Those who own / have owned Stallions

He certainly enjoyed his night In last night . Considering it’s the first time he’s been in without his friends he was an absolute poppet to turn out . Walked calmly and stood politely while I took his headcollar off .
Castration postponed , so time will tell . One hint of a behaviour change and they will be whipped off .

Thanks for all the advice
 
Not mine, but used to look after a friends stallion regularly.

Kept on a small yard with geldings and mares.

Travelled next to mares. Went out riding with mares, even in season ones.

You would not have known he was a stallion to handle. As it should be.
 
We had 7 stallions standing at stud at one point - we didn't have the luxury of AI back then, so they all covered in hand. All were stabled. We had a stallion paddock and an indoor school which all the boys would be turned out into daily. They then spent time in the 'pens' these were 12x12 shelters with a 'patio' area in front (probably about 12x24) with lots of hay to munch on while they could safely watch the world go by.

Some were ridden and shown under saddle, some were shown in hand. All traveled with each other or mares or geldings. Some even traveled with a mare and foal (foal in the front of the trailer) they were all very well socialised but treated with respect and the handler always aware of there surroundings. Collecting rings can be a nightmare, especially when showing small breeds as you have children zooming round on their little ponies unaware of personal space, but ours got well versed in 'warming up' in the lorry park with a good leg stretch round the lorries (again hazardous, but worked for us). Our boys hacked for miles as nanny horses to the breakers that came in or to nervous riders out in the peak district.

When the stud was dispersed I kept one stallion. He was on livery for a while, which was stressful. I eventually found a farmer with a parcel of land to rent - totally no fills. (not even a gate or fencing). We fenced and made it safe and moved on with my stallion and a retired broodmare who had returned from loan. They lived side by side quite happily for a while, but her hormones became a problem after about 18 month so she went out on loan again. I bought a gelding as a riding pony for the kids and they lived together until my stallion passed away. We would ride and lead and the kids would ride both ponies in the field together. My stallion was a darling with the children but his movement was a bit unseating for the smaller ones.

i think mostly finding or creating the right set up comes down to knowing your horse, you will learn what makes then happy and keeps them settled.

As others have said, if your in two minds about gelding put it off for the summer and wait until the autumn. I'd suggest you get some handling advice from someone who owns or works at a stud so you have some knowledge of the techniques and ground work to keep him in check.

I agree that they should be treated like horses, but they also need to be set up to succeed.
 
dorsetladette said:
We had 7 stallions standing at stud at one point - we didn't have the luxury of AI back then, so they all covered in hand. All were stabled. We had a stallion paddock and an indoor school which all the boys would be turned out into daily. They then spent time in the 'pens' these were 12x12 shelters with a 'patio' area in front (probably about 12x24) with lots of hay to munch on while they could safely watch the world go by.

Some were ridden and shown under saddle, some were shown in hand. All traveled with each other or mares or geldings. Some even traveled with a mare and foal (foal in the front of the trailer) they were all very well socialised but treated with respect and the handler always aware of there surroundings. Collecting rings can be a nightmare, especially when showing small breeds as you have children zooming round on their little ponies unaware of personal space, but ours got well versed in 'warming up' in the lorry park with a good leg stretch round the lorries (again hazardous, but worked for us). Our boys hacked for miles as nanny horses to the breakers that came in or to nervous riders out in the peak district.

When the stud was dispersed I kept one stallion. He was on livery for a while, which was stressful. I eventually found a farmer with a parcel of land to rent - totally no fills. (not even a gate or fencing). We fenced and made it safe and moved on with my stallion and a retired broodmare who had returned from loan. They lived side by side quite happily for a while, but her hormones became a problem after about 18 month so she went out on loan again. I bought a gelding as a riding pony for the kids and they lived together until my stallion passed away. We would ride and lead and the kids would ride both ponies in the field together. My stallion was a darling with the children but his movement was a bit unseating for the smaller ones.

i think mostly finding or creating the right set up comes down to knowing your horse, you will learn what makes then happy and keeps them settled.

As others have said, if your in two minds about gelding put it off for the summer and wait until the autumn. I'd suggest you get some handling advice from someone who owns or works at a stud so you have some knowledge of the techniques and ground work to keep him in check.

I agree that they should be treated like horses, but they also need to be set up to succeed.
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Thanks for that . If he does stay entire , I will 100% get some good advice . With stallion Ai around the corner I’d like to think I can get some training / help from them .
 
I used to have a small Trakehner stallion, he was kept like any other horse and turned out next to geldings without issue - but he had never covered.

I think it is somewhat different if you have a stallion that's covered or you intend to use for breeding, because once they know what that's all about - naturally most (not all) will be somewhat more fruity around other horses. That is my experience anyway, from working on a stud farm. The breeding stallions were turned out in paddocks that had adequate, electrified solid fencing.
 
paddi22 said:
I'd wait and stick him through the stallion inspections so you know what you are dealing with
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So would I. Having had an ID stallion they are much much easier to deal with compared to the tb off track ones we had. But there was no AI in those days and I suspect that's a massive learn curve. What's his pedigree?
 
Asha said:
And we don’t back onto any other yards . So no horses in the immediate vicinity 🤞🤞
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One yard had stallion paddocks the fences were really high but mine was always scared of fencing and he never tried to get out, all the mares fields were opposite with a walkway in-between which worked well.

I did watch a yearling colt go over a gate there to get to a mare walking past hence to say he was gelded that week 😂
 
Asha said:
He would absolutely be inspected if we get that far . I’d quite like to get him looked over by someone experienced in ID gradings before we get to that point .
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That would be a wise approach. No harm running him on a little until 2/3 and have him in a boy group. Not many get too lairy at that age if they have playmates and don’t get to practice on the girls 😜
 
I rode for two years or so on a stunning Arab stallion many years ago. He was not mine he belonged to a family member. He was my go to riding horse when I was teaching my sons to ride out on leading rein, their pony was a hairy fat little gelding that lived with the stallion and his herd of arab mares. Never had a single problem with him, his manners on the ground and ridden were impeccable. He lead my small children and their pony across motorways at ground level, over bridges spanning motorways and pretty much anywhere we wanted to go. I think the answer is all in how well they are handled and trained from birth.

Incidentally, I had a full ID filly here that was as black as ebony, she kept her colour until about 5 or so and then greyed out, going from a gorgeous dappled iron grey to just plain old grey in her later years. Only remarking as OP suggested his black coat colour as a good point for keeping her colt entire.
 
Mrs. Jingle said:
I rode for two years or so on a stunning Arab stallion many years ago. He was not mine he belonged to a family member. He was my go to riding horse when I was teaching my sons to ride out on leading rein, their pony was a hairy fat little gelding that lived with the stallion and his herd of arab mares. Never had a single problem with him, his manners on the ground and ridden were impeccable. He lead my small children and their pony across motorways at ground level, over bridges spanning motorways and pretty much anywhere we wanted to go. I think the answer is all in how well they are handled and trained from birth.

Incidentally, I had a full ID filly here that was as black as ebony, she kept her colour until about 5 or so and then greyed out, going from a gorgeous dappled iron grey to just plain old grey in her later years. Only remarking as OP suggested his black coat colour as a good point for keeping her colt entire.
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Lovely to hear about your experiences.

When my lad was born I was convinced he was going to turn grey as he was born jet black, so no foal camo at all . But had no signs of any white hairs . So I sent his hair off to animal genetics and they tested him . It came back negative for the grey gene . I was amazed ! But I believe it does happen . Also a filly by his sire on another grey mare was exactly the same .
 
I’ve got a lovely young colt at the moment! Pure CB and I’m hoping to keep him entire! But he’s on a review program 😅 if he ever displays any kind bad temper or bad behaviour beyond the usual baby behaviour then it’s bye bye balls 😬🫣

I’m on a yard my friend rents and she’s allowed me to refence my paddocks. Electric for now (which he was used before weaning) but post and rail once the weather improves! I’ve put cameras up so I can see what he’s up to when he’s out, everyone at the yard is under no illusion they aren’t to go near him if I’m not there as whilst an adorable and sweet baby now but manners maketh the man after all! I’m also going to be making a “cushion” paddock around his paddocks but for now we can keep a paddock between him and any mares. The fencing I’ve got is about over 5’5” high, two separate circuits. Which seems overkill for an adorable fuzzy foal when butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth but hopefully he will never question fences! (He is petrified of it and to my knowledge has never done more then brush as whisker up it let alone test it so to speak!)

My big boy lives out either in paddock or in a hard core pen so baby is only stabled when I’m riding. Ideally we have other babies on the yard but owners are novices and ponies are feral so I’ve not allowed them to join my pair 😬 but baby and big boy are very happy together, Casper surprisingly is quite playful with him, but firm and fair disciplinary wise. So far two different older geldings have joined them since he arrived for a day or two and he’s been the picture of manners. I previously handled colts and babies alike working at small TB stud. I think as long as you have the facilities and the will to keep him out of trouble there’s no harm seeing how he grows and first sign of something undesirable either temperament, or conformation wise be prepared to chop!!

Basically a long winded way of saying if he he’s objectively quality? And you and the people on your yard take it seriously then give him a few years to see what he becomes!
 
Asha said:
That’s a great idea, and pretty much what my husband suggested too . Thanks !
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Run him on until 3. If he puts a foot out of line cut him, if he doesn't play it by ear. You have a good set up and are sensible. Stallions arent monsters and he's a rare breed, a rare colour and well bred. I'd give him chance to see how he develops. The fact that stallion AI is just round the corner makes it even easier to stand him if you decide to do that.
 
I used to be heavily involved with breeding Irish draughts and my horse of a lifetime was my stallion. He lived in our mixed yard, he was my hunter, we sj’d, dressage and side saddle. He was my best mate for 25 years and an out and out gentleman. Our other id stallion survived as an entire until he was 7yo. Despite both being reared in identical conditions the 2nd horse was an out and out thug until he lost his manhood 🙄
If you want some independent and confidential advice about your lad and whether to keep him entire feel free to pm me. Even the inspection process is a hill to climb.
 
i have 2 pony stallions at home and all i can say is that they are all different.

my older (9yo) has covered plenty and is still laid back horizontal-will travel/tie up next to a mare etc and he would slot in to any livery yard easily.

the 6yo is more switched on to being entire and is instantly aware of in season mares. He is fine in show warm ups and hacks with mares but he wouldnt be a first stallion or a kids stallion etc, he needs an experienced rider/handler and a good routine (where as the 9yo is more or less idiot proof).

they are at home so they can go out all day, have lots of social contact and a routine that suits them, much harder on livery.
 
That's fab that Stallion AI is close by, they do run a programme where they will run the colt on for you, not sure how much it is tho.
're the pedigree, I don't suppose the Irish Draughts have joined the sparks scheme have they?
 
Cortez said:
"....to a certain extent...."
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Totally sIde tracking but this is an interesting concept. I agree manners are made but temperament not so much. I have 2 mares that have lived together since one was 2 weeks old and the other was 4 days old… they lived in the same field with their breeders/mum when they moved to me in the same trailer on the same day. They have moved essentially as a pair ever since … they both have good manners but I describe one as a Siamese cat and the other a Labrador… Siamese cat does as she is told, grudgingly most of the time, don’t get me wrong she is good, she never puts a toe out of line, she knows the rules but everything is done with out willingness. The other one would do anything for you, beckons you in towards her, wants you to stay with her and hug her , she is always pleased to see you etc etc… they couldn’t be more different in temperament. The first would be a complete cow bag if she didn’t have strict boundaries, the second would/ does lie down in the stable with you and try to please just because you are there. So whilst I totally agree that manners are made, temperament is in my opinion, they’re bred in or taught by mum’s side.
 
Even if he doesn't make the grade for breeding if you've got your own set up you can castrate when he's older without much of an issue.

My gelding wasn't castrated until he was two. He's been out with mares since he was 4 and no bother - they wouldn't allow it!!
 
SEL said:
Even if he doesn't make the grade for breeding if you've got your own set up you can castrate when he's older without much of an issue.

My gelding wasn't castrated until he was two. He's been out with mares since he was 4 and no bother - they wouldn't allow it!!
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Mine was cut at 11 after a long time as a covering stallion. He doesn't go out with tarty mares as if they hassle him he will oblige, but otherwise you'd never know. Hes an amazing nanny for youngstock as I think that's how his stallion life was.
 
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I'm Dun said:
Mine was cut at 11 after a long time as a covering stallion. He doesn't go out with tarty mares as if they hassle him he will oblige, but otherwise you'd never know. Hes an amazing nanny for youngstock as I think that's how his stallion life was.
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My old lad was a nanny to a few colts we had throughout his retirement. He was brilliant apart from at feed time - he loved his grub and no one was allowed to look at him or his dinner while he was eating - but you get food aggression in mares and geldings too so not 'stallion' thing.
 
We have had a number, kept out with geldings. All have been handled by children and ridden in company without issue. That said, they can go through a bratty stage, and you have to be prepared to set boundaries when they're growing into themselves.
 
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