Handling of young stallion

[BeckyCandy]

ALSO IN NL AND CR

Anyone got any tips for groundwork and handling tips for a young Stallion he is very good 99% of the time but tends to explode when it gets to much and very hard to snap him out of it tryed back up to which he reared (never does this) spinning on tight circle, a sharp jolt, a loud clap, and a smack to which he carry's on in he's own world he has only ever done it badly once and is still young and coming on leaps and bonds but did have 3 geldings galloping around a field he was being walked past and he did set them off doing he's prancing and screaming and snorting. I'd like to take him out showing and I don't want a repeat of the melt down moment. I am learning the ropes and having a weekly trainer to help prepare for backing(want to to it right). Just some helpful suggestions on what you found the best way to keep them focused. Thank youu

 

[classicalfan]

I know it's easy to say but if you feel the explosion coming then it is best to stop whatever is causing his anxiety, get him back to calm and then try again. Try to create an environemnt where you can always stay in control.

 

[BeckyCandy]

He does it in a second goes from poodling along as weedy colt and its like flciking a switch hes pumped up, the leg actions starts tail over bum and snorting. So wanted some ideas of how to keep him listening still I don't mind him doing it he can't help it but something to keep hes focus on me

 

[classicalfan]

OK, no trigger then! Best thing to do is keep him thinking and not leave any room in his head for his own ideas. Don't walk in a straight line - meander a bit and keep him following you. Change pace, slow walk, fast walk, stop, into trot, etc (depending on how fit you are). Give him lots of praise when he keeps his calm and his manners - and I often find that keeping a couple of treats in my pocket can work wonders.
Hope this helps!

 

[BeckyCandy]

Yeah good idea thank you. Can't do treat unfortunately as he turns into a real nipper even after just oe in the field he'll be nipping you for weeks so treats are banned after he's worked he has some herbal treats from hes feed bowl on the floor think if i had treats in my pocket i'd come home nipped all over and bruised haha! I am teaching him to long rein tonight which will get him even more tuned in to my voice which will help alot. He does know he's been cheeky because he get s apuzzled look in he's eye a 'where did that just come on' and once past the geldings he shrinks back down to weedy colt. He is very head in your face, screaming in your ear and moving you with hes shoulders so I have been doing lots of backing him up on command and egtting him to move hes whole body away from me etc.

 

[vicijp]

How old is he exactly? And has he covered?
If not, and still maturing, I would have to question his suitability to remain un cut, he will get worse not better.
If he has covered and is reasonably mature you need a chifney and a stick (blue pipe). Carry the stick in the backhand, near the head, when you think you are going to get into a situation. When he starts tap the side of his nose and shout a command.
My stallion started getting very keen going into the covering shed and it only took one session to get him to respect the stick and behave himself.
You perhaps need someone very experienced to explain it to you, as I did.

 

[levantosh]

Hiya,
I have had 2 young stallions like this, my method was always not to react to them. I just walk them past what ever has got them excited and take them away. They are young horses and are only thinking about the girls. However if they rear or squash me then they really get shouted at and it only takes one good shout and my boys have quieted down. When the boys are covering for the first time I like them to have manners. So if they so much as rear, try running down to mares or kicking out, they get taken straight back to their stables. Then when they come back out they seem to be better behaved and get on with the job in an orderly fashion
I think in situations like yours its a case of trying different ways to calm him down and find a solution that works for you both.
Good luck

 

[henryhorn]

Not a lot of advice other than don't attempt to lead him on a normal lead rope always use a lunge line. Then if he does get silly you can keep out of reach.
I'm afraid any stallions I've ever handled do have days when they leap about screaming, usually for no reason you can see, but the best way is not to react unless it's becoming a dangerous situation, in which case a sharp smack with a whip often brings them back to behaving. It's a fine line with a stallion however, and you don't really ever want to get into a head on fight as you have to be certain you will win.
A young stallion tends not to have the same respect an older one will have learned.
We tolerate lots of noise, some leaping about and dancing when handling but not biting (ever) kicking out or bucking. As someone else suggested, straight back in the box often works..

 

[Herts05]

Try this link
http://www.equinereproduction.co.uk/articles/10/11/tips-stallion-handling

Hope it helps.
You might want to contact Andy Pandy on here also
Good luck

 

[henryhorn]

Very wise advice in the above link, especially the bit about punishment.
Our old stallion would frequently push the boundaries as in when first brought inside overnight he would attempt to barge past you and out the door. The only way to stop him was give him a couple of whallops with a schooling whip across his chest , after two days he would accept defeat and not try it anymore. The current one would be horrified if you did this to him, usually raising your voice or at worst showing him the whip is sufficient.
You do need to establish manners and that will depend on your stallion's temperament how.
I don't think you said why you are keeping him entire, if it's for any reason other than breeding I wouldn't, they aren't terribly happy animals as entires in comarison to geldings..

 

[PennyJ]

Is he licensed as a stallion? If not, and is just still ungelded, maybe get him gelded?

It can't be any fun for either of you, and TBH I'm guessing he must be at least 2 from what you say you're doing with him. Then unless you have your own land, there is also the thorny issue of you are very restricted on where you can have him on livery. So many places will just not have entires.

Its meant to be a pleasure keeping horses after all, why make it difficult for yourself?

 

[BeckyCandy]

He will be getting gelded within the next month. I'm lucky in that I have my own stables so don;t have the worry of less experianced liveries around him. I do think its an age thing and he is 99% of the time a real pleasure to handle and own. Me and my mum are the only people that handle him and keep everything very black and white and consistant I will try the taking him back to the stable as well if he gets to much and he is alays led out in a bridle with lunge line and schooling whip and i always wear hat and gloves. I do try to lead him out when I know the next yard along has braught their horses in as I completely understand how stressful it is for him being a stallion and i agree hes quality of life as a gelding willbe a million times better he only has to smell a mare hacking past and hes pacing and screaming. I was hoping second ball would drop but hasn't so will go ahead now so he can have the winter to get rid of all the hormones and strt being backed next summer. Thank you for all the advice and the useful link

 

[Spyda]

I use one of these and can absolutely recommend one. I would not be without mine now (and I picked one up on eBay for £40 a couple of weeks ago - so bargains are to be had if you keep a look out) http://www.worldwidetack.com/stephens-controller-headcollar-1in-p-144.html

 

[fburton]

I like this bit of advice from the Jos Motterhead link above:

Don't “ditz” or keep picking at a stallion. You should always have a loose line between you and the horse's headcollar unless you are asking him to do something, or telling him not to. Don't pick and keep picking at him, don' keep saying “pay attention, pay attention”, because a stallion is not dissimilar from a four year old child. If you keep saying the same thing over and over again they will just ignore you. In this instance, the stallion could do one of several things. He may go off and do his own thing, and you're going with him because he outweighs you. Or he will start to get frustrated with you, and is liable to start turning around and nipping at you, and that's a whole extra problem that you then have to deal with (and you've created that problem yourself!).

Ditzing and jerking is one of my pet hates in watching others handle stallions.

The rest of his advice is excellent too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKgPkP6Of_0

 

[fburton]

Digression, sorry... Watching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKCySAd0UR0 I heard Zoe Bailey say that black horses have "stronger" (i.e. sharper) temperaments than bays. I have to admit that's the first I heard that one, and I haven't noticed it myself. Is it generally accepted to be the case?