Stallion behaviour

[scruffyponies]

I have had stallions and colts for years but have never used them for breeding. They're in a bachelor herd and are ridden out by riders of different standards, work alongside mares, go to fun rides and are as quiet as any horse you could wish.

I have been asked by a friend if I would consider using one of them to cover her mare, and of course the idea of a foal is lovely, but...

Can anyone tell me stories (good or bad) of the effect of experiencing covering for the first time on a 13yo virgin stallion?

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

Well I had a stallion about 15 years ago and I had ridden him till the age of 9, but my friend asked the same as yours, I wasn't really sure what to do but I decided to go for it.

He bread with the mare nicely, and when he came back he definitely was a bit spicy, but I didn't really think anything of it (thinking back that was a bit silly), I turned him back out in his usual field.

The next day found him in my mares field, the mare in foal and it was a right pain because she had loads of problems as she was a 14y/o virgin, she was my show jumper at that time too .

But after that he never did it again. I do know someone who's stallion was never the same after. By the way, I got the stallion gelded a few years later as I wanted him to have some company . He's 25 now and still acts a little bit like a stallion

 

[paddi22]

Friend agreed to let her stallion cover a mare. mare kicked the stallion badly and damaged it's tendon
In your position I honestly wouldn't bother. it is of no benefit for you, and could only have downsides. any virgin stallions I've seen be used for cover changed afterwards. the viewed mares differently afterwards, and it just caused hassle for the owner.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

At that age I wouldn't bother. A much younger stallion then yes probably.

My mother bought in an 11yo stallion. He had covered mares before and was also happy living with the lads for most of the year and the years he wasn't being used. He turned out fine with my 2yo colt at the time. Put him out with a mare and he beat the living daylights out of her, went through 3 fenced and beat the crap out of my tb who had to be put down as a consequence. Bloody horrible, horrible, horrible pony who lost all his brains and manners to horse and human when a mare was around. I am so, so glad the mares never took to him and we have no foals by it. I have never seen such a vicious, nasty pony. He completely and utterly lost the plot. He got sent back.

 

[Hallo2012]

covering didnt affect my sec B stallion at all, he is the easiest and most polite boy around mares (caveat mine do AI only)

my youngster is off for dummy training next week and I fully expect him to come back a bit more on his toes and needing a reminder about work and concentration as he is much more switched on to mares around him, so I would say it massively depends on the boys temperament.

for a one off one time natural cover, its prob not worth the hassle.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wouldn't bother especially if your wanting to do a natural covering and for AI they need to be trained as Hallo has said and it would be the only way I would use a stallion for breeding, seen a few mare and stallions getting hurt in the natural way you really have to know what you are doing to get it right.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Having had a few stallions and colts over the years, I'd def swerve this suggestion. A potential load of aggro, could very well upset herd dynamics even if you took him off site to cover and brought him back after.

Mine would usually be in a bachelor group, sometimes with geldings in through the winter.

I only ever used one lad for covering on one of my mares, but he had previously covered in hand and out in herd when with his owner. i was happy to leave them together for the summer and into autumn at mine, he got heaved out to go showing on occasions, then headed home straight after Olympia. He was the only one who couldn't accept geldings tho.
The rest of my mares went off to stud....