advice - hysterical stallion

[R.S]

new stallion arrived on saturday. Been out 24/7 on his own for at least two years, on private yard so no view of other horses at all. Probably spent 9 out his 10 years on his own and never covered before. Has been away for schooling a couple of times but god knows how long ago.
He is in paddock with shelter at the moment and does have a view of others out in fields across the yard. He is constantly pacing fence, sweating and calling. I knew he would be excited and expected him to take a while to adjust but I cant stand seeing him like this.
Options,
Stick a gelding in with him? Can do this but would struggle to do this long term and would I have same problem when they need seperating in the future?
Stick him out with a couple of mares? same as above really also would it upset my other two stallions who dont run with mares but use dummy. And dont want to risk him getting injured.
Take him too dummy asap and collect from him? This is the long term plan but was hoping to let him settle first also need to rally extra pairs of hands for training him as I am mostly on my own on the yard.
Anything else that might just help him settle down?

Pretty much a what would you do question really.
Thanks

 

[Cortez]

Put him in a stable with sight of another horse, give him some work to do and a regular routine until he settles down a bit, including turn out for specific periods. I wouldn't turn him out with anything until/unless you know how he will behave. Stallions are stress monsters and you have to keep them occupied or they will make their own agenda. Poor boy, why was he kept on his own for so long?

 

[R.S]

That was exactly the plan. My other boys live like this and cope really well. However he broke the door off his destined stable in the stallion block where my other two live about ten minutes after getting there, . Nice view of fields alternating turnout,
Ficed door and stayed ther for a few hours but just kept rearinh and getting worked up so I thought at least if he was turned out it was one less thing for him to stress about/

 

[Echo Bravo]

But if he's been out 24/7 for several years, what made you think he'd take to being stabled ok???? and he's only been there a few days you are not giving time to settle into a new home and new routine.

 

[JandP]

This probably has little to do with the fact he is a stallion, and more to do with the fact he has lived alone for 9 years and suddenly can see horses - if I have read that right?

 

[hayinamanger]

I agree with JandP and I feel very sorry for this horse. I bought a horse which had lived alone for a similar length of time and was then very harshly and unfairly treated because it had no idea how to behave like a herd animal.

This chap needs patience, a structured routine and sympathetic but firm handling.

 

[gadetra]

Not quite the same but Supermare had been kept on her own for 12 years before she came to me. It took 6 months for her to settle at all, and a year to really de stress and stop worrying that she/the others she was turned out with weren't going away. She was also very human focused, which has changed now thank god.
We turned her out beside her future field mates for the first month. She broke wire, went through ditches etc. untill she was out with them.
Would you have a suitably stoic gelding he can lick over the fence for a while? They are a pain like that. Supermare would panic, pace and race if her neighbours went to the other cor er of the field
It's crap that they end up like that, but there is hope! Not sure how relevant mine is as if is a mare kept in on her own for 12 years but I hope you can get him settled. Once they realise their companions are not going to disappear/are quite boring really they let down and settle. I also think they are a bit dim socially from an equine point of view and it takes them a long time to know how to socialise and not be so all over the place. Takes a good long while though. Good luck.

 

[R.S]

Thanks folks.
Yes I do believe it is craving for company more than anything else.

I was told he stabled fine and have no reason to doubt it as owner was more than honest about his flaws aswell as his brilliant side. However
I do not mind leaving him out as opposed to stabling him this is not a problem and I am aware that he will take take time to adjust and settle but I do find it upsetting to see him like this and I was just wondering if anything would help him adjust easier..
On the plus side he was much quieter for most of the day today so I was probably just worrying too soon. Will stick to the plan and be patient and hopefully his unsettled periods will get less and less.

 

[Truly]

Have you got a paddock that is nearer to other horses where they can't go too far out of sight?
My stallions are all used to being turned out but they will run the fenceline if the mares are too far away or go out of sight.
As long as your fencing is secure and a large division in between I think you'll find he will settle

 

[honetpot]

I bought a four year old from a 'good' stud and he had always been turned out on his on and had been stabled 23hours a day. Fortunately I have a very annoying pony that is a pest and quick enough to get out of trouble.
I would find a small pony as companion, my friend who had a racehorse training yard had a mini that could wander about and seemed to settle the most fired up colts.

 

[henryhorn]

We have found stallions take longer to settle than any other horse.
I think it's something to do with being territorial without them even realising it, and you can reckon on a few days at least to settle.
I wouldn't put anything in with him but try geldings or colts next to him with a very good dividing fence, preferably with a secondary fence keeping them out of touching distance.
Give him a definite routine, such as in overnight so he knows what to expect. You may find it's not possible to keep him out for more than a few hours if he fence runs as it takes the weight off fast.
I would get the stable door made secure, you can't risk having him get out and at one of your other stallions or they him...We have an anti weaving grill on our boxes which works well.
Our last stallion took several weeks to settle and initially lost a lot of weight, once we mastered how to make him happy he was fine and we never had a problem again. Currently we have an older stallion on loan and he settled within a couple of days, he was lying down in the sun earlier this week, for me a sign he is happy and relaxed. I would try various routines until you find what he prefers, he may be better out overnight and in through the day, but it's going to be a learning experience for him until he gets used to life with you..