Posted on Wednesday, November 03, 2004 - 12:09 pm:
I want to start competing my stallion this year. He is very good to take to new places. The problem is the majority of the shows are during the breeding season. I got my stallion last spring and he was wild. I have worked with him a lot and people always say what an angel he is. I'm not sure if his good behaviour is on account that breeding season is over and he was wild just because it was breeding season. I'm afraid he is going to turn into a monster in the spring, as he has a very high libido. Does anyone notice a huge difference in their stallions during breeding season? Is there any special training I can do or calmers, training aids, hormones I can use? Did I help him become manageable or do stallions really change a lot when spring comes?
I would love to hear replies to this post as well! Z
Eagle View Arabians Posted From: 198.81.26.13
Posted on Tuesday, November 09, 2004 - 06:50 pm:
I would also be curious if anyone has info on this subject. My colt is extremely well behaved and around mares all year long but what will happen once I take him somewhere different? His sire was shown all spring and summer while being bred and was a perfect gentleman. He always kept his mind on the business at hand (the show)but was this due to just being a good boy or is there things you can do to prepare?
I've shown just about every stallion i've owned at one time or another during breeding season. I've not had many problems but do make sure that I use a very specific halter/lead for breeding and sometimes will even take a horse a certain way out of the barn (i.e. out the back when he's breeding and out the front when he's not)...
As long as the training is going along nicely and they work well for you at home during breeding season, there's no reason to expect them to not work well at a horse show. They may have 'sex on the brain', but as long as they know (and learn) that they don't get to breed at a horse show, after a few times they will settle down even more.
If your really worried, you could try entering a show as a schooling experience, perhpaps enter one class on the last day, and just spend the first few days letting them adjust to their surroundings...
Taking a breeding stallion to a horse show, when they've never been anywhere before (before they knew what their 'parts' were for) can be a bit challenging as their hormones do sometimes take over in new or strange situations and they may behave pourly or they may start thinking with the 'wrong brain'...
I'm sure we've all seen the same scenario, a screaming, barely controled stallion showing 'all his glory' in a class...
Some things to do to prepare would be:
Work at home or in a familiar place while introducing new or strange horses as the same time (ie. riding or working in the arena close to horses he doesn't know)...
Taking him to a one day local show and letting him hang out at the trailer all day (Park a bit away from the crowd) and see what his reaction is. If he's behaving take him for walks and see how he does and if he's still behaving and is broke, then ride around.
Don't expect to get something at a show that you can't get at home. This is a basic rule for all horses, not just stallions.
If you've been showing your stallion all along and simply haven't been to a show since they've been bred, it won't be such a new situation and I would think you would have very minimal problems if any.
this is very helpful. I have been showing my colt, twice as a yearling and 3 or 4 times this year as a 2 year old. He takes everything in stride and is extremely good. Sounds like maybe I should just keep taking him and expecting the best, is there any reason to think he will change at 3? WE won't breed him til 2006, as he really won't be 3 til mid summer. Thanks Z
Laurie Posted From: 209.233.215.238
Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 02:53 pm:
I have found that waiting until a stallion is under saddle (even if they aren't going to be shown) before you breed, really, really, helps in so many different ways..
I've done it both ways and in fact recently bred my Andy stallion before he was under saddle and am regretting it now...
Simply keeping a stallion in a 'training type' situation where they have to listen and respond to you and you continue to earn their respect through consistency and by not asking for something you know they can't give...
really helps keep things smooth once they learn what their 'boy parts' are for...
I've also owned a few stallions that weren't broke before they were bred with no ill effects, but given the choice or the opportunity it's best not to do it this way...
Once they breed and their hormones really start pumping you may see a difference...
May start screaming louder or more intensly...may bash against the side of the stall when another horse goes by...may start talking too and trying to romance anything with 4 legs...
I try to keep my stallions stabled next to other horses (geldings) in an environment where they can still touch noses and see everything around them...
Poor stallion behavior comes mostly out of poor training/handling...If you have a well trained and responsive colt, there's no reason to think you won't end up with a well trained and responsive stallion, unless of course you stop working with him.
this is so helpful, I am under a bit of pressure from mare owners to get my colt breeding a year earlier than I had planned, your suggestions make it easier to stick to my guns! He has his whole life to breed mares, but only a limited amount of time to grow up well behaved! thanks again, Z
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