2 yr old Hanoverian colt causing chaos!

Toraylac

Toraylac

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Can anyone tell me how I can keep my 2 yr old colt from getting to my 2 mares? I have him in his own paddock with 4ft high fencing with a strand of electric rope on top. He has just jumped a really high metal gate ( and injured himself quite a bit) then trashed another metal gate to get to the girls. He is a little bit special being very well bred and(in our opinion) rather a looker! How can we keep him in his paddock? Any suggestions welcomed!:mad:
 
If you really dont want to geld get him some company pronto, hes only 2 so still a baby, he should really have another horse to play with. Ive kept colts & as long as they've had company ive never had any trouble with them, even with mares kept along side.
 
Is there any reasons he is being kept as a colt? Is he to be used as a stallion? If not i would probably geld him and turn him out with other mares as he is only a baby and he needs his baby years to learn how to interact with other horses/humans and set the foundations for the rest of his life.
 
I really don't mean to be rude by this or cause any offence but it will be his hormones driving him insane next to mares and the fact he has no company at all so unless these issues are addressed then there really will be no way of keeping him where he is. Again no offence intended but have you had him evaluated or graded at all, he may be a looker in your eyes and come from the most amazing breeding but it is always better to have a professional second opinion from something like the BEF Futurity scheme or similar in order to make sure he really is the quality you think and that you aren't looking at your baby through rose tinted glasses.

I have been there done that, had a beautiful colt (with geldings and other colts for company though and no mares) who was to be kept entire and I had to have him at a stud as couldn't manage him myself. I had him evaluated and it was felt alround that he wouldn't be the top class stallion we thought and whilst would have still be an ok stallion prospect it was felt best alround to geld him and have him progress further not having to worry about his hormones.

Best thing we ever did as now at home and has a full and happy life as a gelding and can concentrate far better on his "work" without bothering about the ladies.
 
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unless you are going to breed from him he needs gelding- its not fair on him otherwise. He doesnt realise he is doing anything wrong. Otherwise you need to move the mares away - one must be in season as usually colts dont bother playing up. And to be honest 4 foot is not that high. Has he been graded/shown to a high level?

I bit the bullet and had my 2 YO gelded despite his confo and manners.
 
options ....geld him! and keep away for at least 6 weeks. buy a pen and let him lead a frustrated and angry life. get rid of your mares. move him to a youngstock place and let him run with other colts. if he is good enough to grade and has serious stallion potental then move him to somewhere that cancope with him and let him have a happy life. if he is good to be a comp horse then geld and let him chill as a gelding. stallions lead a very solitary life unless getting a bit!!
 
Many thanks for all your opinions and no, I am not offended at all! The colt is very well socialised and well mannered and does have some company with two goats which he has been with since he was born. Yes he has been shown with good results and we are only planning to keep him entire until after stallion evaluation, what I was asking for was how to keep him safe until then. We have spent a lot of money on specialist stud fencing so that he can't hurt himself which worked because he jumped the gate:rolleyes:
He is on box rest now and we will take a view on things in time.
 
Box rest because he is a colt who is kept within flirting distance of mares which will now be having seasons? That is sad.
Can you not contact local studs or breeders (or even less local ones, the current 'solution' doesn't seem to offer anything positive to your horse!) to have him on grass livery with them to allow him contact and socialisation with other young colts? Two goats and a stable does not make for a well adjusted and happy horse!
 
My yearling colt has a 2yr old tb gelding that didn't grow for company and will have him as a field companion for as long as I want. I have a deal made with OH that when TB is eventually broken if he works out no good he will be reschooled by me and stay on as beau's buddy! They also have three cows with bull calves sharing their field and when the calves are weaned they will stay with the horses. One thing I have done is periodically taken away either my fella or the 2 yr old so that they are happy to be seperated. Beau tends to play at being a calf when left to his own devices!! Either way get him a companion!!
 
I have just been to a see some people who have bred two nice boys, but they have not been cut till three years old, and consequently have big necks which spoils their look and makes them more difficult to train, only top stallions have a good life, competing and/or working.
Sell him to a top stud or geld him, this is the best way for all of you.
 
amage said:
My yearling colt has a 2yr old tb gelding that didn't grow for company and will have him as a field companion for as long as I want. I have a deal made with OH that when TB is eventually broken if he works out no good he will be reschooled by me and stay on as beau's buddy! They also have three cows with bull calves sharing their field and when the calves are weaned they will stay with the horses. One thing I have done is periodically taken away either my fella or the 2 yr old so that they are happy to be seperated. Beau tends to play at being a calf when left to his own devices!! Either way get him a companion!!
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may abit of a numpty question-i thought horses didnt mix well with cows? (as a rule as obviously from what you have said yours do)
having said that though, my big sisters dopey warmblood is desperate to go and talk to the big highland cows on the other side of his field fence and the big bull with the nose ring is his favourite! lol :)
 
Is it possible to get a mini gelding for a companion?
I know it is adding to the numbers but they make really good friends for colts and stallions. They are usually up for a good old nippy play but will suddenly turn into a pneumatic kicking machine if anyone forgets their manners :cool:

My stallion had a lifelong gelding friend and the gelding was actually the boss.
In fact he was a brilliant tolerant nanny for youngstock in later years (not the gelding I might add he is a monster)
 
MrsD123 said:
I have just been to a see some people who have bred two nice boys, but they have not been cut till three years old, and consequently have big necks which spoils their look and makes them more difficult to train, only top stallions have a good life, competing and/or working.
Sell him to a top stud or geld him, this is the best way for all of you.
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Let them get fat, and the result is big necks.....:cool:
 
I think the best solution is to get him a like-sized colt/ gelding for company and try and put some distance between them and the mares - even if that means fencing a boarder in between the two fields. Also raise the height of your gate with rails or leccy fencing.

Goats are no substitute for other equines in terms of play and socialisation. Yes, they provide some company but will not itch that scratch and leap and play with him like another younster would. Which brings me to my reasoning for getting a similar sized youngster - they need to be able to reach that itchy spot etc... no good getting a mini for a leggy WB IMO...

There are loads of youngsters out there and you really don't have to spend a lot... as long as the height difference isn't too great, you'll be fine...

Either that or send him to a stud to run with other colts...
 
CBFan said:
I think the best solution is to get him a like-sized colt/ gelding for company and try and put some distance between them and the mares - even if that means fencing a boarder in between the two fields. Also raise the height of your gate with rails or leccy fencing.

Goats are no substitute for other equines in terms of play and socialisation. Yes, they provide some company but will not itch that scratch and leap and play with him like another younster would. Which brings me to my reasoning for getting a similar sized youngster - they need to be able to reach that itchy spot etc... no good getting a mini for a leggy WB IMO...

There are loads of youngsters out there and you really don't have to spend a lot... as long as the height difference isn't too great, you'll be fine...

Either that or send him to a stud to run with other colts...
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^^^ that.

He'll only get worse so you need to chuck him out with some other youngsters his age, it's really important for colts to mix with other equines at a similar age or at least a few oldies to keep them in line, show them how to live within a heard, take that away and all he's got is his hormones to occupy him hence the field hopping, once he's covered a few mares should you decide to use him you'll need to have the right yard/environment for him anyway.

Good luck, hope you get something sorted soon. :)
 
When he does go out ago, if it's the gate he went over why don't you tie some electric fence posts and fence across the top? It's the way my mum weans, and it adds at least 2 or 3 foot on top of the gate, and it's electrified so he *should* respect it

For his sake though, I still think sending him to a stud is the best idea for him (obviously when he's well).

And I happen to like horses cut at 3- they have a lot more about them than the majority of geldings, and they think like a stallion which is fantastic :):) unfortunately, in this country its not usually practical
 
You can get much taller gates too, tho I would think the fencing also needs raising.

Ours looks like this (strong enough to stop a flyaway ark (now angle ironed down, we live in a windy place!!!)

...not cheap but it works and if you are serious about keeping an entire within sight/calling distance of mares you have to fence accordingly. But he needs company of his own kind too, not just for company (other species ok ish for that) but for horsey socialisation.

edited to add the 2 top lines are electric, but not the horsemesh and the gates are over 6 foot.

P1010533.jpg
 
Some great advice here. I'll just add that I use Global Herbs Rig Calm on very masculine colts and it works very well...obviously it won't help if there are mares over the fence, tho' ;)
 
hobo said:
Taz Cows and horses get on just fine and they complement each other with grazing and worms.
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Wouldn't fancy poo picking that field though :D

OP you've had some helpful suggestions, hopefully you can follow them up to give him a better quality of life once he comes off box rest.
 
L&M-That fencing looks great. If you don't mind me asking, what height posts did you use? And how far were they driven into the ground?

My three year old colt is in a field next to mares but there is at least two rows of fencing 8 feet apart and a row of electric tape inside his paddock. He does however have company in the form of my 19 year old shire x draft horse who keeps him in check but they have been together since he was only 5 months old. I am hoping to keep him as a stallion (APHA registered 15hh bay overo) and my priority is that he is calm and happy in his surroundings which is important to me.

I think having suitable equine company would really help.
 
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