Hacking Stallions

[Horcum]

What are other forumites views on hacking out stallions especially at this time of year? I am in quite a highly populated horse area and it would be unusual not to meet other riders out hacking - this morning three of us were out hacking - all on mares, one in season - we were met and followed by another group, one of which was riding a young and quite fresh friesan stallion. Although nothing happened one of our group was quite unnerved ( perhaps with no good reason) by being followed by the stallion. I would be interested to read other peoples views on this.

 

[Lintel]

I think if you have full control of your horse and you don't have an overly aggressive stallion, you are fine to do so. Of course there are risks, but if you gotta hack- you gotta hack! I'd say that they should go out with another horse (not a stallion) at all times. But if the stallion was getting rather "excited" so to speak at the sight of a mare. I wouldn't intimidate the other rider and would go the other direction.

 

[dafthoss]

I went on a 15 mile ride and one joined our group of mares and geldings. It wasnt a problem in fact it was only when he said that we noticed as it behaved like any other horse, he was working not breeding and knew the diffrence. He did leave us in the end because he was getting a little wound up and wanted to go infront and wander off so he did. Lovely horse that was well trained by a real old school horse man like any stallion should be.

 

[TarrSteps]

I don't think you can really make rules about who should hack and who shouldn't. I was out with a horse today and there was a group of kids - with an adult - a few of which were clearly struggling and making it tough for other riders. Last weekend we met another group out looking for a horse that had shed its person and was belting about on the common, causing trouble. No stallions involved.

I know it's not always the case but most people I know with stallions, especially valuable ones for sport/breeding are MORE careful. They certainly don't want to get in trouble.

The reactions of mares is a tricky one - why should they not be held to the same standard as stallions? I've competed entire horses and been yelled at by people who can't control their mare's reactions, even to the point of endangering me. I know people aren't that used to seeing stallions out and about but any horse can cause trouble and while I think stallions SHOULD be held to a higher standard, they also deserve the right to get out and learn about the world.

 

[lme]

I think (as above) it depends on the stallion (and the owner). The lady who had my mare on loan for years had a spotty stallion who was stabled next to my mare & turned out in the next paddock. She used to hunt him (side saddle) in preference to my mare who could be a bit excitable. When I went up to visit, we would often hack out & he was always perfectly behaved. The same lady now has a Friesian (SP) stallion, who she has used to give pony rides (in a trap) @ the local school fete.

 

[Jenni_]

I used to hack my old stallion out in my own. We used to pass mares in fields and sometimes he would get a bit excitable but a quick reminder with the stick and a growl would bring his attentions back to me. I only didn't like hacking out because we were in our own and if I fell off I had noone with me.

And indeed, at shows he was mostly very well behaved but I had the problem of people just walking their mares under his nose when we were WELL out the way and he sometimes got a bit upset. Thing is- hed never bred so he got excited but didn't really know why!

 

[black_horse]

In my experience, most stallions can tell the difference between work and 'play' .

Unless the stallion was being intimidating and trying to mount your mare, I don't really see the problem???

Stallions are given a bad rep in this country. In other countries try are expected to work in large groups including mares and do so easily. Sometimes we are too precious of them which IMHO can make them more of a handful to handle.

 

[Auslander]

Agree with Black Horse. I started working with stallions on the continent, and they were treated like everything else, but without losing sight of the fact that they were boys, and needed you to be on the ball. Any silliness resulted in them being removed from the group until they settled. We rarely had problems - they knew the difference between covering bridles and ridden tack.

Only time I've had an issue was in this country, with a stallion who was immaculately behaved hacking with mares, but who thought the cattle grazing on local common land were there for bonking practice!!

 

[black_horse]

I think people are so het up by stallions because they are entire. However people forget mates are entire too. My mare can be far trickier around stallion and 99 % of the time stallion ignore her. I wouldn't put a stallion directly behind her as its by fair on both of them, but I expect my mare to ignore what's around her when I am on her back as she is working.

 

[sarahhelen1977]

Stallions work in large groups including mares and other stallions in this country! Dressage warm ups mean that they have to work in close proximity to lots of other horses in an enclosed area (and other disciplines of course) which could potentially be a far more volatile situation than passing another horse out hacking. At stallion parades you will have several working in together. In the majority, the boys are very well behaved, and get on with their job, so I don't really see how going out for a hack and meeting other horses should be any different. ANY horse, regardless of gender, should be under control whilst out in public!

 

[luckyhorseshoe]

I have no issues with it at all.
In fact, I only ask that people are considerate of others, that goes for an entire comp horse or kids on new forest ponies.

Ive ridden a Spanish breeding stallion and he is ten times easier than his daughter, my little Mare. He knew the difference between working and breeding.

As an aside, Ive ridden out in the new forest a few times (not too far from where i live) and at certain times of the year they have the stallions running. I've avoided those times but I know that locals who ride out all year round on mares and take sticks with them, just incase.

 

[kaiko]

My YO has two stallions, their complete chalk and cheese. One is happy to be stabled opposite a mare and next to my older gelding and the other gets upset about it. She hacks them earlier in the morning and they never cause a problem when tacked up.

Saying that we were followed at close quarters by a stallion in a trap recently, he was clearly agitated as was neighing and tanking after us. This properly upset my big lad and ended in him going vertical. Cue a rear dismount from me and luckily nobody was hurt, but it really shock my lad up and the driver then suddenly buggered off after chasing us for 2 miles.

However I don't think it was purely cause he was a stallion. He clearly wasn't under control and this was despite him pulling over to let us pass and us saying we would trot on once round the next corner and out of sight to give him some space, which he agreed to.

 

[HDPE]

Stallions are given a bad rep in this country. In other countries try are expected to work in large groups including mares and do so easily. Sometimes we are too precious of them which IMHO can make them more of a handful to handle.

Yep, here I happily trail ride a stallion out with a couple of mares, routinely meeting mares, geldings and stallions whilst we're out with no problems.

 

[Suziq77]

In my experience, most stallions can tell the difference between work and 'play' .

Unless the stallion was being intimidating and trying to mount your mare, I don't really see the problem???

Stallions are given a bad rep in this country. In other countries try are expected to work in large groups including mares and do so easily. Sometimes we are too precious of them which IMHO can make them more of a handful to handle.

This ^^^ Last season I often found myself standing next to the same stallion out autumn hunting, he was beautifully behaved, as was my mare. As long as you have control of the horse in question and use your common sense I don't see a problem.

 

[[59851]]

If the stallion is in competant hands and is under control, why not?? Some showing peeps local to me ride their stallions out alot and they are much better behaved and under better control than most geldings from local livery yards!!