We recently purchased an A.P.H.A six year old stud. He has never been used as a breeding stallion. My worries are these:
1. I own a 5 year old mare who is going to be the first mare he will be breed to, What precautions should I take to prepare her for breeding and for possibly bad behavior on the stallions part.
2. Also what days in her estrus should she be breed and will be most accepting of the stallion?
3. What precautions do we take with the stallion , and also I have heard of some people not shoeing their stallions when they are going to be used for breeding , is this advisable also for a stallion who is excersized daily and is going to be a riding stallion ?
4. Which breeding situation do you think would be best? Hand breeding or field breeding?
I am only 18 years of age and have never had a mare before so I am a little leary of breeding her to our first time stallion. My father has a lot of experience with horses and breeding them but he only pasture breed them so any advice on breeding and precautions I should take with my mare and stallion would be greatly appreciated. Also should we start introducing him to the mare and possibly tease her with him so they both get the clues of breeding and scents of each other?
Thanks, Jacqueline
Kelly (63.172.47.186)
Posted on Saturday, June 23, 2001 - 09:15 pm:
It would be helpful for you to take a look at some of the previous postings.
I will suggest that you have an experienced stallion handler to assist you. This first experience will influence the stallions behavior from that point on. Establish a routine and do not vary it. Do not let him rush to the mare, or act overly aggressive. Have a different halter for him to breed in, and a lip chain available.
After teasing with a teasing stallion, the mare will begin to relax and show intrest. Generally, at about day 3 of estrus, she will stand or back up to the teaser and "assume the position" so to speak! If she is not accepting of the teaser, she may be quite a problem for your stallion. Preparation is everything.
I do not take my stallions shoes off, but they are are very well mannered, and they have been trained to be so. You may decide to duct tape around the shoes and hoof just to insure that nothing can cut or scrape the mare.
With two maiden breeders, I would choose to hand breed. If one or the other knew what was going on, pasture breeding would be fine. By hand breeding, you can control and monitor the process.
The mare should have breeding hobbles on, or a side line. Otherwise, she may kick you or the stallion, or both. Tranquilizer will help her relax for first few covers.
He may need help finding the vaginal opening. You may have to assist him with a helping hand. I would suggest a person hold the mare, a person handles the stallion, and a third person be ready to assit the stallion with position, etc.
This really is not something that a novice, first time breeder should attempt. Please seek experienced assistance. It can be dangerous for all involved. Please be careful and good luck.
Oh Kelly is SO right. I can NOT tell you how much a help she and lots others have been. READ the posts. It is a WHOLE 'nother ball game when its 'show time'. Things happen VERY quickly. I was in the SAME situation. NO breeding experinece myself and TWO maidens. I did ask my vet to come out and assist, which I now can NOT imagine having her NOT there. My goodness to say it is intimidating (I am made of pretty firm stuff too by the way) is putting it at its mildest. Luckly, BOTH were VERY well behaved...the vet was VERY helpful. However, Kelly didn't mention the STRENGTH in which a stallion has in his penis! *LOL* My goodness...just trying to 'show him the way' was a CHORE unto itself. I think a bit of my problem lay in that the mare wasn't squatting (novie and didn't know she needed too) and I didn't think of Kelly's 'low ditch' for the mare so we just collected my guy via the AV off the mare then AI'd her. I would agree...it is TOO risky to pasture breed two maidens. That stallion is going to get FRUSTRATED and the mare will too! And two frustrated horses who 'want it NOW' is NOT a good combo. And as was already mentioned, THIS breeding will set the pace for future ones. My guy breeds in a different halter (his daily halter I lead him with a chain under the chin as you would show in sport horse shows), with the chain OVER his nose, he goes out the BACK gate of the barn (which he NEVER does at ANY other time and comes out on TIP TOE), and is NEVER permitted to rush the mare. He tried that the first couple of mounts. Just "OH MY GOD...you mean I can have HER??? and NOT the Phantom???" I could just hear his little brain spinning and he literally DOVE for her. NO WAY buddy. He got the just after I circled him and corrected him then repeated "NICE" when we went back. He knows that word from teasing or 'meeting' the mare the day they will breed. He used to get 'bitey' but quickly learned that it was NOT acceptable.
Any way...good luck. And like Kelly said, have an experienced stallion handler/breeder there.
Thank you for your advice and will come in very helpful when breeding comes around. I will look at the other postings like you suggested. I am just new to this site so I am a bit slow on learning the procedures. Thanks again
Jacqueline K.
Kelly (63.172.47.187)
Posted on Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 06:23 pm:
Jacqueline- Let us know how it all turns out. Your observations can be helpful to others!
Posted on Saturday, September 15, 2001 - 11:57 am:
We have several stallions, but also two male ponies, when I go in his stall he seems to get a erection, I am 24 y/o and this is very embarrissing when my friends come over to ride him. Is there anything I can do to prevent him from doing this? I sure would appreciate for a cure.
Posted on Saturday, September 15, 2001 - 12:08 pm:
We have several stallions, but also two male ponies, when I go in his stall one of them seems to get a erection, I am 24 y/o and this is very embarrissing when my friends come over to ride him. Maybe I made a mistake ones to hold on his penis and noticed that he wanted to ejaculate and I let go for fear that is what he wanted. Is there anything I can do to prevent him from doing this? I sure would appreciate for a cure.
Lisa
Kelly (63.172.47.188)
Posted on Sunday, September 16, 2001 - 01:45 pm:
Lisa- There are many posts concerning stallions in the topic heading " rearing stallion ". A few address this topic. It IS an embarrassing situation!
There are many differnt things that you can do to discourage this display. Make sure that you have him secured before you attempt to correct this behavior. I will make the uninvited erection an unpleasant situation for them. You will want to be aware that they can kick or strike, when being reprimaned for this. It is important that you are in a safe position and alert to any agressive movements.
I have quickly swatted at the erection while telling them to "put it up". A few swats is ususally all it takes. They soon learn to sheath the erection with the command to "put it up". I know some people that have used a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol to spray it ( which allows for keeping a safe distance )to get them to sheath their penis.
Many stallions may decide to go a step further, nickering or approaching a person when in this mode. It is nothing that I would allow to continue. Please be aware that a womans cycle may bring on unwanted advances by some stallions. For this reason, you will want to be very careful while dealing with this type of behavior at that time. Many people every year are hurt or maimed by stallions. Do not ignore or underestimate the natural instincts of a stallion. Even a small, friendly pony type can inflict harm, when in this mind set. You may consider gelding this one, if you do not get an adequate response from behavior modification.
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