My 17 hh RID stallion (12 years old) has always been easy to handle at covering time but just lately we've had a few 'difficult' maidens and he has been adding to the difficulties - but I don't really understand why.
He has always been a bit hopeless at navigation and rarely manages to cover a mare without quite a bit of steering help. The last couple of mares it has been a nightmare - he is coming in low and fast and I just can't steer him in before he's too close - when I try to help him, he loses his erection.
I suspect he is getting a bit frustrated at repeated unsuccessful attempts because he is also starting to bite the mares rather harder than they like! I don't want to be too harsh with him for this behaviour but standing behind a mare who has a stallion attached to her ear isn't fun!
Tonight we were covering a rather narrow standardbred mare who was fully in season and couldn't have been more patient. But he seems to have real trouble with narrow mares (being a big, broad chested chap he just can't get a grip with his front legs.) It took TWELVE attempts before we managed a successful service - he was dripping with sweat by the time he finally cracked it and I was nearly as exhausted! I fear that if we can't help him sort himself, he is going to get more anxious and either rush more - with the associated steering problems - or else throw in the towel altogether. Any suggestions on how I can best help him much appreciated. IF my assistant can get the mare to move forward as he mounts it helps - but she's got to be ever so quick - as once he's on top the mares can't move!
Do you tease him with the mare before letting him mount? IF so, how - do you use some sort of wall or fence between them, or just let him decide when to do it? I would recommend making him tease more thoroughly (not just a 2 second thing)with a safe/solid object between him and the mare.
This should help stop the rushing, and also get him properly in the mood. Very rarely in nature do they just hop on and off in 30 seconds - the mares usually make them work for it. He's probably not in full erection when he mounts, and that's why he's losing it so fast.
I would also teach him to respect a crop, as well as use a chain over/under the nose (at least at the beginning). Ask him to approach the mare, but the minute he shows signs of rushing, bring the crop out in front of him and use the chain if necessary to make him stop. Praise him each time he does things the way you want. Make sure he approaches her from the side - don't go from directly behind. This makes the mares nervous, and gives him the idea he can ram them, it also could cause back problems in the mare if he lands wrong, especially if he is bigger than them.
Once he gets close enough to her side to touch her, and he has a full erection allow him to mount - not before. If he acts up, make him back away, and then walk off until he is under control again.
If the mare is thin, maybe try making a heavy pad for over her back and neck, that way she has some protection, and he has something to hang on to. If he starts acting out against the mare, pull him off, walk him away, calm everybody down, and then start over from the very beginning. He needs to learn again that you are the boss, and that he can't beat up the mares just because he's impatient. Also, if you have a fairly safe mare, as in one that will only tolerate so much foolishness, but not get vicious if things get rough, try putting him with her. Sometimes the girls need to set the boys straight.
One of the thing I teach my stallions is 'wait'...I use this word to get them to where they are standing chest to rump (helps em go up straight) and will ask them to remain in that position for just a few seconds.
Another thing I've learned this year (I have a stallion who like yours is lacking in the aim department mostly due to his size)...
I've found that if I am on the ball when he first mounts and don't try to help him 'aim'...
Instead I pay attention to his position on the mare and keep him from going to far forward(i.e. get him up but gently keep him back (about half way up the mare, front legs around the hips or half way up her back - depending on the size difference) then he's much more apt to be in a position where both his parts and the mares parts are lined up for quick and easy penetration.
Once he's in, then he's welcome to move further up the mare if he needs to.
In the meantime, you might consider adding a second handler for the stallion (one on each side, sort of like he's in cross ties), this should help with the rushing and maybe even the navigational problems...
It sounds like he's normally a good boy, but like you said, just a bit frustrated at the moment. I can't see bashing him for that especially if the mares aren't working with him. You might also want to check that he's not in any sort of physical discomfort or pain.
He may have pulled or strained something (muscle, tendon) and as such is grumpier then usual as a result.
I would suggest that you make certain that you do not hold, the penis. Support it from underneath and guide it towards the vagina with an open hand. A gripping hold may either cause him to loose an erection, or cause him to flower too soon. I understand that if he is already on the mare, it makes this difficult to control.
My next suggestion is to raise the area that he is standing on, or lower where the mare is standing. That way, if he comes in low and fast, he will actually be in about the correct place for insertion. This can be done by simply digging a slope down to the mare so that he will be on a slightlty higher level. If he is a bit sore, or just a horrible aim, this should help!
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