Riding a stallion

Grey_Arab

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Just wondering about what it is like to ride a stallion......as the YO wants to breed appoloosa (sp) horses and has found a spotty colt, that is 3/4 so ready to break, and cos I'm lighter than her (and he is only 15hh) she has askd me to help her break him in so he can be ridden not only a daddy. She is very experienced at breaking horses and the yard instructor is a BHSI so I have no worries about riding him, I just wondered how they were different than geldings??
Thankies in advance
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Hi

Riding a stallion is much the same as riding any other horse, having worked at a yard where we break in youngsters for racing I have broken a few in myself. The only things you need to be aware of are that its not a good idea to follow mares and that colts are generaly a little more playful and exciting. Otherwise its a great Idea to break the colt in as it gives him something to think about and will make him much easier to handle.
 
For some reason some stallions can be a bit lazy and not as quick off your leg as you'd like but otherwise I love working with the boys.

The main thing is that you have to be very aware of other horses about,because if you're not............he certainly will be!!!!!!
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I have only ever ridden one stallion and he was a superstar!!
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I didnt really notice much difference TBH. he was very laid back and sensible.
 
very nice i broke on in he was lovely though was gelded at a later date just as mentioned prob not a good idea to follow a mare! i also worked for the bleekmans for a bit and they had three i rode the one in the school quite a bit he was fine to, think mayhill was the worst though not badly behaved spec when it was stud season though he was fantastic out competeing apparently never bothered with mares at all
 
TBH, I think its the same as any other horse. It really depends on the horse as they are all individual. I have ridden stallys of all different temps none have seemed to fit into one particular mould.

Like someone said, you do have to be quite attentive especially when at comps etc or you might be more than you bargined for! LOL
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My experience of riding stalliions is similar to another posters, in that I find them less sharp than mares or geldings, they tend to take a little longer to do what you are asking of them.

All of the older stallions that I have ridden have never been any trouble out riding or at shows, however my own stallion who is still young, is terrific on our land but I don't think I would trust him fully if we were to meet up with a strange horse as he still gets a bit excited when he meets new horses and I don't want to be on his back if he did, LOL!! I am sure if he was given more experience of meeting strangers he would be fine though.

Always be aware of what is going on around you though, and pay a lot of attention to what your stallion is thinking and try to figure it out before he does!
 
I can only go along with what has been said by other people, you just have to be aware of what is going on around you, also, I would add though,that however sedate he may seem develop eyes in the back of your head when you are in the stable or arena if he is loose and never get blase around them. I have ridden many stallions of all temperaments, mainly arabs, all have been good to ride, even with other stallions and mares in mixed groups. We used to ride through a small town quite a lot and our stallions always displayed to themselves in shop windows! That used to amuse/disgust on-lookers depending on their point of view, stallions skittering along screeching at windows and flashing their bits used to upset some people.
 
All the stallions ive had have been very good to ride, infact they have been better behaved than the mares and geldings i've had! I do have to say that i've found in general they are a little lazier thou. Currently have one thats just turned 4 and he's fab, the only thing that he gets excited about is this horse at the bottom of the road that looks just like him and even the rider looks the same too (he hasn't yet worked out that its his own reflection in the shop window - lol). I always try to be firm but fair with stallions and never let them get away with anything because once they know they can do something thats it, they have to respect you and you of them.
 
riding a stallion is most of the time easier to ride than any cut horse or mare. in my opinion you know where you are with a stallion whereas mares and geldings can be quite the opposite. i have ridden stallions both entire and just cut both i find better to ride than other sexes
 
Treat him like any other horse, ive broken 2 and ridden tonnes for other people in the past and they were complete angels.. Like others have said just be aware of your suroundings, and he should be as easy as any other horse!
I'll second HorseGroupie on that if you treat them with respect then they will give it back. Firm but fair is the way forward!
I have a real soft spot for stallions, they have a much better ride and temp than Mares/Geldings IMO.
 
I had a lap around the arena on Rudi last year and I loved him, from my 2mins I cant say he was any different from any other hoss, lovely though
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