Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
This a bad idea , sit down and think this through .
Issues with colt not leading at a viewing - rearing and biting!
- Thread starter wakijaki
- Start date
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
This!
Your immediate priority is company for your mare. That issue is not solved with a colt. It is risky to let then run together anyway without intervention, though I know some people do. And is what happens in the wild. But once she is in foal, you definitely can't then keep them together. He could repeatedly mount her and seriously injure her, not to mention traumatize her. Being repeatedly mounted when unrepective by an entire colt who you are forced into proximity with, is not what anyone means by a 'companion'. It is abusive, danergous and just not an ok plan. (Assuming that was your plan).
If you want to breed, and you use another stallion, then you have plenty of time to figure out what next. But it is still worth thinking it through. When foal arrives, the mare and foal will be separated from companion. At least for a while. So that's another pairing to think about. They may be ok all together. But then again they may not. If the companion is aggressive to the foal then what? And when foal is weaned, foal will need a companion too. As Red-1 says, foals need other youngsters. Everyone does need to start somewhere, so a good place to start is eduating yourself about the needs of mares and foals. And seeing other stud set ups and how they work. Then planning from there.
Elf On A Shelf
...
Why would you be buying a yearling to cover your mare with? Even the "least vigilant " studs keep the boys away from the girls until they are at least 2yo. A yearling more than likely won't be able to cover the mare yet, if they do they are risking damaging themselves. If you planned to run him on until old enough then you don't have a companion for your mare.
If your that desperate for a foal then send the mare off to a reputable stud to a stallion with a good record and temperament.
What you are proposing to do currently is absolute insanity.
Also boys will be boys and if you can't handle him as an excited yearling then you won't handle him when he is older and stronger.
If your that desperate for a foal then send the mare off to a reputable stud to a stallion with a good record and temperament.
What you are proposing to do currently is absolute insanity.
Also boys will be boys and if you can't handle him as an excited yearling then you won't handle him when he is older and stronger.
babymare
Well-Known Member
This 100%
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
Why not just get another mini as a companion, and forget about breeding… if you did breed from your current mini the foal would need other similar age and size youngsters to run with so you need to consider that part as well. The second owner sounds like she doesn’t know what she is doing either and personally if she wouldn’t lead it up I would have walked away …
Jenko109
Well-Known Member
Not read all replies.
The colt was probably pulled in off grazing unhandled a week ago. Shes probably halter broke him quick and kept him in to learn about a bucket etc.
The lice would not concern me. A bit of any powder and it will be easily resolved. The colt being a prat to lead would again, not particularly concern me. He will be just fine once he has had some manners put in place, is in a good routine and has got some turnout back.
That said, your concern is what I find a concern. This colt (or indeed most colts) are going to test the boundaries. I bet even the sweet one you saw first will throw some shapes on the end of the lead rope under the right (or wrong depending what way you look at it!) Circumstances.
Maybe a nice gelded 3yo would be a better match if you specifically want a youngster?
The colt was probably pulled in off grazing unhandled a week ago. Shes probably halter broke him quick and kept him in to learn about a bucket etc.
The lice would not concern me. A bit of any powder and it will be easily resolved. The colt being a prat to lead would again, not particularly concern me. He will be just fine once he has had some manners put in place, is in a good routine and has got some turnout back.
That said, your concern is what I find a concern. This colt (or indeed most colts) are going to test the boundaries. I bet even the sweet one you saw first will throw some shapes on the end of the lead rope under the right (or wrong depending what way you look at it!) Circumstances.
Maybe a nice gelded 3yo would be a better match if you specifically want a youngster?
dorsetladette
Well-Known Member
I have a colt (now gelding) that was bought as a companion for a 3 year old filly (mini cob actually). He came to me in a sorry state and has taken over 12 months to get in any reasonable condition. We've had alsorts of complications from heavy worm burdens to castration issues (with a few field injuries along the way).
Now I have a set up to cater for colts and have a no mares policy so my lads have had the luxury of running as babies in a small herd with a mixture of older and younger ponies in there. They have been taught herd eticate from the older ponies and ground manners from us.
IMHO there is a fine line between handled and over handled babies. I think you may find the first pony you veiwed will possibly turn into a pushy/bargy brat at some point soon and this will be hard to fix as he's been humanised to much. The second sounds more like a blank canvas and with a tube of loose powder and a bit of nice handling you'll probably have a nice little pony to be around - but that does depend if you have the right set up.
As @Hallo2012 and others have said keeping colts/stallions isn't something to take on lightly. without experience this can go horribly wrong. If i wanted to breed again (grew up in a family business breeding and showing welsh ponies) I'd have a mares only policy on my yard and send them away to a good stallion. 2 mares would keep each other company and their foals would have a buddy to play with. Honestly mixing mares and stallions (mares and geldings sometimes too) creates all sorts of problems.
Now I have a set up to cater for colts and have a no mares policy so my lads have had the luxury of running as babies in a small herd with a mixture of older and younger ponies in there. They have been taught herd eticate from the older ponies and ground manners from us.
IMHO there is a fine line between handled and over handled babies. I think you may find the first pony you veiwed will possibly turn into a pushy/bargy brat at some point soon and this will be hard to fix as he's been humanised to much. The second sounds more like a blank canvas and with a tube of loose powder and a bit of nice handling you'll probably have a nice little pony to be around - but that does depend if you have the right set up.
As @Hallo2012 and others have said keeping colts/stallions isn't something to take on lightly. without experience this can go horribly wrong. If i wanted to breed again (grew up in a family business breeding and showing welsh ponies) I'd have a mares only policy on my yard and send them away to a good stallion. 2 mares would keep each other company and their foals would have a buddy to play with. Honestly mixing mares and stallions (mares and geldings sometimes too) creates all sorts of problems.
wakijaki
Well-Known Member
Hi thanks for everyone's comments...think I probably do need to do more research into it before committing to breeding.
The 1st seller also had a lovely little coloured mare there who was super sweet and friendly..also handled by a child. So we are going to go with her as think she will be the ideal companion to my mini mare without the hassle of unruly colts.
The 1st seller also had a lovely little coloured mare there who was super sweet and friendly..also handled by a child. So we are going to go with her as think she will be the ideal companion to my mini mare without the hassle of unruly colts.
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
That sounds like a good plan
paddy555
Well-Known Member
that sounds like a good plan. I hope it works out well for you.
Jules111
Well-Known Member
I'd personally feel more concerned about the youngster being handled by a young child. Yearling colts are unpredictable, unbalanced and can turn into a complete tit very easily. Every time they are handled they are learning what is acceptable and unacceptable. A child cannot be expected to hold firm boundaries and could be seriously hurt. Poorly handled youngsters can end up having a very unpleasant life in the long run.
Elf On A Shelf
...
A mini yearling at this time in the year when they are quite probably not even 12 months old yet are highly unlikely to be even remotely coltish. A child tootling around with a placid youngster under the supervision of a sensible adult isn't really the biggest problem in the Grand scheme of things.
Equi
Well-Known Member
Having read the last message I’ve deleted mine.
Jules111
Well-Known Member
Agree it's not the "biggest" problem... but if I was buying a youngster I always prefer unhandled compared to a colt handled regularly by a child.
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
I taught a foal my parents bred (a colt) to rear up and walk towards me. That went down well with mum and dad
wakijaki
Well-Known Member
@Jules111 Its very much a family business and before the child even set foot on to the yard the first thing she did was put her riding hat on. Id say she was probably about 10/11 and obviously knew what she was doing and under close adult supervision. She had clearly been well trained and around horses all her life. The first colt was very docile and they said it was regularly turned out and handled which showed. The other colt - the seller didnt even go in with him and dodged my request to see him being led so clearly he had received very minimal handling which was the point of my post that I felt mislead when she said he was well handled!
In any rate we have chosen a mare they had there which we also saw being handled by the child. I would argue that most minis end up being childrens ponies so I personally didnt see an issue with that side of it. The old guy who was there said he had been handling horses since he was 9 so had 60 odd years experience.
In any rate we have chosen a mare they had there which we also saw being handled by the child. I would argue that most minis end up being childrens ponies so I personally didnt see an issue with that side of it. The old guy who was there said he had been handling horses since he was 9 so had 60 odd years experience.
Hallo2012
Well-Known Member
Annagain
Well-Known Member
This sounds like the best outcome. Well done for listening to the advice, it's not always easy to admit you've made (or are about to make) a mistake.
nagblagger
Well-Known Member
Best outcome, but still not happy
WE WANT PHOTOs of your new mare !!
WE WANT PHOTOs of your new mare !!
Widgeon
Well-Known Member
wakijaki
Well-Known Member
Thank you everyone..will upload a photo once she's been delivered. I had previously sent a horse friend photos of both the colts we were viewing saying which one would you pick and she said you'll know when you see it...so funny that I was then really drawn to the little mare instead. Very excited to welcome her
sunnyone
Well-Known Member
You won't be the last person here to go and view one horse but came back in the end with something totally different!
Fingers crossed that everybody settles in well.