[mcginty]

I have only one horse at the moment and trying to decide what companion would be suitable.
A donkey, mini horse or goat,got to be low maintenance,
that rules out another large pony or horse.
My horse is a filly so it would best female
Any suggestions, i am thinking donkey,
cant decide, help, help.

[Small Farmer]

Sheep?  We've never had a lone horse but the boys share a paddock with ram lambs from time to time and it's been trouble-free though we provide the sheep with an area that only they can reach, just in case. 

[cuckoo]

I was approached last year from someone wanting a goat as a companion for their shetland - I was a bit dubious but discussed it with my vet and sold them a 100% boer disbudded castrated kid - seems they can make good companions.

[lachlanandmarcus]

If you try sheep or goats make sure you can give them back if it doesnt work. My male horse for instance will try to stamp on any smaller creatures in his field :-O even pheasants arent safe!

Also bear in mind altho you want something low maintenance hence maybe smaller native, their predisposition to laminitis can make the sharing quite difficult with a horse that doesnt have the same needs/restrictions in grazing. And donkeys need careful rugging in cold or wet weather as they are really designed for deserts.

If it were me (as it will be when my older horse goes one day leaving my younger mare alone), I would get one or two on loan from World horse welfare. That way, if it doesnt work, or your circumstances change, they can go back to WHW and be rehomed again. I mention two, as that means if your girl is going off to be ridden you dont have the headache of the other one maybe going spare at being left alone, so it can be less hassle to have two companions!

[mcginty]

Yes my horse would stamp on something small, she killed one of my ducks.
Donkeys seem to carry a worm that would pass to horses.
Maybe a mini horse
My horse will be over 16h and i have limited grazing so it has to be small.

[SallyintNorth]

I have no personal experience but (a) from listening to and watching everyone I know with donkeys, they do not seem to be low maintenance to me! and (b) you hear about racehorses having a goat or a sheep as a stablemate, and having to take the goat to races with the horse.  But maybe post the same question the other way about under Goats to see what the goat folk say about whether a companion goat would or would not be low maintenance?

[ellied]

Best companion for an equine is another equine - they're a herd animal and although some will settle for another species, others will not and if you're going to invest then you may or may not be lucky about the individual compatibility aswell as the general suitability of the species.

Donkeys carry lungworm which can affect horses, they are also not low maintenance, despite how many people keep them and as another poster says, they're desert animals not well suited to the climate here so will need good shelter and careful monitoring.

Can't talk about goats as I've never had them.  I have had sheep and cattle in with ponies at various points, lambs are too vulnerable to ponies chasing them for fun, cattle tend to chew tails for some reason, not to mention being higher maintenance again and probably too big for your limited grazing.  I had tups summering with ponies from March to September for several years and they stood up for themselves and all got on fine, but it also helped a local sheep farmer and got me access to stubble and winter grazing as a return favour.

I wouldn't keep a sole equine though personally - if you really have limited grazing then a small pony or two would be best by far - in my opinion - for your horse.  Two if the one you get won't be happy being left behind while you ride unless you want to ride and lead every time or come back wondering if the pony is sweated up, colicking or has escaped to chase after you!  Ponies are dirt cheap right now if you don't need any particular ridden experience - shetlands are often given away as companions, there's one at the farm where I just sold a pony to and she's a mini 6yo mare - doing a good job keeping the new boy happy until he integrates but after that who knows..

[SallyintNorth]

Well I've never tried it myself, but would expect to struggle to have the grazing right if it's to simultaneously suit a young (still growing?) in-work 16hh thoroughbred and a companion pony, especially a very good do-er like a Shetland!  Though I do see you say you have 'limited grazing', mcginty - how much do you have?  What about an older horse who is past work but whose owner would be very happy to loan it to a home where it can be a companion?

[feldar]

Be carefull with putting sheep in with her. my ram lambs ate my pony's tail! he looked like a large moth had been at him. He didn't seem to mind stood still while they had a good munch on his tail.

[Small Farmer]

We have a pony on permanent loan from a horse rescue as a companion for OH's retired chap. He can be returned at any time.

[Mel Rice]

My ex-racer had a companion last year after being alone for a year (there are two horses over the fence next door!) When the other horse moved I had arranged another loan pony but that fell through at the last moment. He has now been alone again for most of this year and is fine. The only time he fretted was when next doors were away for a week....having said that this month they hardly see each other as it is so wet all three spend a lot of time indoors. My boy does like people and enjoys seeing humans esp ME!

[WaltDisneyWorld]

In my personal experience my two new shetland foals have not bonded with my goats or sheep. Originally I was going to just have one pony thinking it would bond with the other animals however I was offered the opportunity to purchase a second pony as they were very good companions with only a month different in age so I took the opportunity. With hindsight I am so glad I did as although there has been no bullying they certainly do not bother with the sheep or goats, maybe it would have been different if it had been just one pony. They too have nibbled tails from sheep, not mine, but from the farm they came from.

[Cinderhills]

I don't know if a goat would be a good companion as I've not had experience of horses, but I would probably say you should get two goats if it someone did recommend them.

[mcginty]

The area i have is about one and half ace rs, small part used for daytime turnout, a bit of a mess at the.
moment
.She seemed to be getting to attached to human company,
when put out to graze in summer would pop the fence and return home.
She is a piebald Irish sport horse breeding quiet to handle( most of the time )

[SallyintNorth]

Oh, well 1.5 acres isn't plenty for one 16hh sport horse without additional hay and feed, is it?  So there'd be no problem with a Sheltie for company - you won't have too much grass for it, and as long as you can somehow keep it from eating any of the extra hay and cake, it would be fine.