To Stallion or not to Stallion...

ycbm said:
You broke your back, didn't ride for five years, and then bought one without having ridden, not knowing whether you would be able to ride at all?

Breaks are common. I had a five year break myself when I found boys and married. But I went to a riding school a few times before I bought horse.

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10 years, hun. I wasn't capable of walking for a year....I then spent years building up muscle again...just walking. Had a couple of shots on the lunge on a friend's youngster....about four times maybe. So, nope, no riding for 10 years. Why wouldn't I be able to ride? I was pretty good before my accident. I had absolutely no doubt.
 
Dont get me wrong i HAVE come off both of mine, what i was sort of saying though is that you need to be as sure as you can that this will be a one off, and a 20 year gap is probably going to bring a few novicey wobbles off, especially at the start and you need to consider who else that puts at risk as well as you and him.

as i said both mine were VERY well socialised and unlikely to charge off and mount something, more likely to nose sniff and then eat grass BUT i have also ridden a couple for other people that 100% would go and mount the nearest horse with no polite introductions first and i also know of a lady whose stallion launched straight on to a mare that spooked in to his path in the warm up......so it DOES happen.

how much do you know about his general social demeanor? has he covered, and if so AI, naturally or running with mares?

does he have regular social contact with other horses?

is he used to smelling mares and seeing mares and working with mares?

if he does cover, do you know how to keep the two jobs separate in his mind? if he isnt well socialized do you have a plan to improve this?

ive worked with both ends of the spectrum and all the grey areas in between-i know a super dressage stallion that can do natural cover in the morning and go to a show in the PM and not even flick and ear and i know a SJ stallion that cannot be handled by anybody that has handled a mare in those clothes or he tries to mount them/anything he can get to and has to be led by two people at all time when out his box.
i know a pony stallion that ran out with mares for 6 years and in first season under saddle did juniors with a 12yo and also i used to ride one that had to be chain tied and handled with a whip at all time.
 
dree said:
10 years, hun. I wasn't capable of walking for a year....I then spent years building up muscle again...just walking. Had a couple of shots on the lunge on a friend's youngster....about four times maybe. So, nope, no riding for 10 years. Why wouldn't I be able to ride? I was pretty good before my accident. I had absolutely no doubt.
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Please don't address me as a ravaging nomad 🤮

Why wouldn't you be able to ride after breaking your back? What a strange question.
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In regards to the simple question to having a stallion [on a UK livery yard] it's a no.
OP have a read through 2 recent threads on the forum - 1 from Shavings and one from Caol Ila. Both have recently moved to yards (1 of them with a special needs horse) that seemed great but had to move pretty promptly.
Personally I have a horse who is tricky to livery (she will jump fences/gates/stable doors if left on her own/she perceives she will be left alone, AND has metabolic/dietary issues) and never again would I take one on who can't easily/comfortably go onto most livery yards. A stallion falls into that category for me.
Most livery yards simply aren't set up to cater for stallions which will make your options slim.
Yes you've already found somewhere, but what if, like the 2 posters I've highlighted, you have to move on quickly, what then.
 
I own a stallion (albeit a Shetland). I have had him since he was 8 months old, he is now 12. He has lived out with mares, geldings and other stallions with no problems. My 4 Yr old niece is able to handle and ride him (under very close supervision!). He is for the most part very amenable and easy to handle. But on the very rare occasion he has thrown a wobly, I've watched 2 grown men struggle to handle him!
I'd also add that I keep him on private land that I rent, I have never and probably would not put him on a livery yard.
I also work with stallions from time to time. Most are the same as any horse with correct handling, others you can not get in the stable with!
I would certainly not say no to owning another stallion but personally I would only have one from a very young age.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
This is an interesting consideration re: Stallion ownership that I have never thought about.. And I have been around plenty and have ridden a couple of them (although never owned one myself). Just goes to show that it really is the small details that don't cross your mind that can make a huge difference!
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I’ve fallen off 2 stallions... they both stood patiently next to me whilst I got back up even the one that winded me
 
ycbm said:
Please don't address me as a ravaging nomad 🤮

Why wouldn't you be able to ride after breaking your back? What a strange question.
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Why is it a strange question? The only way I could walk, and then ride, was because the break was incomplete. A complete break would have left me incapable of walking at all. And in what way did I address you as a ravaging nomad? (Whatever the hell that is.)

I take it you don't understand what a broken back entails.
 
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You're too young to know that Germans were called the Hun during the war, after nomadic hordes that ravaged Europe earlier in history?

There are plenty of people who have injured their backs who still walk but find riding far too painful. You were lucky.

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ycbm said:
You're too young to know that Germans were called the Hun during the war, after nomadic hordes that ravaged Europe earlier in history?

There are plenty of people who have injured their backs who still walk but find riding far too painful. You were lucky.

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So you still associate the word "hun" with the Germans in the war? (Because I don't.) Lots of people use that term when "speaking" to me and it's a term of endearment....like love, hen, whatever. Broken back....lucky?.....yes, I was lucky it was incomplete.
 
Faracat said:
I don't understand why you are upset? A lot of people don't like being called 'hun' and I thought that YBCM had expressed that she didn't like it in a funny way using an alternative meaning of the word. I didn't read her post as anything other than a bit tongue in cheek.
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Hard to tell on this forum, to be honest.
 
As someone who also bristles the moment someone calls me 'hun' I did think ycbm's way of informing you she really does not like that term of address was very funny and quite clever and really no big deal.

I think the term broke my back or broke my neck instantly brings the mental picture of someone confined to a wheelchair and lucky to wiggle their toes let alone ride a horse again. As someone who broke my neck many years ago in a horse riding accident I can confirm that not all 'breaks' are the classic end of life as we know it and very many people go one to recover and get back to their former level of riding. that needs saying for those out there that might be in the middle of recuperation and rehab - many, many do recover and recover extremely well depending on severity and area of the 'break' . Having said that i can barely turn my head to look behind me out riding and I get neck pain to some degree most days now - but it was all 30 odd years ago so no biggy in the grand scheme of getting old.
 
MrsJingle said:
As someone who also bristles the moment someone calls me 'hun' I did think ycbm's way of informing you she really does not like that term of address was very funny and quite clever and really no big deal.

I think the term broke my back or broke my neck instantly brings the mental picture of someone confined to a wheelchair and lucky to wiggle their toes let alone ride a horse again. As someone who broke my neck many years ago in a horse riding accident I can confirm that not all 'breaks' are the classic end of life as we know it and very many people go one to recover and get back to their former level of riding. that needs saying for those out there that might be in the middle of recuperation and rehab - many, many do recover and recover extremely well depending on severity and area of the 'break' . Having said that i can barely turn my head to look behind me out riding and I get neck pain to some degree most days now - but it was all 30 odd years ago so no biggy in the grand scheme of getting old.
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I used to "bristle" at the term too. But on one site I'm on, it's used frequently and with deep concern, so I've got used to it, and obviously use it. For your info.....I can barely move my toes, and I can't feel my feet at all. My legs have "strange" feelings......hard to tell the difference between extreme hot and cold. I'm currently in a wheelchair, but nothing to do with my back (ironic) but when I was mobile, and hopefully mobile again soon, I did have back pain, for which I used cbd. Other side-effects, but not going there. :) I know someone who broke their neck, but the nerves weren't touched......lucky sod. :) So, yes, depends on the level of the break, and how much the nerve was torn/broken, etc. Glad to hear that you only suffer from your neck. Try cbd oil....seriously.
 
Never met a nasty stallion yet. I was on a competition yard for a while, the owners had lots of KWPNs. They were turned out individually away from the others and took precedence in the school. Obviously, we were told to keep in season mares away. You might want to seek out a geldings only yard, there are one or two round my way.

As everyone else, I’d be worried about the limited options for yards and the perception that stallions are lunatics. The Friesian stabled next to me wasn’t a pick of bother, but had his own turnout behind his box. His owner was very confident and took no nonsense from him.

My other concern is that you’d be buying this horse because the owner has flattered you, not because it’s the best horse for you. You’re used to TBs, why do you now want a Lippizaner who is trained up to the Spanish riding school standard? You admit you won’t be doing that with him, so why buy him when there will be much cheaper options which aren’t a pain to house.

Your gf sounds like she’s in a good position to help you find something suitable. You’re paying big money: what if you and the owner don’t see eye to eye on the training/care etc? Will you be forever linked/obliged to refer to him in future?
 
I will admit I have not read the whole thread in detail but I assume by some of your phrases you are from USA. I do not know how stallions are kept in USA but if you are thinking of UK and with your apparent level of knowledge you could very very easily find yourself in all types of trouble. Just because it's flashy and can do fancy things is not a good reason in any way to buy a stallion. OH used to work in ITU who had in an experienced female stud groom who died of her injuries when a stallion that was deemed calm and of very equable temperament attacked without warning and totally savaged her. Stallions are for not someone coming back after a 20 year break from horses.
 
I think one other aspect of finding a yard that will take your stallion is that it is likely that it will have other stallions, which makes it more complicated than having your own horse on your own land. I do know a training yard that has stallions on livery but the rules are very strict, they are only handled by staff, owners come in and ride but always organised in advance and with horse got ready by staff. No coming in when you feel like riding, because they don't want an owner coming in and just dragging their stallion out of the stable at the wrong time. So it is not just finding a livery yard, and one that offers decent care, it is would it have the sort of set up that you want for horse ownership.

Having said that SO much depends on the individual stallion, and I don't think all of it is down to their formative experience or how they are handled. Might be completely laid back or might try and kick the stable down at the slightest hint of another horse, and likely to take off with a rider on board if he thinks he's spotted a rival that he wants to kill.
 
From me, it’s a “no”.
Unless you can livery at a yard with proper knowledge and facilities for a stallion, you will always have numpties and they cause issues, no matter how good the stallion is.
And, imho, a stallion should be no different to handle to any other horse IF it is treated correctly. However, there is always a risk of change of behaviour when an in season mare is anywhere near, and that is heightened IF he has been used to cover, in my past experience.
 
So, I’m not necessarily “yes” or “no.” I would hold ANY horse to a few standards, ask certain questions, etc. myself, however.

1.). I may have missed this, but has he been bred before?

2.). Can you afford buying the stallion(I think you established a yes on that😀😀), possibly paying extra should you like to show him, or possibly even for the board?

3.). Fully passing any veterinary inspection. There could be exceptions, but I doubt he’d be able to do these things if he couldn’t pass a vet check. I’d be mostly concerned if you plan on making him a sporthorse.

4.). Riding the horse for myself. I don’t have a horse (I wish!!) but you’ll probably know if you’d like to move forwards after the initial few rides.

5.). I’m not sure where you live, but you can ask the seller if he’d be willing to let you lease/trial the horse. Again, I don’t know where you are, but I’d never buy a horse without “experiencing” owning the horse before I do it.

6.). What are your plans? Would you like to do Spanish dressage, show jumping, 3-day eventing, hunters, or something else? Before I’d go look at a horse, I’d have a very in-depth discussion with my instructor (in your case, perhaps your girlfriend or her instructor) about what I’m going to do with the horse. I know P. R. E.s/Spanish horses excel differently than TBs & Hanoverians, so it might also be a good idea to try and find another P. R. E. breeder/trainer and get their take.

Good luck!!
 
i have just remembered (old age!!!!) i used to work part time at a yard who had a tb stallion. he was stabled in a small barn next to a gelding and with the other stables having 3 mares in..... he was turned out in a field next to the gelding and they could interact over the fence....he was really manic when he was covering but knew when the covering bridle came out and when a headcollar. he was ok to lead in and out of the field but we were always careful that no mares were being turned out or bought in at the same time. he was a sweetie in the stable and well behaved when being ridden even amongst in season mares.... . luckily the owner was very strict about other horses when he was being turned out or bought in and as it was her yard, her rules were obeyed.......so it is quite a risk having a stallion on a livery yard if you dont have control of what others may do.
 
Cortez said:
Don't ever call me "hun", it's flippant, insulting and infantile.
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No, it's not. I am on an excellent, caring, supportive site where nearly everyone calls everyone else "hun". It's a term of care and love. How sad that you see it in only one way. (As I said before, I once didn't like it)....but I have since spoken to a lot of lovely, caring people who live tremendously difficult lives. And, quite honestly, you are not fit to lick their boots never mind have an opinion on their expressions.
 
dree said:
No, it's not. I am on an excellent, caring, supportive site where nearly everyone calls everyone else "hun". It's a term of care and love. How sad that you see it in only one way. (As I said before, I once didn't like it)....but I have since spoken to a lot of lovely, caring people who live tremendously difficult lives. And, quite honestly, you are not fit to lick their boots never mind have an opinion on their expressions.
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Blimey, why so vicious? Do you know Cortez? Never seen her be anything but helpful and knowledgable.

On some sites, the word ‘hun’ is a pisstake term (see mumsnet/U OK, hun? Facebook group). Lots of people don’t like it, me included. They’re allowed to express this without being attacked for no apparent reason. It may be caring and loving on the site you mention, but is not so for many others. We’re not all the same, you know.
 
dree said:
No, it's not.
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I disagree, it most definitely is.

.... And, quite honestly, you are not fit to lick their boots never mind have an opinion on their expressions.
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Really? You appear to enjoy being not just provocative but also extremely rude on a regular basis on this forum. Perhaps you ought to return to your caring supportive site, you dont show any empathy on here whatsoever 🤬
 
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