I've been searching around my local area for a stallion handling course but no luck. I know many of you feel stallions should be left to the experts and for the most part I agree. However I expect to have one at our barn in the future and I need to know as much as possible. Even if I never end up owning one or boarding one I still think it would be wise for me to understand and learn more about stallion keeping and handling. I've called a few places around me and have gone out to see their stallions and handle them, and I have more to visit. Is there books that anyone can recommend, videos, or courses? I can only find the New Bolton one which isn't an option for me right now. Any advice is appreciated. moya
The Stallion : A Breeding Guide for Owners and Handlers by James P. McCall, et al. is a paper back that I really like, It is concise and has a lot of good practical information. I think the most important thing when you are looking at shopping for a first stallion, make sure he is a good guy to be around. If the Horse is not nice to be around and a Stallion, you will probably not have a good stallion experience. When you handle a stallion all the time, you build a relationship, and I think the strength of that relationship is directly proportional to how much control you have over the stallion. For example, my stud lives next door to two geldings that he likes to pick on during breeding season. Anyone can go out into the geldings pasture and shake a rope or a whip at him and he'll stop chasing them along the fence line. I can yell "cut it out" at him from the front porch and he stops dead in his tracks. But I work with him everyday during the breeding season and he is expected to behave himself when I tell him to, so it isn't a huge leap for him to listen to me "at liberty." Don't get me wrong he is a very good stud horse, anyone can handle him, in fact my ten year old sister rides him (only under direct supervision), but we have a special relationship. I think the best practice for owning a stud horse is to work with a very “study” gelding with a bad attitude, if you can get a horse like that to respect you, getting a nice stallion’s respect shouldn’t be too much of a leap.
Stallions : Their Management and Handling by Neil Dougall is out of print but it is really good and I think you could find it on amazon.com
We have some books listed in our books section - some of which have already been mentioned.
I would strongly encourage you to take the University of Pennsylvania (New Bolton) course though - it is an excellent course and you will get insight into the thougt proceses of the stallion over and above the simple learning of handling them. Understanding the stallion and why he does what he does, as well as being anle to "read" the horse is a major part of becoming a good stallion handler - and that is really something that cannot be learned from a book. Save up and go to New Bolton!!!
Jos, You were right, the Course at New Bolton was a most positive experience and very enjoyable. The crew and facility are excellent and the knowledge available to students is endless. It is amazing just how much an old horse hand thinks he knows until he sees someone who can really get along with a stallion who knows just what to do with one.
Hopefully I can put to use what I learned there and life will be much easier on me and my animals. Also the handson collecting, handling and prepping is a great learning experience. Those folks have the patience of JOB and they really enjoy teaching people who are there to learn.
Our class had students from as far away as Canada, Florida and even England. It was quite a group and everyone was there to learn and if you didn't learn there it was your own fault.
I would highly recommend the Just Stallion Handling Course at The New Bolton Center to everyone, and your course as well.
The "Just Stallion Handling" course that Alfred is referring to is - as I have already commented above - an excellent course. Anyone interested in it can follow that link to go to the U-PA (New Bolton) course web site.
Glad you had fun and learned a lot - they're a great crew!!
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