Normal Colt behaviour? (and will he get over it?)

S

shadowboy

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 May 2006
Messages
4,754
Visit site
Quickly set the scene- I have owned Howie since 16th March 09- he is now exactly 15months old. He has not been gelded (yet). He is super to do in every sense- other than nipping at shows when its exciting trotting round the ring- you wouldnt know he is a colt. Has been living in a small herd of mixed age/size/breed geldings.

Yesterday I brought home my new pony Merlin a 15month Appaloosa x Blagdon Cob. Merlin is a gelding.

Howie keeps making stalion noises at him and has tried to mount him. He's never acted this way towards other horses- so i'm a little concerned. Merlin is blase about it all and just walks off. After a few days is this behaviour likely to ease off or get worse?

I can't geld him now as the flies are horrific here at the moment- really bad plus its show season. The YO says this is completely normal colt behaviour and that in a week or so they will have settled down together. Howie has not tried to dominate or harm Merlin but just keeps getting 'excited'.

I have owned 2 year olds + for a good 18 years but never yearling colts so would value the advice.
 
There was one colt and one gelding both yearling down at my yard once and the colt would get over excited sometimes and mount the gelding i think eventually he just calmed down and stopped
 
Perfectly normal, but you be firm with him when he's nipping, as that is something that will need to nipped in the bud.
 
thanks so much for the responses! yes he is being 'told' and now no longer does it anywhere other than at shows- it seems being in a ring with lots of strange horses makes him nippy- I can take him on walks round the countryside and trot him but he doesnt nip only at shows while in the ring- its odd- but we are improving (it might be my nerves come to think of it.....) But thanks again- makes me feel better that he's not abnormal!
 
yeah my 2 year old gelding still nips when getting excited when doing show prep but any other time he doesn't do it, its proberbly our nervous energy getting sent through to them
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top