Backing a 5yo stallion?

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MagicMelon

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Wondering if I need to be uber-careful with doing this? The stallion I believe is a warmblood or WB x. Been told it is nice mannered BUT it has had nothing done with it - basically been untouched (except for random trims) for the past year or two in a field on its own. Have backed a few before, but never one older than 3 / 4yo or a stallion. Worried now its 5 its going to be pretty strong and confident
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I had one in work a few years ago - a 15.2hh Lusitano stallion. I didn't find him any different to the 3/4 year olds we had in at the time. But I guess it is down to the individual horse.
Sorry, not much help is it!
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Ditto this.

I know a lot of people on this forum don't believe in backing a youngster before 4 or even 5 but in my experience it seems to be a lot easier to lightly back them at 3 and then turn them away for some months.

Apart from the obvious of being aware that he is a stallion I would recommend always making sure that there is someone reasonably knowledgable around when you are working with him just in case. A lot of the warmblood stallions I know have very good temperments (in fact you would think some of them are geldings) and are not as sharp as the TB stallions.
 
My youngster is a gelding but behaves in a very colty way, which is quite disconcerting. Mine will approach you with his ears bac and be threatening with food, is highly impatiemt and contemptous of people generally. (although he is very affectionate - if a little over amourous)

I think it's because he grew up in a field with his mum and so has had no manners taught him.

I treated him differently to other horses I've had initially but he now is a darling to handle.

I was warned he would stand up if he was pressed too much, But I think being insecure on new territory unnerved him and made him more pliable. I did LOADS of ground work in the first 3 days I made the most of having him while he was insecure and wanting guidance. Then chilled out for a couple of weeks once some basic lessons about handling & dominance had been undestood..

I still haven't had the submissive gestures from him that I would like to see but he is very keen to learn so I've let him set the pace and have moved him on quickly - hacking out straight away to keep his interest - although he is still very wild & woolly. Overall though I've been incredibly careful & done nothing to let on that he has unnerved me. I avoid confrontations & stage manage as much as I can. My logic is that we may still have confrontations but they are best postponed.

I take absolutely no chances and take every safety precaution I also don't let him get away with anything, and am very firm but fair with him.
Don't know if this is of any use, but certainly this boy isn't much like the horses I've backed previously who were generally more handled and not as dominant.
 
It's a horse! They are all individuals.
As long as you have done the same groundwork to the same standard it's all the same...it might be a walk in the park....or you might be in hospital tomorrow.

We have 4 stallions.
One, Roc, came to us broken.

Bill 16.1hh, we bought as a bub, lots of early handling. He was broken at 4..all good. A little spark, but less than many I've started.

Tobi 18hh, came to us at almost 9, unbroken...infact, unhandled....
Starting out just fine, probably less spark so far than Bill who is pretty good anyhow...

Forrest..17.1hh, 4 now, being started in a few months, if he continues as he has on the ground he will be the quietest of the 3 CB boys...but honestly who knows till I get on...he may object strenuously!

Treat them ALL as individuals and expect the unexpected!
 
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