Oh, the joy of stallions...not

[kudosirony]

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

Comments

[acoustic11]

Don't feel bad about it

[rckmeamadeus]

"I know a stallion who behaves better than any bombproof schoolhorse gelding I've ever met, and it was because his owner made him think the world was going to END any time he tried to bite, push, pull... anything not acceptable."

THIS. I work on a farm with a very difficult and high energy stallion. When he's ridden, he's manageable, but boy is turnout fun when he hasn't been. He wears boots for turnout so whenever he misbehaves, his owner backs him down by smacking the boots with a dressage whip (since stallions play/fight and go for each others legs). Works like a charm.

Also, my friend had a cryptorchid colt and I believe the gelding procedure was less than $1000 (in super expensive Central Jersey). After the gelding, he was on stall rest for a week and then limited turnout for a few weeks after that.

[kudosirony]

He typically does wear boots because he over reaches with his back feet and he's such a clutz in general. I left the boots off in this photos because it was muddy and I worried the bell boots and tendon would do more harm than good. Looking back on it, it was kind of a dumb decision.

The dressage whip is a fantastic idea. I'm definitely going to try that.

*cringes at price* Might need a second job now, lol. Oh well, it was expected.

[alittledffrnt]

Same here! Worked on a farm with an owner who just loooooved her Iberian stallions o.O Had 5-7 on the farm at any given time- and the dressage whip taptaptap on the front legs to keep them from barging over you, rearing, tossing, prancing, any other annoying stallion play behaviour- that's how they interact with each other- but totally not ok with a person.

[skyringer]

You couldn't have known that - granted, a thorough vet check would have HELPED, but it sorta falls under what's done is done, so now we figure out how to clean up the mess. And try to figure out what to do to prevent accidents - either people or mare related.

I don't remember your original post; are you keeping him somewhere that is stallion friendly? if not, do you have some place close by that may be able to help you out until you can get him gelded? It may be easier to find some place that has experience dealing with stallions to keep him until then, because trying to learn how to deal with studs as you go along can get very, very dangerous. I think that's probably your best bet - it may drain your money faster than you thought, but it'll be safer for you, him, and everyone else involved in the long run.

[kudosirony]

I believe I linked to the original post up there somewhere (the part where I mention his genetic mess), but it was before we knew he was a stallion.

I am incredibly fortunate to board at a place with stallions. We have a 32yr old arab, a 6yr old arab, and a 19 month old Clydesdale. They all get alternating turn out, but unfortunately, it's not a heck of a lot - another reason I want him gelded. The 32yr old isn't a problem in the least. The 6yr old is pretty well-mannered and whenever I see his owner I harass her for advice and help, lol. I told her it was fine, but she still felt bad. Colby (her horse) is the reason I know that stallions can be well mannered. We, unfortunately, tend to miss each other, but she handles him when I'm not around. The clydesdale is a nightmare though. Everyone (but his owners) hates him and will cheer the day he leaves. He's such a jerk. He lunges to bite and kick when you go in his stall to toss hay in or put gray in his bin (there's a feed slot but he'll grab the feed scoop from you and throw it around

[_acerbusangelus]

No experience with this situation, but just wanted to say I don't think you're an idiot or bad horseperson at all. You had good intentions in rescuing this horse, and mistakes happen, and you're doing your best to learn and do what's best for the horse! That's good_horsemanship!

[kudosirony]

Thanks. I personally took it as dumb_horsemanship. :)

[ihorse]

Haha, how were you supposed to know? If you were told the horse was a gelding, and lo and behold, he had no (visible) balls, I'm pretty sure it's safe to think he's a gelding. There was no reason why he should have been examined more closely at the time. You're being responsible now that you know, however, and I consider that good_horsemanship as well! :)

[colebaltblue]

I just wanted to point out that even if you geld him now, you're not going to see a significant decrease in the "stallion like" behavior. I mean, I'm a 100% for the gelding, but he won't turn into a super-calm gelding by any means. In fact, you probably won't notice a significant difference in any of his behavior towards mares. He just won't be able to pass on his super special genes ;-)

[kudosirony]

I know that it's the probable possibility, but regardless, I want him behaved. If I assert it now, it will help later. The last thing I want is a jerk of a pasture pet. I don't mind a little excitement, but right now it's extreme and unacceptable.

[colebaltblue]

Of course, I'm not saying he won't calm down with the gelding and with you working with him (and you're totally on the right track there). What I'm saying is that just don't expect a significant change in behavior simply because of the gelding. Every horse is different though and with time and training you may find you have a brand new horse on your hands. He'll be happier and healthier in the long run so don't beat yourself up, you're handling a bad situation with grace, calm, and a sense of realism which is a lot better than most people could say.

[candysgirl]

I don't think that's true at all. Mika displayed a LOT of stallion behaviors when I got him and up until about 5 months after his surgery. I was told the hormones take 5-7 months to fully leave their system for them to be truly a gelding

[candysgirl]

Mika was a unilateral crypt. His surgery was $700. He stayed one night and there weren't any complications. I got estimates anywhere from the $700 all the way up to nearly $3000. I dropped him off on a Tuesday and picked him up the next morning. It took a couple of months for the incision to fully heal, but it went fine. It was a huge pain to keep clean and exercising him so it would drain, but it was doable. He was on stall rest the first day I got him home and then he was turned out in a small lot alone (they didn't want him running around). I was supposed to trot him for 15 minutes a day to help things drain. After a couple weeks he was able to go back out into his field (he'd been getting turned out in a field alone because everyone was scared of the 800lb goofball Arab

[kudosirony]

I believe I have you friended. I'll need to poke around there. I feel sort of stalker like if I go back in entries though, lol. I shall take this as permission.

See, I don't care about the prancing or snorting either, but the yanking and biting is unacceptable. The "be aggressive" stand seems to be the most popular advice, so that's what I'm going for. And I know Mika is well behaved, so it definitely holds weight.

I've never smacked or did anything with his face. With my mare, I did, because that's what I was told at the time. Then someone came along and said, "No, this is better" and taught me the lead line smack. I have touched his face and ears to get him used to that as he likes to shake his head about when it comes to his ears. It made it better when he had to get his stitches.

I will have to tell my mom no more treats by hand. It will break her heart, lol.

[acoustic11]

Treats by bucket are still okay. Just not by hand.

[candysgirl]

Haha, no its cool. If someone else can learn something from my trials and errors, that's awesome. I made more than one mistake with him because he was the first stallion I've ever trained (I've dealt with several, just didn't do their training). His surgery was sometime around Christmas 2008 so you'll have to go back pretty far to find the stallion stuff