Leasing a stallion

[GrecianDawn]

As my horse is currently out of work, I started to search for lease options. I found a wonderful dressage horse that has been sitting in pasture for 2 years. Owner just doesn’t have time for competing and has a big property with 2 other geldings. I tried him, he’s sound, he’s nice forward ride, very willing, and bomb-proof. But he’s a stallion. He is 16. So I took him to my barn for a 6 month long lease. And that’s where the problems started. If he is turned out and sees mares in heat, he just sweats and freaks out. When a horse goes near us he sometimes strikes with front leg and screams and he won’t go forward. But some days he can graze next to a mare and act like a gelding. So I have no turn out options anymore. He has a pasture for himself, but he can still see other horses. Owner won’t geld him, and I fell in love with him. He is a total sweetheart in the stable, so cuddly and so calm. But I’m tired of hand-walking him with a whip if he starts to rear and strike and tired of being afraid which horse is going to show up behind the corner. What would you do? Give up or try to correct his behavior? Thanks all and sorry for a long post!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Return him to the owner as you do not have suitable facilities to keep an entire.

 

[CMcC]

His behaviour is natural, I don’t think you can “correct” that. He needs to be kept in an appropriate environment, it doesn’t sound where you keeping him is fair to him. As said return him to his owner and look for another horse.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

He's got bad manners that need addressing. It's not 'natural' for any equine to be badly behaved, particularly an entire.

However, as you are tired of being afraid, I would send him back, particularly as the way he is currently being kept doesn't appear to suit him.

 

[tristar]

sounds a pretty normal stallion to me!

but if its causing stress send him back, it sounds like too much effort

 

[GrecianDawn]

I don’t think he is completely satisfied with his current lifestyle. And currently every day is a lottery. Like which mare is going to be in the heat, how many horses are in the arena, which horse is going to poo.. I cannot mount him where I want to because it takes a bit of a walk to get to the arena, and if we come across certain horses, he will stop and rear and strike, so I have to lead him.. There are like 1000 good things about him, and then those few bad ruin a whole day for me sometimes. I maybe hope that after my lease is over I can buy him, but if I geld him late will there be any difference? If those are bad manners, I’m willing to work on it, but if it is the way he is, I guess we will have to part our ways.

 

[Hallo2012]

at 16 he is more than likely going to retain stallion behaviour for a long time, if not forever. He will calm down if gelded no doubt, but might always act semi stalliony around mares.

it sounds like he doesnt cope well with your busier yard......i've ridden lots and my own stallion wouldnt care but some cannot cope and never settle.

 

[Equi]

Send him back and get a gelding.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I don’t think he is completely satisfied with his current lifestyle. And currently every day is a lottery. Like which mare is going to be in the heat, how many horses are in the arena, which horse is going to poo.. I cannot mount him where I want to because it takes a bit of a walk to get to the arena, and if we come across certain horses, he will stop and rear and strike, so I have to lead him.. There are like 1000 good things about him, and then those few bad ruin a whole day for me sometimes. I maybe hope that after my lease is over I can buy him, but if I geld him late will there be any difference? If those are bad manners, I’m willing to work on it, but if it is the way he is, I guess we will have to part our ways.

I would not classify this as normal or acceptable. I've ridden a few stallions who knew better than to act like this or just didn't (which was probably why they were kept entire). Sure there are "natural behaviors" but stallions can still be civilized citizens. I'm assuming the horse was allowed to/has acted like this for awhile and should've been gelded long ago or needs to be kept at a really chill yard with only a few other horses. So if you can find a yard that is better for him, that's an option. But if you ever want to travel with him to a riding clinic, camp, competition or even to hack, this will be very difficult if not dangerous. So I might very well pass on this one and keep looking.

Yes, you can geld, there are more risks for an older stallion but one that I used to ride was gelded at 16 due to melanomas on his testicles, and it was a bit hard on him, but he bounced back ok. That one had immaculate behavior though, so no change afterward because no change needed.

Even if gelded now, these behaviors are pretty well ingrained.

 

[GrecianDawn]

Guys. He left earlier today. Our last in hand graze was horrible and left me in tears. So now I’m crying out of frustration and because he left. My heart breaks for him. But he’s gone. I’m devastated.