Posted on Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 03:36 pm:
Kelly this question is as much for you as anybody. Your comments concerning stallions has been very helpful with us as we are experienced "Horse" handlers but just finished our first year breeding for our 3 yr old Percheron Stallion.
We had him trained NOT to vocalize while passing other horses and mares going to and from the barn and to ignore them for the most part UNLESS he was on his way to the breeding area...which was away from the regular barn activity.
We worked VERY HARD on manners and a routine with him that he accepted and got along well with.
He absolutely LOVES one of our mares, she did not concieve and maybe he know this or just recognizes her or whatever.... She has been gone to pasture until a couple weeks ago when we brought her back home. Anyway...when we lead her into or out of the barn he gets very excited and vocal in his stall. When the mares go out at night, he comes in due to a lack of space, not to isolate him. He is out during the day next to our non-show horses, some which are mares. I am hoping this is just a one mare thing and since we are planning on showing him we do not want this to progess to the obnoxious level that we have seen other stallions exhibit at shows. With such big animals stall behavior is so important to us.....draft horses can do a LOT of damage to those little canvas material stalls at some shows-uuuuugh.
We have followed a lot of advice on this board and find it VERY helpful. The nose pinch method worked after TWO times and this stud will NOT vocalize when on a lead rope.
We just want to keep our stallion happy and healthy but do not want to start a problem with this stall vocalization.
Is this acceptable behavior at home and we just pray it does not happen on the show circuit or is there something we should do to quiet him down.
Thank You in advance for any help anyone can give.
Kelly (63.172.47.231)
Posted on Wednesday, October 23, 2002 - 12:20 pm:
Sorry that it took so long for me to respond, I have had some computer problems!!
It is nice to hear that some of this advice is helpful! Anyway.....stallions do have favorite mares. Usually, it is one that they have bred before. A paint pattern with lots of white can stimulate a stallion more than a solid color mare.
I find that a stallion that may be reluctant to mount a breeding dummy can be inticed to by standing a loud colored paint mare along side the dummy.
If his romantic intentions toward this particular mare increases, and you find this behavior unacceptable it can be dealt with. I suggest that you stage a situation where the mare is in sight, and you have your stallion where you can work him. Every time that he is inappropriate in his attention to her, make him work. Lunge or exercise him until he no longer thinks that she is worth all of that effort! It may take a few sessions, but he will figure it out.
I would try this before any punishment is enforced. His libido is important for breeding and too much correction can be detrimental. By making him move and working that tension out of his system, he can decide that she may not be "All that and a bag of chips"!!Good luck!
We have similar occasional problems with our Irish Draught stallion. He rarely vocalizes under saddle but in his stall at shows he vocalizes and occasionally goes up to look over the wall. What is the nose pinch and the hot potato trick. While in his stall, it is often cumbersome to move him out to work unless you send him around you in his stall. Any other ideas?
New to site. Can you explain the nose pinch method for teaching the stallion not to vocalize when in halter? Please contact my e-mail since I am not sure how to sign up for this site yet. Thank you.
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