How do you keep a stallion? Stabling etc?

I'm well aware that I'm very lucky but my stallion lives out with my geldings. They are all his size or bigger and quite tough though. He gives them a bit of a hard time but no worse than a bossy gelding. He is extremely quiet and well behaved generally but maybe that's partly because he lives out. He'll stable next to anything.
 
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Your wish is my command!!!
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This is what a young stallion gets up to in his spare time, or in reality probably attention seeking! The horse I'm on at the beginning is a mare and is obviously far less interesting than playing with his empty water tub! It was a sad day when I had to take it away from him but he'd made the edges rough and I didn't want him to hurt himself. He does love his ball but this was his favourite and it's a shame I missed him galloping round with it up in the air!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mftSWXrIAFU

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I am totally in love with your horse and thats a fab video. He is for sure my fav HHO horse, maybe I could have another baby from my girlie...
 
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Your wish is my command!!!
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This is what a young stallion gets up to in his spare time, or in reality probably attention seeking! The horse I'm on at the beginning is a mare and is obviously far less interesting than playing with his empty water tub! It was a sad day when I had to take it away from him but he'd made the edges rough and I didn't want him to hurt himself. He does love his ball but this was his favourite and it's a shame I missed him galloping round with it up in the air!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mftSWXrIAFU

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PMSL thats the first time i've watched that video, could never watch you tube on my old pc
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Makes me feel abit better about my baby stallions questionable play habits... when he wants to play with his water tub he just tips the water out all over his stable
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and then looks very smug when he is carrying the tub round in his mouth, all my stallions, except the old man, really enjoy jolly balls as well
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great entertainment for them and me
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My stallions are kept on a mixed yard, at the moment we have 2 mares, 2 stallions and a gelding on one yard and a stallion and gelding on the other, but we have had 4 stallion and 2 mares on the same small 6 box yard with no problems
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They have their own turn out paddock, where they can see everything including the mare field and arena
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the happiest stallions ive seen are kept like any other horse really....
obviously they need a good leader and kept well trained and strict rules to stay safe.
my fillys sire was perfectly well mannered- happy for strangers to crowd into the box with him and scratch him, leads past the mares and breeding station in headcollar etc.
 
My stallion is so quiet that eveyone who meets him does not believe he is entire.
He lives out 24/7 with my old mare and a few others, he has been in the field with only electric fence seperating him from the mares, and nevr been a bother.
This is a lad i brought as a wild unhandled 3 year old, now most laid back loving horse ever and yes i do trust him completely.
When covering mares he is very easy to handle, and i ride him out with mares or geldings any time of the year.
But everyone deals with their horses differently, this way suits me and my horses.
P.s. he is the coloured lad i am riding in my siggy
 
My stallions are all kept on the same yard they all get turn out in a secure paddock but within sight of the others, usually geldings because i find most mares will do their 'come hither' looks at the poor stallions when the stallions are doing nothing to provoke the mares!!
I have a 'boys' side, and the girls are kept on the other side.
I do keep Jayes fluid about because the mares will'squirt' and that is just not fair on the stallions to be wafting around in the air, its about the only stuff that kills the smell.
my stallions have 'talking holes to either the gelding or the stallion next door.
They are all regarded as individuals and my treatment of each is with that consideration as, especiallly as the day light hours and ergo the testosterone levels in crease so the stalllions behaviour changes.
My staff are all taught how to handle the stallions and always respect the fact they are entire. we give them a normal life with cosideration for their safety and those around them.
 
Most of the stallions I've ridden have lived more or less as partoow and others describe, with attention to the balance between their mental and physical health, and everyone's safety.

One lived turned out with his mares BUT he was a Connemara, very chilled, and had grown up that way. They also had an enormous area (about 100 acres) and no other male horses around. When he bred outside mares he came into a particular paddock system the owners built for the purpose.

One did live sequestered. His father had been quite an aggressive horse (owned by the same person) and I think his people thought this was "necessary". He was dangerous to ride, horrid to handle and breed, and generally miserable. Eventually the people had to move and he became too much of a liability but no one else would take him on, given his reputation. It was very sad and, I suspect, unnecessary.

It does worry me though, that people read threads like this and think they'll just be able to buy any old stallion and keep it anywhere. I suspect a great deal of thought and attention goes into keeping many of the stallions above with regard to fencing, routine, handling, surrounding horses etc.
 
I agree TS, i may sound 'relaxed' but no-one ever leads a stallion on the yard without a chain attached under the chin of the head collar they are never tied on the yard and all handlers are my trained staff.
my liveries are also made aware of the stallions and the fact that they must always remember that regardles of how well behave/relaxed the stallions are thay are still and always stallions.
i have huge respect for my stallions , this goes hnd in hand with their management so that everyone is safe and happy.
Giving them a well managed life with freedoms within the structure is all part of the system i use.
I am however very experienced and would not recomend any one take on a stallion without appropriate training and facillities.
 
Hi Cruiseline. I've been lurking for a while but finally taken the plunge to register to take the oppurtunity to say I saw your stallion at Weston Lawns last summer and think he is one of the most beautiful horses I have ever seen and it's great to see that he has such a fantastic home life!
 
Wow thanks everyone so many replies, i was expecting to be ignored
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Love the photos and videos - some gorgeous stallions on this forum!!

Thanks again, i feel like i know a lot more now
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xxx
 
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Hi Cruiseline. I've been lurking for a while but finally taken the plunge to register to take the oppurtunity to say I saw your stallion at Weston Lawns last summer and think he is one of the most beautiful horses I have ever seen and it's great to see that he has such a fantastic home life!

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Thank you Ellibelli and welcome to the forum.

He really enjoyed his summer competing at Weston Lawns, he seems to have quite a fan club there
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When the shows resume, you will have to pop over for an introduction and a cuddle
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At the moment with frozen arenas, fields, traitorous roads and walkways, he is having to settle for a spin on the walker each day
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He has his airs above the ground in a confined space of to a T now.
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All four of our boys live out in paddocks, each with atleast a small band of mares at all times. Often with mares and foals at foot.

The two boys that are currently being ridden and competed do so direct from the paddock. Its interesting to watch the interaction when they are put back after a ride...must say hello to everyone and catch up on the gossip, they a quick lap to remark all the piles...lol

They are ridden out and competed in all sorts of mixed company and it's never an issue..
 
I have 2 stallions. My 5 year old Andalucian lives in because he prefers it but is turned out for as long as he wants in the summer and for a couple of hours in the winter (as well as his ridden work). You would not know he is a stallion except for the occasional announcement of his presence by a deafening whinny! He has to combine covering and ridden work in the spring. He is totally chilled when all the mares are moved around, in season or not. My 8 year old Section D has done a lot more covering in his life, including running with his mares. He lives out pretty much 24/7 with a field shelter and is the gentlest soul you will ever meet. The only time he is 'manly' in when you bring him in from the field to ride and he prances into the yard. I lead him in a stud ring in case he tries to haul me off to meet a lady; he respects the ring. As soon as he has his tack on he is in gelding mode and can happily work in at competitions with in season mares around him. I am sure that if I kept him in 24/7 with the top door shut, he might have a total personality change!
 
I found this post very interesting and helpful. I posted myself, on keeping my horses in a mixed heard with another mare and stallion (both gentle natured). The comments where quite different and less positive. Although I am concerned about my horses safety. This post gives me a most more balanced view than the other one. I really needed some positive comments about stallions after reading that.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...eping-a-Stallion-with-two-mares-and-a-gelding
 
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They are all different, character, temperament, behaviour and can be different according to work, time of year, situation, handler etc.

Ours is unusual as in he is on a normal livery yard. He is turned out as much as possible (field is separate and not next to the rest). His stable is with the rest.

He is treated just the same, but just with a bit more care I guess to make sure nothing unwanted happens. He ties with others, rides out, travels with and competes with others. He runs with mares if he has a girlfriend and is generally a true gent. But he can have those moments that you need to be firm etc just as with any horse. He is 21 years old now and a lot of people don't notice he is a stallion as he is normally very quiet, settled and a nice person.

I think the days of keeping them in total isolation apart from covering are mostly over thankfully. No wonder they were often grumpy and downright dangerous sods!

....but knowledgable handler with lots of common sense a must and the stallion needs to have a good temperament to start with, or it would be recipie for chaos!
 
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Wideyes, do you intend to have a foal by the stallion (I think you said that your mare is fine bones, and the stallion is a shire). If not, then it is beyond idiotic to have your mare run with him. Not only could he seriously hurt your mare, but your mare could seriously hurt him.
 
our stallion is in at night now, before he lived out 24 7 with a field shelter, he loves being next to the house, constant fuss and attention, he has a large hard standing yard next to his stable, which he can canter round, then goes out to graze in a small paddock, and goes on the riding surface to roll and generally scream about and cause mayhem, then I bring him up at night and his son is in the yard, with him all night, and they socialize, well try boss each other really, he is ridden as often as possible and thrives on the most attention possible, this morning he was very hot and firey so I leapt on him and rode for 1 hour, after which he was relaxed and my neighbour rode him for another half hour, he was like an angel.
 
My two Spanish stallions are turned out with their mares and foals all year round. The older of the two isn't keen on strange mares in the paddock next to him and his herd, but isn't worried if they're in his stable block. The other is quite happy to have any horse out in the next paddock to him and his girls. Even so, the fencing is 7' high and it is double fenced. It doesn't pay to be complacent around entires, no matter how laid back they are! He is also fine to ride in mixed company and at competitions.
Personally, if I had to keep a stallion isolated, I wouldn't keep one at all. They are such sociable creatures.
 
My two stallions get as much interaction as possible, bearing in mind we don't cover our mares every year.

They both have stables with grills and a favourite mare alongside. My CB stallion has wintered alongside the mare who foaled today, although he will be turned out alone for the time being.

The Shagya stallion is running with a mare to be scanned tomorrow.

They cannot see each other but are always able to watch their mares. We only have electric fencing and so run two fences between them and mares. The mares are more trouble than the stallions as striking out can tear out the bottom strand electric fence.

I hate the thought of stallions being stabled in isolation.
 
I was on a yard a few years ago there was 50 stallions, all for riding, and lived near the top jumping studs in france also, they had lots of stallions on each haras, all were ridden and competed, its very much a british islands thing to be anti stallion, (oh my god its entire,!) etc.
 
Wideyes said:
I found this post very interesting and helpful. I posted myself, on keeping my horses in a mixed heard with another mare and stallion (both gentle natured). The comments where quite different and less positive. Although I am concerned about my horses safety. This post gives me a most more balanced view than the other one. I really needed some positive comments about stallions after reading that.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...eping-a-Stallion-with-two-mares-and-a-gelding
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The situation you describe in your post is VERY different from the people posting here!
 
tristar said:
I was on a yard a few years ago there was 50 stallions, all for riding, and lived near the top jumping studs in france also, they had lots of stallions on each haras, all were ridden and competed, its very much a british islands thing to be anti stallion, (oh my god its entire,!) etc.
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This is very true. Both my stallions have been to local yards for training, I have never had a French yard bat an eyelid about having a stallion. It is never an issue.

And my Shagya stallion competed in endurance all of last year with mares, geldings and on one occassion hacked round with two other Shagya stallions.
 
My boy lives on the same yard as my mares. His stable is opposite the main block with about 15 metres between them, but simply because his stable was built later and there is no room to add on to the others.
He works with the mares, goes out next to the geldings and my 3yo will eventually go in with him. The mares don't go out at the same time as him.
 
I've been to The National Stud recently, each stallion has his own stable in a row with the covering yard in the centre, they see mares and foals in the fields around and each has his own paddock, they get 6 miles per day walking in hand as they are not insured for riding, and I think this is related to their value rather than anything else.
All the activity is behind their stable, so they are not constanty interrupted with lorres etc. They are used to the routine, and get to cover up to five times per day, which may be pretty much anytime from 6.00 am to midnight.
Its a busy place, but quiet!
 
My boy was out with geldings and young colts as well ... He was only a touch under 14.2hh, mind you, and the colts were racehorses -- he taught them manners ... His best friend was a gelding. He had had ladies in his youth (juniors pony), but didn't seem to "miss" them per se. Always kept a field's distance after retirement, but never turned on his male companions. We were lucky - yes, but on the other hand he was raised in the same way, with an older stallion and geldings. He was never alone, for 28 years so he knew no different.
 
tarrsteps, comment re it may not appear at first glance but a lot more thought and energy and effort goes into keeping a lot of these stallions than is apparent reading this thread, ok some are easier than others.

I feel joined to mine at the hip as regards keeping him busy and content, he is very very clever, totally switched on, never misses a movement as regards other other horses, for myself I could say its a way of life, if you are lacking in dedication its not a good route to go down for the horses sake.
 
tristar said:
tarrsteps, comment re it may not appear at first glance but a lot more thought and energy and effort goes into keeping a lot of these stallions than is apparent reading this thread, ok some are easier than others.

I feel joined to mine at the hip as regards keeping him busy and content, he is very very clever, totally switched on, never misses a movement as regards other other horses, for myself I could say its a way of life, if you are lacking in dedication its not a good route to go down for the horses sake.
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this in spades.

we are lucky as have 3 geldings and one 3yo stallion at home so no ladies to tempt or distract. this will not change.

he is very very good, not bothered by coming or goings on the yard-he can go out first or last and be left on his own in the field without a murmur. he sees lots of horses (incl mares) arrive for lessons and they walk past his field but he does no more than walk over, neigh and then go back to grazing.

i do know plenty of people who struggle with them (stallions) becoming very wound up whenever a horse goes out/comes in/a slight change of routine.

mine goes out next to geldings and is no worry at all. They are divided by a double fence approx 6ft high and 4foot wide but thats to stop them removing each others fly masks and neck covers!!!!

the only side of his field that borders the road is 5.5 approx post and rail with another 1.6 approx electric on top. not that he shows any inclination to care who rides past-again he walks over very calmly, watches the horse past, then resumes eating.

he has not yet covered and will not do for a few years(until he is settled in work and proven in the ring) and his attitude may change a little then but we could accommodate it if we had to and move him further from our boundary.

its always in the back of my mind to just be aware and whilst we are carefully blasé around him, a lot of experience and thought goes in to that careful blasé approach!
 
My mare spent a few years on loan to a friend who had a stallion who she didn't seem to treat any different to her other horses. My mare was stabled next to him, was hacked out with him and was turned out next to him (or with him when his owner decided to put her in foal). He was always perfectly calm and well mannered.

The friend now has a Friesian stallion, who she rides and drives (he has given horse and trap rides at the local school fete). He lives with mares and geldings and is very relaxed and happy.
 
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