How do I calm a rig's sexual appetite!!

[abi31]

I have just become the proud owner of 2 gorgeous shetlands called Tattie and Haggis (thanks to everyone who helped name them!) They are brother and sister. Haggis is the rig and he is 7 years old and 34" but he is becoming a real nuisance. They are companions to my IDxWB competition mare but he is making her life a misery. He continually herds her, tries to stop me from catching her, tries to mount her (!!) and generally is trying my and my mares patience. His sister is more than happy as it has taken the heat off her.

I've tried putting him in the adjoining field but then he charges through the fencing getting multiple electric shocks! Have any of you got any calming advice or feed supplement ideas that will quell his sexual appetite?

 

[Thistle]

If he is a true rig then he will still be producing sex hormones. You wouldn't dream of keeping a stallion in with mares and expect him to ignore them, why should it be any different for a rig? They produce the same hormones.

Is he still fertile?

I suspect the only true way to calm him would be an expensive op to locate and remove the remaining testicle.

 

[The_snoopster]

There is a product called rigcalm I have never used it or even know if it does work but might be worth a try, my friend as a rig and the vet told her there does not need to be a testicle left behind a tiny piece of sperm cord can cause stallion behaviour. The op to have it removed is quite expensive too I believe, he may be better living in a home without two mares, it must be very frustrating for him.

 

[Bosworth]

There is nothing available that will calm a rig - it is far far far more sexually charged than a Stallion as the testicles are held within the body in a rig so are permenantly heated. With a stallion they dangle obviously so are subject to cooler temps. It is not fair on any of the animals to keep a rig and mares together and you risk serious damage to one or the other. he will continue to try and mate with her or his sister and may even try you if you smell a certain way at a certain time. Under no circumstances would I ever consider a rig in the vicinity of mares. The only solution is an operation - rig calm is of little use if he is a true rig, it has little effect on geldings who are a bit frisky around mares.

Be extremely careful around him, he can try and mount you, a friends rig tried to mount her - the only thing that saved her was that she was in the stable and the rig got its legs stuck over the door so she was able to escape from underneath him and then beat him off to get out. You need to treat him as a stallion - not as a gelding. Pen him in high fencing, keep him well away from your mares - so far away he cannot smell them. In fact if you cannot operate on him, get him rehomed to a home with geldings only if they will take him. I personally would have a stallion on my yard but would not be willing to have a rig here at livery. In my experience they can be seriously dangerous.

 

[dobbin27]

I think the most responsible thing to do is to get him gelded. It is expensive but in theory he could well be fertile, and it must be a real tease for him living with two mares, especially through the summer. If he were mine, I would worry about what would happen to him as a rig if couldn't keep him?

For the record though, I currently have a rig (although he won't be for much longer!!) who is kept at home with geldings only and he is incredibly quiet and well mannered, and so far displays (now 3) no coltish behaviour. He'll still be gelded though, because I want to make sure he has a solid useful future as a kids pony if ever he couldn't stay with me!

 

[R2R]

Bosworth, you have just traumatised me.

I have a 5 year old gelding who is being tested today....

 

[Stinkbomb]

Be extremely careful around him, he can try and mount you, a friends rig tried to mount her - the only thing that saved her was that she was in the stable and the rig got its legs stuck over the door so she was able to escape from underneath him and then beat him off to get out. You need to treat him as a stallion - not as a gelding. Pen him in high fencing, keep him well away from your mares - so far away he cannot smell them. .

This is so true especially with miniatures. With larger horses it doesnt seem as much of a problem but with miniatures a person is exactly the right height for a mini stallion/rig to mount. Believe me they try especially at this time of year. I will not let anyone else in my stallions field unless they are very experienced and are aware of what might happen, especially in summer time, and definalty now he is covering. They might be small but they can be very dangerous when hormonal DONOT turn your back on them at any time LOL!!!

 

[abi31]

Thanks for the advice you guys. He came to me as a gelding and it wasn't until I started thinking he was rather over protective and did some digging around that I found out he was a rig. Will try rigcalm but also see if he can go in with my friends gelding across the lane. He might stand a better chance!

 

[Tinypony]

How do you know he is a rig? What I mean is, has that been confirmed by a vet? There are physical rigs and behavioural "rigs". If it's behavioural the Google Crossgates Farm, they have a good cure for the problem, you give it to the mare as well.