SarahNZ
Well-Known Member
Sorry if this is long...
My best friend and I both ride dressage. I have been fortunate to have recently had some training over in Europe with some top riders over there, and during that time, found and purchased a nice young stallion to take home with me. We were lucky to have found a horse with unique bloodlines and since the purchase I have been working with stallions, and learning the ropes of the management and training of them specifically, even though I have had previous experience.
My stallion and I are based in the UK for the time being, and when I am not in Europe I am in the UK working fulltime, to send home £ for the development of our property. We are making our property ready for a stallion, post and rail fences, stables, round pen, breeding shed and an arena, and hope to return home in six months time.
My friend has now decided to purchase a young stallion as well, and I am concerned for the following reasons:
1. We come from a small country, where a stallions progeny can flood the market quite quickly. Now my concern for her here is that there is a full brother already standing, and it is a beautiful type, and performing extremely well. In such a small country most breeders try to bring in 'fresh' bloodlines, and not just stand a stallion for the fun of it.
2. My friend (bless her) is not the best rider or handler of horses. She tries hard and is very willing to learn, but you know how some people just have the knack? Well this girl doesn't and I think it unfair that she keeps a stallion, least of all expect to compete and train it, without the very real possibility of something happening. When I mentioned the often difficult behaviour of a stallion, she said that her partner was strong enough to deal with the horse, but the partner is less knowledgable than her, and it's not about strength...
She currently rides a gelding, that is quite a dominant horse with very bad manners, and she honestly can't handle him very well.
3. She is relying on the stud fees gained from this stallion, to actually pay for him. However horses rarely make money, and to stand a stallion at stud, in my eyes he must have a good performance career or very good progeny, top bloodlines, and an impeccable temperment.
4. She trains with a mutual acquaintance of ours, and he is supporting her (actually he is acting as the agent) in this transaction... and I can't believe that he is encouraging her!
5. Her property is not up to the standard it should be to confine a stallion safely. There is a lot of electric tape, no stables, no high fences - they are wire.
Feeding time is like being at a zoo, it's a nightmare, there are horses everywhere, and they fight etc, all while there are people moving in and around them! I'm actually weary of going near them!
She currently has two mares, one in foal because it's 'untrainable', one retired, one unridden gelding that was her partners horse, and her competition gelding.
Her partner is a builder, so fences and stables shouldn't be a problem for them to sort out over time, but I am really concerned for the safety and welfare of the stallion. I don't think he will be raised correctly (the competition gelding mentioned above has disgusting behaviour - bites, kicks and is in general a nasty animal).
I have tried to talk to her and point out the cons (and pros!) of having a stallion, but the way I have seen them managed and trained correctly in Europe, the more concerned I become for her and the stallion.
I have suggested that she goes and spends a few days working with the stallions of a friend of mine, as they are managed very well, and run as competition and breeding stallions. However I know she won't do it.
Now what should I do? Should I say something?
The seller is a person I know in another country (and who does not know my friend), should I enquire gently about maybe getting some references...
Should I try and talk to my friend some more? I don't think this will work, as she has her mind and heart set on it now!
Should I just keep out of it?
I want to be a good friend to her, and I hate feeling like I am raining on her parade. But I also know that she, her partner and her property are not suitable to have a stallion. AND she will come to me when she has problems...
What shall I do??
My best friend and I both ride dressage. I have been fortunate to have recently had some training over in Europe with some top riders over there, and during that time, found and purchased a nice young stallion to take home with me. We were lucky to have found a horse with unique bloodlines and since the purchase I have been working with stallions, and learning the ropes of the management and training of them specifically, even though I have had previous experience.
My stallion and I are based in the UK for the time being, and when I am not in Europe I am in the UK working fulltime, to send home £ for the development of our property. We are making our property ready for a stallion, post and rail fences, stables, round pen, breeding shed and an arena, and hope to return home in six months time.
My friend has now decided to purchase a young stallion as well, and I am concerned for the following reasons:
1. We come from a small country, where a stallions progeny can flood the market quite quickly. Now my concern for her here is that there is a full brother already standing, and it is a beautiful type, and performing extremely well. In such a small country most breeders try to bring in 'fresh' bloodlines, and not just stand a stallion for the fun of it.
2. My friend (bless her) is not the best rider or handler of horses. She tries hard and is very willing to learn, but you know how some people just have the knack? Well this girl doesn't and I think it unfair that she keeps a stallion, least of all expect to compete and train it, without the very real possibility of something happening. When I mentioned the often difficult behaviour of a stallion, she said that her partner was strong enough to deal with the horse, but the partner is less knowledgable than her, and it's not about strength...
She currently rides a gelding, that is quite a dominant horse with very bad manners, and she honestly can't handle him very well.
3. She is relying on the stud fees gained from this stallion, to actually pay for him. However horses rarely make money, and to stand a stallion at stud, in my eyes he must have a good performance career or very good progeny, top bloodlines, and an impeccable temperment.
4. She trains with a mutual acquaintance of ours, and he is supporting her (actually he is acting as the agent) in this transaction... and I can't believe that he is encouraging her!
5. Her property is not up to the standard it should be to confine a stallion safely. There is a lot of electric tape, no stables, no high fences - they are wire.
Feeding time is like being at a zoo, it's a nightmare, there are horses everywhere, and they fight etc, all while there are people moving in and around them! I'm actually weary of going near them!
She currently has two mares, one in foal because it's 'untrainable', one retired, one unridden gelding that was her partners horse, and her competition gelding.
Her partner is a builder, so fences and stables shouldn't be a problem for them to sort out over time, but I am really concerned for the safety and welfare of the stallion. I don't think he will be raised correctly (the competition gelding mentioned above has disgusting behaviour - bites, kicks and is in general a nasty animal).
I have tried to talk to her and point out the cons (and pros!) of having a stallion, but the way I have seen them managed and trained correctly in Europe, the more concerned I become for her and the stallion.
I have suggested that she goes and spends a few days working with the stallions of a friend of mine, as they are managed very well, and run as competition and breeding stallions. However I know she won't do it.
Now what should I do? Should I say something?
The seller is a person I know in another country (and who does not know my friend), should I enquire gently about maybe getting some references...
Should I try and talk to my friend some more? I don't think this will work, as she has her mind and heart set on it now!
Should I just keep out of it?
I want to be a good friend to her, and I hate feeling like I am raining on her parade. But I also know that she, her partner and her property are not suitable to have a stallion. AND she will come to me when she has problems...
What shall I do??
