keeping a stallion

[ellis9905]

i know nothing about keeping a stallions, but could someone more knowlegable please offer me some advice-

im on a very small yard- i use the word loosly, an old boy rents out grazing on the land that he used to keep cows on- he's in his 80's and other than collecting out rent leaves the three of us up there to our own devices- we each have our own paddocks to maintain and a stable each- we all rub along quite well, help one another out and have no issues

however a black cloud is looming..... owner one has a mare and a colt- now the colt is fast maturing, has just turned two and is begining to become a pain. The owner has now announced that she has no current plans to have the colt cut! but also doesnt seem to have time or interest in doing anything with him

The colt is bored stupid, has little and certainly no regular contact, he's out 24/7 out next to there mare - which now causes lots of squeeling and kickin as shes in season. we only have electric fencing dividing paddocks, which really isnt tall enough for colt as he's grown bigger than expected. I often have to repair his paddock fencing cause hes managed to break it in someway.

Im quite relieved that my pony is a gelding, so colt leaves him largly alone, other than passing interest as we walk past his field.
The third owner has a mare, this is causing some issues as colt is desperate to get to mare- charging the fence line when ever she's nr. Lunging towards her , and charging up and down the fence line that borders our school when mare being ridden- making the child rider very nervous.
Occassionally he will come charging along the fence head and neck long and low, ears right back- which makes him look rather scary- which bothers me both me and owner three have children on the yard. Now im aware he is only behaving as any uncut two yr old would....


this weekend i know im gonna have to try and chat with owner one, about the situation but she's rarely around now and quite feisty! i can see if nothing changes then its gonna end in an accident


so as this is become quite troublesome i was wondering ..

* do stallions have to be registered, if so at what age and with whom
* can Stallions be kept just anywhere?

thanks to anyone who can answer my questions

 

[Archiepoo]

if the colt isnt registered with a breed society then he wont get a stallion licence-but it doesnt mean she cant breed him to anyone who fancies a foal from him! to answer your other question -stallions can be kept anywhere -which is unfortunate for you by the sound of it cos she sounds like an idiot!

 

[Queenofdiamonds]

As far as i know it's the landowners decision, However, It might be worth mentioning that under health and safety rules, He is responsible for ensuring you and the mares owner are not harmed by a horse that is known to be difficult.

Generally, We accept that any horse is a risk, But one that is know to be persistently dangerous is different. This could end nastily for the land owner if the colt injures someone.

That's as far as my knowledge on official rules go. Otherwise, It's up to the land owner.

I would also be approaching the colts owner to ask what she would do if her colt gets another mare pregnant? Mentioning costs of aborting/sustaining a pregnancy caused by her might prompt her to get the vet out to de-*******.

 

[Inchy]

Its a tough one, everyone keeps stallions differently. I have one and we have another than comes up for a week or two at a time - they are kkept in post and rail paddocks with a line of electric fencing about a foot inside the post and rail, so they can't get right to the perimeter or get their heads over. They are also only turned out next to geldings that ignore the stallion antics rather than get excited by it.

They do charge at the fences and squeal/pull faces from time to time, but I know my fencing is secure so they don't worry me, and all my others are so used to him that they just ignore him!

You could suggest double lines of electric fencing as a precaution, with a powerful battery/mains electric. And fence him a meter or so away from the arena fence so he can't be that close. I don't think its particularly fair for a stallion to be turned out next to an in season mare as it does wind them up! I'd have a word with the farmer and stallions owner and see if you can't get to some kind of compromise. Sadly people don't need to have a liscens to own a stallion!

 

[Toast]

I'd be going to your yard owner to begin with. Though sadly it is the land owners decision he may not understand the safety implications. Its his responsibility to sort this out, so voice your opinion to him!
As others have said he could be licensed if he's registered but that doesn't mean she cant put him on top of any old mare. Also, if he stays where he is it wont be long before he's over the fence and on top of her mare! Not only that its completely irresponsible and unfair to keep them next to each other, poor chap is probably getting himself into a right state.

You need to address this before someone gets hurt, as a colt with little or no handling knows no boundaries and will cause someone a serious injury.

 

[Littlelegs]

Could you tell the owner that if he gets in with the mare then there's just as much chance of him being injured as there is the mare? Put it across as though you are concerned for him getting out. (which I know you are but thinking this is more likely to work than pointing out concerns for others)