Colt out with geldings and mare, advise please

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thatsmygirl

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Iv got a lovely herd off horses off all different ages and back in the summer I bought a lovely colt foal, the herd excepted him really well and iv had no problem at all, the colt and my 18 month old gelding play lovely together with the older horses watching on. Now the problem is my herd has 4 geldings, 1 mare and 1 colt which is the 9 month old. My other youngster had his plums and was gelded by now by my colt is showing nothing at all. Although they get on really well and no nastyness between them I'm a bit worried when it comes to the spring. Will my colt fight The geldings to keep
the mare? Or will they be ok? How do they all get on in the wild? If I split the herd they get upset so all come in/go out together but split up ok to go out riding. My mare is 15.2hh and the colt is about 12.2/13 at a push at the mo.
I haven't any other fields apart from the big one that they are all in and it's split in 2, so half winter and half summer. What's the best way of dealing with the colt if he still can't be castrated? I could if I really had 2, split the herd and keep half in and out so I can swap them over but iv been thinking about it and tbh I would quite like a foal from my mare as the last time I tried she lost it at 9 months when the cord twisted and cost me a lot off money but I really would like a foal off hers to bring on while I slow her down ( would never be sold so don't worry) so could I breed from a 19 yr old fit and healthy mare? Don't look her age at all and if I did what age would my colt be able to cover her? Could I keep the whole herd together like in the wild or split them? I'm more worried about the colt fighting my geldings once his hormones kick in but at the mo he's very good to handle not colty yet and respects the herd. Advise please.
 
thatsmygirl said:
Iv got a lovely herd off horses off all different ages and back in the summer I bought a lovely colt foal, the herd excepted him really well and iv had no problem at all, the colt and my 18 month old gelding play lovely together with the older horses watching on. Now the problem is my herd has 4 geldings, 1 mare and 1 colt which is the 9 month old. My other youngster had his plums and was gelded by now by my colt is showing nothing at all. Although they get on really well and no nastyness between them I'm a bit worried when it comes to the spring. Will my colt fight The geldings to keep
the mare? Or will they be ok? How do they all get on in the wild? If I split the herd they get upset so all come in/go out together but split up ok to go out riding. My mare is 15.2hh and the colt is about 12.2/13 at a push at the mo.
I haven't any other fields apart from the big one that they are all in and it's split in 2, so half winter and half summer. What's the best way of dealing with the colt if he still can't be castrated? I could if I really had 2, split the herd and keep half in and out so I can swap them over but iv been thinking about it and tbh I would quite like a foal from my mare as the last time I tried she lost it at 9 months when the cord twisted and cost me a lot off money but I really would like a foal off hers to bring on while I slow her down ( would never be sold so don't worry) so could I breed from a 19 yr old fit and healthy mare? Don't look her age at all and if I did what age would my colt be able to cover her? Could I keep the whole herd together like in the wild or split them? I'm more worried about the colt fighting my geldings once his hormones kick in but at the mo he's very good to handle not colty yet and respects the herd. Advise please.
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I'd strongly advise you to geld the colt, for a number of reasons.
1. He will be able to cover your mare pretty soon if not already.
2. You really DON'T want to cover a 19yo 15.2hh mare with a yearlng 12.2hh colt - it's not great for either of them.
3. If you don't geld him, colts do tend to display stallion behaviours - and you don't really want this towards either your herd or yourself.
4. You don't tell us that he is an exceptional horse, with excellent bloodlines - the world really doesn't need more average to mediocre horses at the moment.
S :D
 
Im not sure what area you are in but if his testicles dont decend there is now an injection that can be given that effectively gelds a horse without the castration being done.
Something i briefly spoke about in passing with my vet after losing a foal post castration with an intestinal prolpase through the castration site so dont know all the ins and outs as still a relatively new procedure so you might need refering to someone like our vets Rossdales to find out more info.
I do know that it is posible and was told cost pretty much the same as normal castration but obviously without the risk
 
Sallyf thanks very much for that I wasn't aware at all off a injection. My last colt I gelding in the spring just when he started to get a bit interested and he fits lovely within the herd but just a bit worried as this little man has nothing there but he did have a very poor start in life.
Iv never had any problem mind with geldings and my mare they all get on great.
 
Shilasdair said:
I'd strongly advise you to geld the colt, for a number of reasons.
1. He will be able to cover your mare pretty soon if not already.
2. You really DON'T want to cover a 19yo 15.2hh mare with a yearlng 12.2hh colt - it's not great for either of them.
3. If you don't geld him, colts do tend to display stallion behaviours - and you don't really want this towards either your herd or yourself.
4. You don't tell us that he is an exceptional horse, with excellent bloodlines - the world really doesn't need more average to mediocre horses at the moment.
S :D
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Im sorry but i agree with the above...
 
No that's fine I'm happy with your replies. Won't risk my older horses getting hurt so after new year will see if the vet can find anything to chop. Thanks guys
 
I think the jab is a testosterone vaccine, they need 2 at 4 weeks apart, I've been told about 250 per vaccine but wouldn't know that bit for sure!
I'd get vet to have a proper grope and see if they are theree yet.
 
Sorry to crash this thread but i too have a similar concern. I currently have a 13.2 mare and a 5 1/2 month old colt foal (to make about 12hh). Atm the colt is currently stabled as he is straight off the moor and until he is better handled i cannot risk turning him out. the plan is to turn him and my mare out together in the long run. he will be gelded as soon as possible (vet suggested march/april time as he isnt in the best of health atm). Will he be ok turned out with my mare in the meantime (no other horses in field with them)? Is there any chance of him covering my mare? my mare tends to season all winter.
 
I agree nuts off now, I'd separate him with a gelding buddy until you can get him done as you don't want to risk your old girl getting in foal, especially to a random youngster which there are already a million of going for less than meat money atm!
Happyhacking - yes your colt can get your mare in foal so I would also not turn out with your mare until 6 weeks after gelding him, you not only risk the mare but the colt foal can get seriously injured in the process.
In the wild young weanling colts are turfed out of the herd by the stally and join a bachelor herd until they are 5 or 6 when they start to compete for a few mares of their own - colts don't run with mares until then!
 
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