How do you keep yours? Stallion that is. Breeders, handlers, anyone?

[Enfys]

I have just had a real tongue lashing from a farmer here, and he only came to ask about hay.

Apparently, I am doing it all completely wrong

Nice to get off on the right foot with neighbours isn't it?

My colt runs with a mare when they are in the field. WRONG. Apparently he should have a small paddock attached to his stable and should never have company.

When stabled he has full view of 3 mares and a gelding in the same barn. WRONG. he should be isolated as he will get upset/hard to handle.

I lead him about in a headcollar with a chain attachment should I ever need (and I haven't yet) a little more control. WRONG. A stallion/colt should always be led about in a bit or chifney.

I am, apparently, cruising for a bruising. I am a silly Brit who came out here to play horses and knows nothing

What really hacked me off was that I didn't have a chance to get a word in edgeways.Standardbred Central here........explains a lot.

Anyway, I digress. Sorry. I know that there are countless variables but I am just interested in how people owning/working with stallions keep theirs.

 

[Tia]

Enfys; do what I did!! Start a new trend! Honestly you wouldn't believe the amount of people I know who have changed their stallion-keeping-behaviour PURELY because of how I kept my stallion!

He was always kept in a herd situation; he had a couple of small geldings and a handful of mares who lived with him when they weren't in season and were zipped out of there when they were in season. He always had a barren mare live with him and then when I bred the 2 mares to him, they continued living with him all the way through their pregnancy. He was the loveliest, calmest, most docile stallion ever. New people never believed he was a stallion - and that was what changed their minds about the way they went home and kept their stallions from then on. All of them have been amazed at how much easier their stallions are to handle now and that they are so much quieter than they used to be, so much gentler with the mares etc etc the list really does go on!

Don't listen to the old goat

because you are the one who will have a wonderful little stallion at the end of the day. One big piece of advice though - make damn sure your fencing is up to scratch! IF he gets out and does any damage or impregnates another mare then you will be in BIG trouble!

Up where I live, most of the stallions I know, were previously kept in a tiny corral, made with 7ft high wooden poles - they could barely see anything, were totally bored out of their skulls and just paced and paced all day long.......now they are out in fields and are nearly as nice as my guy - but not quite, my guy is the best in my area

.

 

[ihatework]

I've worked with a few competition stallions and it really has depended on the horse in question as to how they were handled/managed.
From one end of the scale where you honestly wouldn't know the horse was a stallion unless you looked, he was stabled next to mares, led in a headcollar, boxed next to mares and never got randy. To the opposite extreme of a well known SJ stallion that was a stereotypical boy! Chifney for him wherever he went, always tied up if you went in the box with him, not stabled next to mares etc.

All have been turned out alone though, but usually in sight of others.

 

[Tia]

[ QUOTE ]
All have been turned out alone though.....

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes but in Europe, stallions do still normally get turned out in a decent sized paddock. Over here they are lucky if they are given a 20ft X 20ft pen! And they generally can't see anything as the fencing is poles tightly wired together up to a height of about 7ft. Most of them are totally nutty

.

 

[FRESHMAN]

I keep mine as close to normal as possible. I dont agree with stallions being kept differently (unless you have a 'rogue' type ie: one that you have not had since a youngster so do not know its history) My stally's travel with mares on the waggon. (cctv on at all times) although most are in a seperate barn (testosterone alley) 2 are kept in the main barn which includes mares. No, I dont insist on a chiffney or chain at home but I would do in public ie: at a show.
Our yard is always on it's guard.I would definately NOT under any circumstances allow them to graze with others. although they do graze & can always see others.
There again I know of 3 that after a considerable number of years turned on there field mate gelding & absolutely pasted them. So I dont take chances.

 

[Fahrenheit]

I keep mine just the same as any other horse witht he exception of turnout, they go out in their own paddock, they can see other horses from the paddock but they don't have contact here at my old place they used to have an old gelding in the paddock next door H & O use to play headcollar yank with him, he came in for R to go out because R would have tried to jump the fence and cover him. Their stables are in the same rank as mares, geldings and youngsters, they are even stabled next to mares and we wean the foals into the box next to the stallions and the foals seem calmer because they can see the stallion and the stallion likes oggling at the foals. I only use the chifney when collecting from the stallions or if we are doing something where I think I might need extra control, all the stallions reconise the chifney and get excited when they see it. When I am mooching them about the yard, turning them out got the farrier etc they get lead in a headcollar and leadrope and they seem to know that they aren't going to do anything exciting!

 

[Irishcobs]

When I worked with a stallion. He was stabled next to a gelding with a gelded late, covered mares gelding next to the gelding, so they could all see each other through bars. The mares were across the yard. We led him in a chifney mainly because he passed the mares to get to the filed/school and he was a big big boy so could easily take off if he wanted to. The gelded late reguarly did.
He used to be turned out with the gelding but the gelded late hated being by himself more than the stallion did, so he is now on his own. The gelded late and stallion fought when turned out together.
He travelled with mares and drove in a team of 4 horses with one mare. When stabled at a comp he was stabled with him one end and the mare the other, with the other two inbetween but he could still see her.

The stallions down at stud all live in one yard where they have stallions next to them and can all see each other. They are never tied up to be handled, the two we went in to see, didn't even have a headcoller on. They are led and trotted up in just a headcoller, the one we are using had a stallion galloping about in the field next door when he was trotted up for us. They are turned out alone but can see mares across the field. The mares are stabled behind the stallion yard.

 

[severnmiles]

[ QUOTE ]
All have been turned out alone though, but usually in sight of others.

[/ QUOTE ]

Same here. PSG stallion was lovely, stabled next to mares, led out to his field in a headcollar, travelled with mares but always turned out alone.

Colts were gits to turn out but always turned out in a headcollar no problems, stabled alongside mares and foals but also turned out alone.

 

[CentrestageSHS]

My boy is a 5year-old 17hh Polish warmblood. I have known him from birth and he has just been gelded at the age of 5. Up to the age of 2 1/2 he lived in a big field with a load of other colts and geldings and retired barren broodmares. When he was coming upto three he moved onto the competition yard into the stallion barn, this meant he was stabled quite a lot and turned out on his own. The turnout fields are massive though, no round pens, but 8 foot fencing yes. He became quite depressed and was obviously unhappy despite getting the best of everything. We found that one day he had actually jumped out and was in a nearby field grazing with a variety of sheep, cattle and a few shire horses! The grazing was appalling so he obviously had not jumped into the field for the grass but was certainly enjoying the company! Ever since then he has been turned out with other colts, geldings and two old barren mares in a herd of 12. The mares come in season and they just stand there and let him mount them all day! The old tarts love a bit of him. He is a very happy horse now and performs a lot better with no stress. He is lead with a headcollar at home and a bit and chain for "special occasions"! He was a very quiet and loving sort of stallion though, he talked to his ladies and looked after the herd very well, there was no aggression at all from any side just quite a lot of playing.
I think it all depends on the breed and attitude of the stallion, and also their upbringing. Some competition stallions that are worth a lot are brought up very isolated so they do not get injured or hurt others. Some get used to this lifestyle and live quite a happy solitary life. Others are either more laid back like a gelding or are that highly strung that it is nearly impossible to keep them entire and sane. You need to decide whether you want a happy horse or a blemish-free horse!
I do not think there is any set fast rules on keeping a stallion. It needs to be tailored to your horse's needs. If there is no problem with other horse's company then why keep him separate. If he is aggressive or expensive then yes I understand it is a better idea for individual turnout and stabling. I must say though I would never let two stallions be together as that is just asking for a major fight.
He is now gelded and is a lot more happier horse and used for competition instead of breeding. We have kept his full brother entire who is a year older than him and he is very much a breeding stallion and enjoys his job, He is well behaved around people and when mating but he becomes the devil if another horse comes between him and a mare. He is not one that gets hours of turnout but he does actually enjoy being a pampered horse in a stable and competing.

 

[henryhorn]

Right, original stallion was kept in his own paddock but adjoining mares/geldings etc. he was stabled next to other horses but couldn't touch them.
Travelled on box with geldings, and competed without any problems whatsoever.
This one lives in his own paddock in the daytime within sight of lots of horses but does get less stressed if he can't see any others, but that isn't easy to arrange.
he comes in every night and can be stabled with a mare in the next stable, all he does is chuuner to her all the time.
Won't travel with mares without getting incredibly fruity but ok with gelding he knows. (doesn't like having a strange one in with him)
Handling we use a headcollare and lunge line never a lead rope, we used to use a chiffney for covering but as we and the stallions learned our jobs we found we didn't need a bit.
Yours is a young one so you may have to discipline him as he tries it on, but ours mostly behaved because we always carried a stick if in doubt.
Every year Bert the older one would have a walloping when he came inside for the winter months as he would try and barge past you. After a few days he would politely walk back when you opened the door, but woe betide any strange groom as he would knock them over and run off to cause mayhem!
There are unwritten rules with stallions such as you always have eyes in the back of your head, don't use leadropes to lead and never trust even the most placid.
I can show you a fantastic bite on CCJ's bum when he picked her up one day and shook her.. (she won't let me put it on here

)
Our old one bit my husband savagely, but never even pulled a face at me; I however always warned him and waved a stick if in doubt.
This one is sweet but can turn into a real stallion in seconds, so again, I always take precautions.
Tell your neighbour the way you are rearing yours is the English method, then laugh when he apologises in time when he realises yours is easy to handle..
The person who bred ours said they should be treated like normal horses but with caution, i'd agree with her.
editted to add don't try turning him out with a gelding, our stallion was best of mates for weeks then suddenly attacked gelding for no reason. He had 60 bites on him poor lad..

 

[Enfys]

Thankyou everyone, it is so interesting to hear different views, all horses are so different as is the way we keep them. I really like this Breeding forum.

This farmer made me feel a proper chump, didn't stop to ask if I'd had experience with stallions, breeding or anything, I was standing there, smoke pouring out of my ears spluttering "Yes, but............"

I would never have bought a colt if I didn't feel that I could handle him, I chose a QH because they have a reputation for being calmer, and much as I adore arabs and that's where my experience with stallions lies, I simply cannot be bothered anymore putting up with their drama queen melodramatics all the time. getting old I guess. I've actually had arab mares and geldings that were more trouble to handle than some stallions I've worked with.

Oh yes, the eyes in the back of the head thing, never under-estimate/take a stallion for granted! I learnt that the hard way with a little 14h arab stallion who was always a sweetheart, until he decided that he was going to kick his owner round the stable. For some reason we were both in his box and he chased us around with his back end, double barrelling and meaning it. I don't take liberties and invite trouble and although this chap is very good I still am quite firm about the rules and have found that he does like routine. He always steps back when I go to his door/gate, he'll lower his head at a touch for the halter (long, long rope) and every day he is the first to come in and the first to go out.

He is actually still very babyish in some ways, and I am really looking forwards to having some fun with him for a good while to come, as to his future as a stallion, time and temperament will tell.

 

[htobago]

I agree with others on here that there is no 'one size fits all' rule for keeping/handling stallions, although shutting them up alone and out of sight seems like asking for trouble to me.

My 3yo Arab stallion is kept in a mixed yard (mares, geldings and one other stallion) where he can see other horses from his stable and generally watch everything that is going on in the yard. He is turned out alone, but often with other horses in nearby fields (he shows off to them a lot, but then to be honest he does this even if his only audience is some birds and a rabbit or two lol!).

He is led in a headcollar (sometimes with a covered chain or rope over nose for extra control) - except when covering/collecting, when he has a chifney, or showing to visiting breeders, when we use a show halter or show bridle.

He is a typical high-spirited colt - noisy and bouncy, but very sweet-natured and affectionate, loves fuss and attention. He does not have to be tied up in the stable, and anyone can go in and poo-pick around him, handle him, etc.

Ideally, eventually, I'd like to have him running out with his own little herd of mares, but that is simply not possible at the moment.

I have a friend who has two stallions living out in a field together - they are best friends and get on very well, but I do realize this is rather unusual!

 

[Enfys]

Topical link from COTH

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=102194

 

[viola]

I had owned stallions for over 10 years (sold before moving to London as every livery owner was like your neighbour) and althoough I didn't turn them out with mares they were turned out on paddocks with a view on all the horses around regardless of sex; they travelled with mares to competitions; were stables in american style barns abd were able to view mares and geldings alike; they were the best behaved animals you can imagine and they were not sedentary breeds (Trakehner and Anglo-Arab).
I hate this whole isolation clique and I wouldn't change a thing in waht you do with your boy (maybe apart from turning out with mares).

 

[eventing_chick]

my stallion has a friend in the field. dandelion is a 4 yo welsh A gelding and they are the best of friends. He comes to events too.
When i sent him away to stud this year they did say he may come back and be different with the pony but he just was pleased to see him.
They have been friends for 3 1/2 years so they were both young which i think may have made the differance.

 

[Enfys]

This little one seems to be very content with his mare, when I bought him he was in a field full of colts and geldings so is obviously used to company. He is quite happy to be taken away from her and the others, we go for walks around the track and along the road, he hasn't been out and about much.
At the moment the barn looks like a fairground, he had hysterics at a feed sack the other day so he's had sacks tied to his field fence and now has homemade bunting flapping around the barn, although he did refuse to go in his stall today, stood bug eyed and snorting............at a toad in his bed! No, I have no idea why there was a toad in his bed, but he often shares it with one of the rabbits that run around the place or a bunch of kittens. My husband calls the barn a Petting Zoo!

htobago.....hope no offence taken re my drama queen comments, I adore arabs, and have one now but just can't face keeping one as a stallion. Besides which, they are not popular in these parts and a good one, and I'd only buy a good one, would be wasted. Cruiser gave me a lead to a lovely Pysche boy but he would deserve better than me.

 

[htobago]

Absolutely no offence taken Enfys! Arabs are not to everyone's taste, and some can indeed be a bit drama-queen-ish - although they are usually very sweet-natured.

Mine is a shamless attention-seeker - always wears his heart on his sleeve and broadcasts his every passing thought or feeling to the world, usually at top volume. I rather like this 'transparency' and expressiveness - and the boundless energy and playfulness - but I can accept that others might find it a bit wearing and prefer a quieter life!

 

[Enfys]

Arabs are my breed of choice, I'm just getting too old

Also, big ALSO here, my husband doesn't want an arab stallion on the property, when push comes to shove, husband v horse, it's husband every time.

 

[scaremcclare]

i dont really know anything about stallion keeping! however i went to Langaller stud to view a stallion there. there were about 7 stallions in a courtyard of stables they could all see each other and even played over the stable doors with each other. they were really chilled and friendly. they also went out daily in paddocks in pairs. i thought they were kept in such natural conditions and this was obvious as they were so relaxed. i then viewed another stud and the stallions were kept in stables where the bars were always up they couldnt look out, see any other horses. they looked bored unhappy and i dont think they were ever turned out. i thought it was horrible. i think the way your stallion is kept sounds brilliant. ignore the old fart that told u that you were doing it wrong!

 

[Shark]

Your right and he's a pratt!!

Each stallion is different and has different needs, if your boy is happy as he is then great too many stallions are starved of company and handled harshly, all mine are stabled with mares etc, travelled with mares etc, have turn out, one does not like to see other horses when in his field another likes to see others when out, if your Stallion is happy and in control that is all that counts, I use chifneys mainly but use a chain on certain stallions and just a normally bit on some, when possible they are handled in just headcollars.

As long as they are happy relaxed and in control and not able to cover or harass mares unless they are asked or intended too, is correct, I think by the sounds of it your boy is a happy content chap, ignore those who think they know it all!!