Livery for stallion

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Veigahorse

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Hi
and thank you for adding me to the forum!
I have just recently moved full time to England (been here on and off working for 5 years). Since I am now here permanently, I would like to bring my horses over as soon as possible. Problem is, they are both stallions. I’ve lived in Portugal before and there it’s quite normal to leave a horse entire. Here it’s obviously not so much.
My question is, is it generally difficult to find a livery that allows stallions? I don’t really want castrate them, they are well mannered and easy to handle, even around mares.
Thanks for your replies
Lela
 
Veigahorse said:
Hi
and thank you for adding me to the forum!
I have just recently moved full time to England (been here on and off working for 5 years). Since I am now here permanently, I would like to bring my horses over as soon as possible. Problem is, they are both stallions. I’ve lived in Portugal before and there it’s quite normal to leave a horse entire. Here it’s obviously not so much.
My question is, is it generally difficult to find a livery that allows stallions? I don’t really want castrate them, they are well mannered and easy to handle, even around mares.
Thanks for your replies
Lela
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Hi, welcome to the forum. Honestly unless they're being used regularly to cover mares, I'd have them gelded. It'll be far easier to find a suitable yard and they will probably have a better quality of life (more equine company etc).
To answer your question, it depends on where abouts in England you're going to live but yes it'll be far harder to find a yard that will have suitable facilities for a stallion.
Maybe post your rough area and people might be able to recommend yards.
 
Sadly Lela, I think you will find it difficult to find a livery that will accept stallions in the UK, people here tend to be very frightened of what they might do. I suggest you put a thread in the Tack Room section asking about livery for stallions, saying what area you are looking for. Are they used to being kept in all the time? That would probably make things easier if they are, but you will also face quite a lot of disapproval in this country for stabling horses full time.

Welcome to the forum.
.
 
yes as above many normal livery yards would struggle to accommodate stallions either through lack of suitable facilities or just the owner's preference.

Depending on your area you might find yards aimed more towards competition rather than leisure horses might be available, as they are more likely to have stallions on site. Alternatively again depending on where you are, some of the iberian specialists in the UK would also have stallions and you might approach them to see if they have livery spaces. I think there are some quite active FB groups that might be helpful.
 
The issue in many cases is that staff/helpers just won’t know how to handle a stallion or have awareness of how to behave around one unless it’s a stud or competition type set up.

I just have to point out that you have not shared any photos of what I assume will be stunning horses ?
 
I struggled when I had a stallion I did find a few places that were happy to have them but I found it's other liveries that are the issue, some people do the most stupid things around them or they are terrified of them. Hence to say he is now a gelding although they are kept at home now I had him gelded years ago when he was still kept on livery.
 
Its a struggle to find livery for them. Mostly as your average horse owner won't have been around them and understand the respect and space they need to give them. It would be unfair to your boys to put them on an average livery yard.

That said you may find livery at studs or professional competition yards. Contacting your breed society might be helpful too.
 
As previously said your best option would be a competition yard or stud. Even if they’re well behaved and integrated it’s the people around who aren’t used to stallions who will cause the problems. I keep my stallion at home and he’s very well behaved when out competing so unless people are particularly observant they tend not to notice. If they do depending on the venue, and who else is about, the ‘grape vine’ can quickly transmit to ‘oh be careful that’s a stallion’.
 
You would be best inquiring around some of the PRE and Lusitano breeders, they are most likely to know where like-minded owners keep their horses. It will depend on where you are relocating as to whether you'll have anyone close enough to you to keep them.

You don't have to geld them (please don't...), but it will take a bit of research to find the right place for them.
 
‘Normal’ livery yards would be an utter nightmare with stallions, even if you could find one to accept them. It’s the other livery owners that would generally be the problem!!

But yes, if you are prepared to pay a proper price you will find livery. But you are most likely to need to pay full livery on a professional competition set up / stud.
 
The yard I’m at will take stallions, but as above it’s because it is mainly an Iberian horse focussed place. Try asking on the GBPRE or Lusitano Society GB Facebook pages - and it will help to know your location too.
 
ihatework said:
‘Normal’ livery yards would be an utter nightmare with stallions, even if you could find one to accept them. It’s the other livery owners that would generally be the problem!!

But yes, if you are prepared to pay a proper price you will find livery. But you are most likely to need to pay full livery on a professional competition set up / stud.
Click to expand...
Whilst I do agree that other livery owners would be an issue, I suspect this is probably because most normal livery yards just aren't set up to have stallions. Stabling would probably be okay but very few yards will have suitable fencing and I do think that however well behaved a stallion is, it really is sensible to have proper, stallion proof fencing, especially if they are being kept on a mixed, livery yard environment. And as others have said, it is very unusual for horses to be stabled all the time in the UK so if that is your aim on a normal livery yard you would definitely find yourself at odds with other owners.

You would be much better off in a more professional set up. Competition yards will usually take stallions and will often (though not always) have suitable turnout facilities for them. This was certainly the case on both SJ yards I worked at (as a groom), though one only had an all weather turnout paddock and no grazing for stallions. This sort of yard will come at an additional cost though. It doesn't need to be a PRE or Lusitano focused place if you can't find one near to you - look at SJ, dressage and other set ups. Ultimately, it should be perfectly possible to keep a stallion on a decent yard here, but you will almost certainly have to pay extra for it.
 
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Thank you everyone for your replies.
I am in south West Cornwall at the minute but I am fairly flexible with work (locum vet), so could potentially move somewhere else.
Gelding them is not really an option I’d consider.
Maybe a livery with Iberian horses would be best...
 
I know a vet in south Devon who has mares and stallions- hers are at home but she might know some contacts your way for livery. PM if you want her details :)
 
Western focussed yards are also an option for you, I know many western people in the UK that have stallions on various yards. I dont have experience of anyone in your area but WES (Western Equestrian Society) have a contacts page for contacts throughout the UK, so you'll find a local contact on there.
 
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