Pony stallions advice please

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miniwhisper

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My mother aged 75 (no horse experience) has just been persuaded to buy two hackney pony stallions. They are only about 12.2hh. My main concern is for her safety. She is employing someone to help look after them so there is no problem with their welfare. She has bought them as a driving pair. Is it normal to drive two stallions as a pair? I have no idea about this.
I realise that this is totally ridiculous so please dont send critical responses as I have made those myself. I would just like to have constructive comments that I can show to my mother from people who know what they are talking about. I am at my wits end! Any advice very welcome.

Thanks.
 
Did you find out why she has bought them?
What does she plan to do?

Hackneys are like TBs and wonderful driving ponies but not usually suggested for novices. The stallions may not be able to live together and unless they are already an establishe pair i doubt a novice could bring them on to drive.

Do you know their history & origins?
 
Her plan is to show them next year and I have no doubt that they are fantastic show ponies in the right home. My concern is that they are stallions and I am worried about turnout and general welfare and their unpredictabilty. I dont live locally to her.
 
I was told by a Hackney person that two Hackney stallions together was a recipe for disaster. He used to take two around the show circuit, but had to watch them like a hawk in case of a fight, and these two were older and in full work. The thing about Hackneys is that they are very high couraged, and tend not to back down from a fight.
Possibly not the right thing for your mother!
 
Has she actually got them. It sounds like a bizarre scam :confused:

I have had horses all my life and the absolute last thing I'd want would be two hackney pony stallions even if I cold afford a groom each for them...
 
Might sound silly but r they defo stallions....took a while.for me to persuade non horsey oh that my gelding was not a stallion just cos he was a boy horse :-)
 
I really don't know about Hackneys, but not all stallions are the same.

We were taking my Highland stallion to a show and he had to stay in livery over night. In the next box was a small Welsh stallion. We were worried the sparks might fly as they could reach each other over the partition. All was quiet for about 15 minutes and when we looked in they were grooming each other over the partition!

Next day, the Highland refused to load (unheard of!). I suggested bringing out the Welsh to load first as they were going to the same show. Once the Welsh was on board, my boy loaded without hesitation. The trailer is a IW505.

Stallions thrive on good handling and routine. Are there no experienced hackney people here? Males of various species are often quite alright together so long as there are no females to compete for! Stallions learn that shows are shows and they must behave and not chase the girls.

Another thing. I'm 72 and strange as it may seem, I've learnt a thing or two during a long and interesting life. Also remember, it's our lives and we will soon be dead anyway. Maybe being killed by a stallion is as good a way to go as any and in the meantime, many of us oldies are enjoying life to the full and don't appreciate some whipper-snapper telling us what we may or may not do!! Last, I was solemnly warned not to get a stallion as they are all vicious and unpredictable -- and that certainly isn't true!
 
miniwhisper said:
Yes she has them but is refusing to speak to me about it. She seems to think that this is absolutely normal. EEK!!
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Well I think you probably have to let her find out for herself if it was a good idea.

Are you involved in horses yourself? Probably saying something like you are sorry you have thought about it and realise it is her decision to make, and what are they like etc, is a better way than her thinking you are trying to rule her life...
 
Dry Rot said:
Another thing. I'm 72 and strange as it may seem, I've learnt a thing or two during a long and interesting life. Also remember, it's our lives and we will soon be dead anyway. Maybe being killed by a stallion is as good a way to go as any and in the meantime, many of us oldies are enjoying life to the full and don't appreciate some whipper-snapper telling us what we may or may not do!! Last, I was solemnly warned not to get a stallion as they are all vicious and unpredictable -- and that certainly isn't true!
Click to expand...

A slightly depressing, but refreshingly alternative point of view! Thanks for making me think :)
 
I have a nf x hackney stallion although he is so chilled you would never know when my vet came to do his first vac he said how quiet she was :D
He has my other gelding stabled next to him and they go out together, although they get on fab the stallion is clearly boss. Not all stallions are the same but it's not something I would advise for a novice and can see why your worried.
I have no idea about driving two of them
 
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