keeping colts

debsflo

debsflo

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advice please .i have 2 mares and am due to get new neighbours in the field opposite and gather they have a colt. at present dont know age or size.they plan to have post and rail fencing and elecric on inside.what age does a colt normally get gelded and if they leave it entire does it have to be kept alone. in your opinion is it likely to cause a problem,and what things do i need to check out.would like to avoid problems if possible thanks
 
Hi, think they are gelded at 1yr old (usually in spring). no experience re grazing next to mares but if they're planning to keep it entire i'd have thought not ideal keeping in field next to mares.
Can you chat to them and find out what their plans are with the colt/explain your concerns? They might be planning to have it cut anyway in which case no need to worry.
 
Hi my colt was kept near mares, still is and the best thing we've found is to have a 6ft gap in the middle so that they can't easily jump in and out of it and they can't easil go through both. I would use high voltage electric fencing (10000V) at least initially andif necessary turn it down after a couple of shocks. In the spring it will be harder so maybe turn the fencing up again and maybe restict your mares a bit so that they aren't quite so close. Good luck.
 
I have always turned my Stallion out every summer for his hols with the ladies. He has done this since he was 3.
Electric is the best type of fencing and as ROCKY01 said better with a bit of no mans land :-)
Have to say i have more probs from the mares grazing in the fields next door trying to gain access to the stallion when they are in season. Have had experiences where mares have jumped into his field !! Luckily they were all mine though ;-) and we have brought him up to accept no freebies!!
I do think that to have a colt turned out he has to have the right upbringing i.e turned out with good brood mares so they are settled and know where they stand then they rarely wander or torment the mares....its the poor boys who are turned out on there own .... has to be horse nature to want to join a herd if it is within reach.
 
yes agree with rocky and amazona we had some neighbours with a stallion and they felt it was our responsibility to keep our mares away from him :S so we experimented with a few different things but thankfully he has gone now
 
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