Hi, I have a 6yr old warmblood stallion who as far as I know has never been turned out with other horses. I think he has had a lot of bad handling. He is ok to handle but I dont trust him without a chain over his nose. I used to risk my life leading him as he would try to bite, circle, scream, trot and leap in the air. I can ride him with mares and he will try too look at them but otherwise he is fine. He is our first stallion and we love him very much. I want to show him but he is very vocal. He screams when I lead or ride him around other horses, espescially mares, but not if the other horse is being ridden. He is stabled next to a gelding and has a paddock to himself with a low fence so he can play with the other geldings over it. I was wondering if I should turn him out with another horse or beside a mare. When he screams though I usually still have control of him, he is just noisy. Also sometimes he tries to nip while I am leading him. Any tips about handling in general would help as he really does want to please and I dont want him or myself getting hurt. How do I get him used to other horses? What do you guys think about leading with a chain over the nose and a whip?
You don't say how long you've had him for, but it sounds like you're making progress in getting him 'socialised'! I wouldn't rush it! And I'd be very cautious about turning him out WITH another horse - personally, I wouldn't do it with a stallion this age unless I was going to run him with mares - and then the introduction has to be very carefully handled indeed!
It sounds like he is sensible when ridden - which is a good start.
My chap is very good natured (although all 'boy'!) and I lead him in a snaffle with an extra rein clipped to the off side bit ring and looped around his neck. Keeping it firm, and using it to check him if he goes too fast or attempts to nip works well - and stops him stomping on my toes! If he rides well, you may find this a better arrangement than a chain over his nose (which actually MAY egg him on a bit!)
By using the type of 'control' you would use when riding (when he behaves) you may well find that just checking him with the outside rein - accompanied by a stern NO - will be sufficient to teach him that biting while led is not acceptable - and neither is being excessively vocal.
Has he been used at stud? Chances are that he was - and a chain was used to control him at that time - so he's associating the chain with 'having fun'.
What are you going to DO with the whip? If he's a handful - and you use it - you may find the consequences more than you can handle. A stallion that requires whipping is already dangerous, in my view. Treat him with firmness and respect - and he will respond.
Yes he has been used for breeding. I dont hit him with the whip, I put it in front of him to and say whoa to get him to halt. Once he has halted I give him a light tap and say back and he backs up. After that I praise him. I find it makes him more in control and attentive to what i want.
His biting has been slowly dissapearing. I would just say and firm no and he started stopping. For the last few weeks there has been next to no biting, however I find he likes to grab the lead when I first put it on and I'm not sure whether or not I should allow that.
We usually put the chain in his mouth for breeding.
I have had him for five months and he has improved dramatically. When we got him he had spent the past year with next to no handling, which didn't help the situation as the more he is ridden and handled the better he is.
He is very teritorrial of his stall and will flatten his ears when anyone goes by. I've been told stallions are more territorial than a mare or gelding, although I've seen many mares and gelding who are much worse. Should I ignore this or if I should do somthing about it what do you suggest?
You'll get some folks say: "I won't tolerate this, or that." I won't tolerate BAD manners, but when you're dealing with an older stallion, (rather than a colt) I firmly believe that you're best to make haste slowly. A LOT of stallions are 'mouthy' - my bloke grabs his headcollar, his lead rope (and - occasionally - me). It's not 'nasty' and I block it rather than punish him, because it's a habit he's had for a long time and short of beating him when he does it (which I WON'T do) it's going to take time to teach him not to do it.
YOU have to decide where to draw the line - and what YOU will tolerate. It sounds like you're doing everything right - as his behaviour has improved so much in a very short time. I would continue as you're doing - discourage less acceptable behaviour - but keep him busy and active and interested. Territorial behaviour is 'natural' and as long as he ONLY puts his ears back, I wouldn't worry too much. He has only been in his new home for a short time - as he becomes more 'settled' and confident, I suspect he will stop even doing that.
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