Riggy or bad behaviour?

[PeggyPatch]

My gelding has always liked mares. Doesn't try to mount any of them just sniffs them and often lets it all hang out. He gets very very excited when he sees other horses and what is usually a calm horse turns into a loon if we meet any horses out. He's bolted across a field (leaving company of accompanying horse) to see a mare who called. He is top dog in the field and in wondering if this is a riggy type behaviour or just a behavioural issue. Either way it needs sorting just wondering if a rig calmer would help in that.

 

[thebig]

My horse had a very straight forward gelding, but he displays some rig behaviour. He has been turned out in both mixed herds and boys only. Occasionally, he gets very attached to a mare, and will display separation anxiety if brought out of the field. He's currently out in a small mixed herd and has no problems whatsoever, it's a real headscratcher!
I tried a herbal calmer last summer and it seemed to help his anxiety in general, so I'd certainly give it a go if i was you. If it doesn't work, you won't have lost much money! Have you had him blood tested? My friend did, and it turned out her "gelding" had 2 abdominally retained testicles.

 

[PeggyPatch]

You're probably right, won't harm to try it. He is very territorial over his field and is very focused on other horses. The more I read the I think it could be.

 

[GirlFriday]

Sorry but plenty of geldings actually *do* mount mares; letting it all hang out is often a relaxed thing, quite different than it being erect; any plenty of mares and geldings are top dog in the field.

Sounds, TBH, more like a lack of confidence in rider making him look for more reassurance/interaction with other horses when ridden.

Have you got an instructor who can hack out a couple of times to see how they get on?