Riding stallions and mares out together.

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pennyturner

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Looking for other people's experience please,

New rider in the area with a lovely calm mare, would like to hack out with us. Our herd includes 5 quiet pony stallions, who usually ride out with the geldings, pass just about anything and have never given any trouble. Only one has been ridden in mixed company before and was always faultlessly behaved... even hunting in a field of 100, (one assumes half were mares) with a child rider.

I would like to give it a go, using my more experienced riders, and taking out just one or two of the boys first to start with. If they do react, it gives me the opportunity to reinforce the rules, just as I would if we passed another horse out hacking etc.

Mare is not in season, has a competent rider, is 3 or 4 hands taller than the boys and would need a red ribbon if hunted, so no chance of anyone getting too close behind.

Anything else I should be thinking about? Would you allow any contact at all? (they would usually meet a strange gelding with a quiet nose-sniff).
Does anyone routinely work them together, and do they just get used to each other after the initial excitement?
 
I would not be worried and would expect a stallion to behave when out but I would not let them or any other horse sniff noses with other horses at any time under saddle or in hand (unless they were about to cover in hand). if they are well mannered they should hack with others alongside without the need to meet them or to have any excitement.
 
Just so long as all involved are ok with the situation and any problems that may arise are dealt with instantly then there should be no issue at all. I anything stallions should be far, far better behaved and have more manners than mares or geldings. They should be impeccable and if this gives yours a good opportunity to learn then I would take it.
 
crabbymare said:
I would not be worried and would expect a stallion to behave when out but I would not let them or any other horse sniff noses with other horses at any time under saddle or in hand (unless they were about to cover in hand). if they are well mannered they should hack with others alongside without the need to meet them or to have any excitement.
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As above. The stallions I have known have a specific bridle for covering, which is never used for anything else.
 
Should be be totally fine if everyone is experienced and has common sense!

Our stallion hacks alongside anyone and anything. He is actually allowed to sniff noses dependant on other horse and situation, but he is a true saint and completely controllable under saddle and in hand. He might shout a bit or be bouncy until settles, but absolutely nothing out of the ordinary and is expected to behave properly as if he were gelded or mare etc. we have never had any issues at all with him and he enjoys the company hacking.

You will be able to judge yourself how it goes when you try it and I'm sure it will be valuable experience for them.

As I say ours will have a sniff dep on who it is, but some other horses might not appreciate this and you may have some squeaking and a less desirable front leg strike! So perhaps give that a miss....

Go for it!
 
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Ive ridden my stallion out with his mum, I keep him infront, not for fear of him trying to mount her, but twice when she has got infront, shes reversed and tried to boot him!

Mine also has a certain bridle and bit for covering mares
 
I have ridden a couple of stallions out with mares, and a mare out with a stallion hunting. In fact one of the stallions was a SJ and had impeccable manners in the collecting ring. I all cases the stallions were mannerly on a day to day basis, and were expected to just get on with it. Two of them were also used for covering, and still they understood that riding time was NOT to include THAT!
 
i dont think on this occasion i would allow nose touching..................normally i let Goofy meet other geldings with a nose touch and its always without fail them squeaking and him looking confused but mares (whether in season or not) can give them those little huffy puffy noises and bedroom eyes that geldings cant/dont. i just dont think it would be fair to potentially confused either of them.

the actual riding part i think should be fine, they have to learn to behave and get on with life.
 
A couple of years ago I regularly rode a mare with a friend on a stallion. There was never an issue. After the first hack where they were both slightly more excited than usual (plodding 0.2mph faster than normal speed plod); they got used to each other and we went everywhere with no problems.
 
Thanks all. I am much reassured. As you say, it's very valuable experience for them.
We don't need a covering bridle as the only one of mine that's ever bred (with previous owner) got gelded for his trouble :)
 
I'd be far more worried about the behaviour of my mare under the above circumstances, but she can be really quite a filthy tart when she wants to be, and I'd feel sorry for the boys :D
 
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