| Lots of good info here :)
Anyone ever NOT glad they have more than 1 going?? Lol - probably know that answer already.
Sometimes we wish for something before we even know if it's going to be fun or worth the extra work. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| livexlovexrodeo - 2017-04-13 12:15 PM take them to a smaller show to see how they handle being separated when you go to warm up and run the other. When I started running 2 of mine I thought they would be fine because I had ran the gelding for years and he never cared, and the new mare had been level headed at all the races I had taken her to. Turns out they are morons when hauled together. At least I was prepared after that first race. ETA that throughout the winter I haul to the fairgrounds and one has to stand tied while i ride. They never did anything. But the race was a different story lol
this is interesting - i wonder why they only act stupid at races? Too much adrenaline maybe.
I hate to think my current horse who cares about NO other horses could flip a switch at this point and become obsessed with another. Ick, seriously top pet peeve is majorly buddied up horses. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| rodeomom3 - 2017-04-13 12:09 PM
I used to ride one and pony 2.
I wish I was that coordinated!!  |
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I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | star1218 - 2017-04-13 12:10 PM
livexlovexrodeo - 2017-04-13 12:15 PM take them to a smaller show to see how they handle being separated when you go to warm up and run the other. When I started running 2 of mine I thought they would be fine because I had ran the gelding for years and he never cared, and the new mare had been level headed at all the races I had taken her to. Turns out they are morons when hauled together. At least I was prepared after that first race. ETA that throughout the winter I haul to the fairgrounds and one has to stand tied while i ride. They never did anything. But the race was a different story lol
this is interesting - i wonder why they only act stupid at races? Too much adrenaline maybe.
I hate to think my current horse who cares about NO other horses could flip a switch at this point and become obsessed with another. Ick, seriously top pet peeve is majorly buddied up horses.
I'm assuming because at the race there was more going on and they were far away, but could still see/hear each other. The gelding was normal once I rode him away, but the mare pitched a fit when she was left behind, and then also couldn't concentrate because she could see him standing tied from where the warm-up was (and he kept neighing, which is very unlike him - he's seasoned and has hauled everywhere and been left at the trailer plenty of times). I ended up sacrificing my run and working the living snot out of her in the warm up because I was so fed up with how she was acting.
It's my pet peeve too, ESPECIALLY if they are still distracted and they're the one you're on. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 560
Location: Where the buffalo roam | My problem is just the opposite - I am only running one this year after 20 years of riding/running 2-4 horses and working full-time. I'm trying to appreciate all the free time while I have it, but it does seem like I have to work harder to remember to do things as I have so much extra time at races now I get a little lazy!
Once you get your routine down, running two is not hard at all. It's a little more hectic at smaller local races as there are not usually a lot of horses in between, but at larger races it's really like just running two different races because you usually have more than an hour in between runs.
Good luck and enjoy!
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 878
Location: "...way down south in the Everglades..." | star1218 - 2017-04-13 3:00 PM Lots of good info here :)
Anyone ever NOT glad they have more than 1 going?? Lol - probably know that answer already.
Sometimes we wish for something before we even know if it's going to be fun or worth the extra work.
Yes, a lot of times lol! But I work FT and have four I'm riding right now. One who's just learning the pattern. One just getting broke. And two on the pattern, one is very green but the one is close to being finished. The advice on here is really good. If you get two finished ones, it's a breeze. Colts are a lot more of a time commitment so as long as you know that in advance you should be good to go! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | Like others have said you just need to figure out a routine. Definitely if you can afford for each of them to have their own tack that helps tons. I will saddle both mine up and ride one then the other. The only time I pony is if it's an easy trail ride kinda day. And then I switch it up on who I pony off of. Also at big shows you can pre-enter one and then late enter the other so you know your runs are spaced out. At smaller shows you could try to enter in different classes. Like enter one in an adult class and the better one in the open class. I have also tied one on each side of the trailer before to help with the buddy issues, that does seem to help.
ETA: My struggle right now is figuring out which order is best to run my horses in. The freer one first or the more push style first.
Edited by Girls_Gotta_Jet 2017-04-14 12:55 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| love2ridepre - 2017-04-13 9:58 AM
I ride two sometimes three (if I have to work my hubby's horse ). I am pretty fortunate to have an outdoor arena with lights so during good weather it is not a problem, I can ride until late BUT what I am having a very hard time with is running two horses!!! Both of my horses are so buddy up that it's a NIGHTMARE to take them both to the same barrel race. They get so distracted and unfocused that it takes all the fun away ughhhhhhhhhh
This is my issue. And it's not the colt that's buddy sour...it's my seasoned horse and my daughter's seasoned horse!! SOOOO annoying! And I've moved them to opposite sides of a 40 acre property to combat this, but every time they see each other and haul they act like nuts. Uggh! |
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