Oh, the joy of stallions...not
I'm so embarrassed to post this and am expecting a ton of people saying, "Wow you're an idiot and unfit for horse ownership!" but I do need advice/insight so I'm hoping a few of you guys can forgive my idiocy and help.
Why am I embarrassed and an idiot to boot? You all might remember my new(er) horse that was a rescue. The club footed, swollen kneed, short backed, possibly EPM positive, ugliest duckling horse in the world? Well, a few months ago (Nov, I believe) he ripped the skin above his eye open and required 11 stitches. A friend of mine commented that she thinks he's a stallion and not a gelding, what I was led to believe. Since he was sedated, I asked the vet to check and indeed my mess of a horse is a stallion. Bilateral cryptorchid. *facepalm and hides head in shame*
1) As much as I want my genetic mess of a horse to have genetic messes as babies who could possibly be champagne champions and fart rainbows, I think I'd be doing the world a greater good by gelding him. Due to the possible EPM and his undergoing treatment, the vet originally said then it would be best to wait until spring to geld him due to if something is neurologically wrong and the anesthesia might affect him weirdly so a few months of treatment under his belt would be beneficial. I'm going to call her after their lunch break to see if it can be done sooner (he's displaying stud behaviour and not getting out as much due to it) and what cost/procedure I can expect. I've Googled it, but if I can have some real input, that would be great. Has anyone had a horse undergo cryptorchid gelding? What was your experience?
2) I have absolutely no experience with stallions. I admit that, but I wasn't expecting a stallion when I took him on - I was expecting a medical mess (and planned financially so, despite poor college student, I had money saved or I wouldn't have taken him in - just want to get that straight). With good food and care, he's gained weight (yay! Almost 800lbs!) and is feeling loads better. Everytime I see him galloping around the field, I hold my breath that he won't kill himself. He's starting to act like a stallion - excited by mares, showing off (prancing about), and the worst - he's starting biting. There are a few other intermittent behaviours (yanking my arm off if there's a mare out), but they're rare because I try to avoid situations that would cause it. I've whapped him with the lead line (how I was taught, sorry for those of you who stomp at them and no, I do not leave welts, bleeding, or anything like that) and tried stomping, but he'll try again at least once daily to nip. I can normally tell when he's thinking about it, so I can head it off, but when I'm closing gates or stall doors with a turned back, he'll go for it. Do I put a chain over his nose to prevent him from yanking my arm out when leading and better control when he tries to nip (and yes, I do know how to properly put on a chain/handle it)? I need advice/help on handling a stallion because I don't want it to get worse & obviously I'm not handling it correctly. I want a well-mannered stallion and I know it can be done, damnit! Me sees a trainer in the near future. *sigh as she watches bank account diminish faster than gas prices rise*
A far cry from the broken horse I brought home in October.
Please don't kill me (hides).
ETA: First off, I have to say thank you so much for all of your support. I honestly felt like a fool about everything and thought I'd get a ton of backlash, so having the exact opposite was overwhelming. Thank you.
I used the chain on Fritz tonight. I think he might of had a chain before - when I was placing it, he kept lunging to nip at me. That's a first, he normally puts his head down for the halter and is pretty good about that. Or maybe it's a new habit, so it looks like I came to this at the right time. Once it was on, he threw a few tantrums, but we handled it fine. Got him out to the field without a hitch. Coming back in, I walked him around for about 20 minutes to do ground training. There was a girl riding a mare bareback, so it was fantastic practice. He ended up minding me more than the mare. Once in his stall, he patiently waited for me to put his feed and oil in his bin - he tends to get pushy if there's food in his bin. He didn't go to eat until I was out of the stall. I went in later to put an apple in his bin and the exact same reaction. I know he'll forget this all tomorrow, but to see some sort of result, no matter how short lived, was rewarding. The only thing I'm concerned about is that he'll start getting funny about accepting his halter due to the chain, but we'll get to that if it comes.
Third, I got the estimate. It's about 10x what he's worth (and I'm upping his value here). But that's why they made credit cards, right? The secretary needs to talk to the two vets who have worked with his EPM to decide if he can undergo the surgery earlier than planned.
Why am I embarrassed and an idiot to boot? You all might remember my new(er) horse that was a rescue. The club footed, swollen kneed, short backed, possibly EPM positive, ugliest duckling horse in the world? Well, a few months ago (Nov, I believe) he ripped the skin above his eye open and required 11 stitches. A friend of mine commented that she thinks he's a stallion and not a gelding, what I was led to believe. Since he was sedated, I asked the vet to check and indeed my mess of a horse is a stallion. Bilateral cryptorchid. *facepalm and hides head in shame*
1) As much as I want my genetic mess of a horse to have genetic messes as babies who could possibly be champagne champions and fart rainbows, I think I'd be doing the world a greater good by gelding him. Due to the possible EPM and his undergoing treatment, the vet originally said then it would be best to wait until spring to geld him due to if something is neurologically wrong and the anesthesia might affect him weirdly so a few months of treatment under his belt would be beneficial. I'm going to call her after their lunch break to see if it can be done sooner (he's displaying stud behaviour and not getting out as much due to it) and what cost/procedure I can expect. I've Googled it, but if I can have some real input, that would be great. Has anyone had a horse undergo cryptorchid gelding? What was your experience?
2) I have absolutely no experience with stallions. I admit that, but I wasn't expecting a stallion when I took him on - I was expecting a medical mess (and planned financially so, despite poor college student, I had money saved or I wouldn't have taken him in - just want to get that straight). With good food and care, he's gained weight (yay! Almost 800lbs!) and is feeling loads better. Everytime I see him galloping around the field, I hold my breath that he won't kill himself. He's starting to act like a stallion - excited by mares, showing off (prancing about), and the worst - he's starting biting. There are a few other intermittent behaviours (yanking my arm off if there's a mare out), but they're rare because I try to avoid situations that would cause it. I've whapped him with the lead line (how I was taught, sorry for those of you who stomp at them and no, I do not leave welts, bleeding, or anything like that) and tried stomping, but he'll try again at least once daily to nip. I can normally tell when he's thinking about it, so I can head it off, but when I'm closing gates or stall doors with a turned back, he'll go for it. Do I put a chain over his nose to prevent him from yanking my arm out when leading and better control when he tries to nip (and yes, I do know how to properly put on a chain/handle it)? I need advice/help on handling a stallion because I don't want it to get worse & obviously I'm not handling it correctly. I want a well-mannered stallion and I know it can be done, damnit! Me sees a trainer in the near future. *sigh as she watches bank account diminish faster than gas prices rise*
A far cry from the broken horse I brought home in October.
Please don't kill me (hides).
ETA: First off, I have to say thank you so much for all of your support. I honestly felt like a fool about everything and thought I'd get a ton of backlash, so having the exact opposite was overwhelming. Thank you.
I used the chain on Fritz tonight. I think he might of had a chain before - when I was placing it, he kept lunging to nip at me. That's a first, he normally puts his head down for the halter and is pretty good about that. Or maybe it's a new habit, so it looks like I came to this at the right time. Once it was on, he threw a few tantrums, but we handled it fine. Got him out to the field without a hitch. Coming back in, I walked him around for about 20 minutes to do ground training. There was a girl riding a mare bareback, so it was fantastic practice. He ended up minding me more than the mare. Once in his stall, he patiently waited for me to put his feed and oil in his bin - he tends to get pushy if there's food in his bin. He didn't go to eat until I was out of the stall. I went in later to put an apple in his bin and the exact same reaction. I know he'll forget this all tomorrow, but to see some sort of result, no matter how short lived, was rewarding. The only thing I'm concerned about is that he'll start getting funny about accepting his halter due to the chain, but we'll get to that if it comes.
Third, I got the estimate. It's about 10x what he's worth (and I'm upping his value here). But that's why they made credit cards, right? The secretary needs to talk to the two vets who have worked with his EPM to decide if he can undergo the surgery earlier than planned.