Rig issues

Pipkin

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I think Beau still has his man bits intact.

I have some experience with riggy behaviour (my old gelding displayed riggy behaviur as did some geldings on old yard) but I have no experience with a true rig.

Why do I think he is true rig?
He has tried mounting the girls any chance he gets, he`s very dominant, Ayla has come in with numerous bits marks, not playful but big huge chunks out of her neck.
He`s bolshy, nips, will rear if he doesnt want to do something or is annoyed, he`ll lunge at my oh, spins to try and take your head off. in general is just a pig of a horse. He`s not so bad with me but that`s because I only handle him in a dually with a lunge attached so if he does have a moment I can get out of the way.
He is kept seperate to the girls now, he has his own paddock but is still stabled with them. After bringing the girls in the other night I turned him out their field for a run about as it`s a bigger field, well he went mental, (ayla`s in season) he had his head to the floor sniffing, galloping around like this, rearing, broncing, and then tried getting through me and a gate to get in the stables...

Am going to have him blood tested but where do i go after that? is an op always a success? if not I dont think there will be a place for him, I couldnt sell him on he`d be too dangerous for someone (imo) and he couldnt be a companion because he`s the spawn of satan :)

I have tried Rig Calm but made no difference what so ever really. the moutning stopped but nothing else.
I know he`s a two year old and they go through terrible two`s but there is a line between naughty and dangerous.

Any views?
 
Best thing to do is just have him tested, it's quick, cheap and at least you will have a peice of mind either way.

However bare in mind his age and his character (how he's bred etc), if he is a true rig then everything will be worse right now so using the RigCalm will not have had the desired effect at the moment, even if he's he's a false rig as well.

I had mine tested and he scored high, it was suggested that he could have the HCG test for a more definate result but the vets said it wouldn't solve the issue, we talked about options and we tried a HRT drug but that didn't work, also talked about opening him up (spoke to to different vets) but due to the location of the problem (high risk, very expensive, plus they may not locate the tissue) so I was advised against operating.
 
i've probably got this wrong but doesn't bromide take the edge off riggy behaviour?

might be worth asking the vet about it or get a blood test done and at least then you will know.
 
:D
Best thing to do is just have him tested, it's quick, cheap and at least you will have a peice of mind either way.

However bare in mind his age and his character (how he's bred etc), if he is a true rig then everything will be worse right now so using the RigCalm will not have had the desired effect at the moment, even if he's he's a false rig as well.

I had mine tested and he scored high, it was suggested that he could have the HCG test for a more definate result but the vets said it wouldn't solve the issue, we talked about options and we tried a HRT drug but that didn't work, also talked about opening him up (spoke to to different vets) but due to the location of the problem (high risk, very expensive, plus they may not locate the tissue) so I was advised against operating.

He`s TB X Welsh lol so quirky anyway :) Def am going to get him blood tested so fingers crossed he`s just a baby with an attitude. My friend had been using rig calm on her 8 month old and it`s chilled him out...
 
I too have a Welsh D x TB with similar behaviour etc. I got the HCG test done as my vet (Rossdales) said that a normal blood test can be inconclusive. He is worse in the summer than over the winter, mounted/teased mares etc all the usual stuff. So I was sort of hoping for a positive to be able to name why he was so naughty at times - but it was a definate NO. I had already done all the things that the vets suggested High Fibre, low starch diet, lots of exercise and turnout, full MOT. He is happier out with one other gelding and this year his behaviour so far has been better. I have yet to venture out to a show so have no idea what he still thinks of mares but one of the girls on the yard was in season and literally spread her legs and squirted at him the other day (she is an equine slag, bless her) and he didn't even give her a second glance. He was gelded late and kept with stallions which is the only thing we could put it down to.
 
I too have a Welsh D x TB with similar behaviour etc. I got the HCG test done as my vet (Rossdales) said that a normal blood test can be inconclusive. He is worse in the summer than over the winter, mounted/teased mares etc all the usual stuff. So I was sort of hoping for a positive to be able to name why he was so naughty at times - but it was a definate NO. I had already done all the things that the vets suggested High Fibre, low starch diet, lots of exercise and turnout, full MOT. He is happier out with one other gelding and this year his behaviour so far has been better. I have yet to venture out to a show so have no idea what he still thinks of mares but one of the girls on the yard was in season and literally spread her legs and squirted at him the other day (she is an equine slag, bless her) and he didn't even give her a second glance. He was gelded late and kept with stallions which is the only thing we could put it down to.

He was brought up with a herd of dairy cows :D
He has been out with a gelding, still a pig, I`ll just decide once blood test is back, in some ways it would be easier if he was at least I`d know there is reason for his devil antics.
 
Is he like this all the time or only when the mare is in season?

My lad was terrible the other week- but within a few days was back to normal. I think its because he's not really been kept with mares before and its obviously very new to him. Plus she's obviously not been in season since I got him so it was the first time ....and she's a tart:rolleyes:

Plus your lad is a 'teenager'...and they are a pain in ass anyway.

My other pony was a pain when he was about 4- rearing up and refusing to leave the mare but he's rising 7 now and really not that bothered.

Perhaps he'll just get out of it?
 
I don't keep mine with any of the other horses on the livery yard due to his aggression, wasn't fair on the other liveries as it caused problems when they were bringing in etc, now he is in with a mare which may sound odd but it actually works for him, he's much more content, yes it's pain when she comes into season (but she also thrives of the attention so no problem on her part!) but certainly a lot easier to manage then when he was in a mixed group or gelding only field.

He's on Rigcalm and Relax Me, he is harder to manage through the summer.
 
Poppymoo, he`s a pig regardless lol tbh its not an issue for me yes it`s annoying but I`ve got the balls to stand up to him and i know when he`ll have a moment so I`m quick to shift out of the way, my OH not so much, he`s had quite a few nasty boots and was lunged at the other night, if stable door wasnt there he`d probably be in hospital now.

I do think he`s more of a one on one horse too he`s not so aggressive with me, he will take the pee and test me but i`m very firm with him (even though he does scare the hell out of me) the minute he does put a foot wrong I let him know about it. He came good for a bit (there is a previous thread of mine on here where he`s being led over jumps etc) but now all that`s gone out the window and he`s back to the kevin antics!
 
From his breeding and his age I would sort of expect this type of behaviour to be honest. :o It will take a lot of work, they are the worst teenagers going, but he will get better! Mine is positively nice to have around now. Definately get him tested and as riding_high said, bromide can be very effective in calming riggy behaviour.
 
From his breeding and his age I would sort of expect this type of behaviour to be honest. :o It will take a lot of work, they are the worst teenagers going, but he will get better! Mine is positively nice to have around now. Definately get him tested and as riding_high said, bromide can be very effective in calming riggy behaviour.

Thanks Hun, am on the case, i did think it was down to just who he is but I`ve read so many things about rigs it made wonder...have just made appointment for blood test :)
 
Well an update, apparently he is not a rig, have had two people tell me they were there during castration (sire`s owner and groom) apparently he just has his sire`s temperament. Apparently everyone but the owner thought he was nasty and dangerous....... fantastic horse to breed from!!!!:mad:
 
I had a gelding with similar traits, also from a line known for "difficult" temperaments. (It also, to be fair, contained some exceptional racehorses and some very successful - although famously aggressive - sires.) He was actually a lovely horse and very successful competitively but he never "got over" his attitude towards other horses. (Interestingly, other stallions and horses in general reacted to him as if he was a stallion.) We just managed him like a stallion - he was turned out alone in a stallion pen (I know many young stallions can go out with a companion but he could not) and we were very careful with his manners and the situations we put him in. He was a horse of a life time and always worth the work, although I will admit it limited where he could live and how he could be managed.
 
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