Stallion

Question
    I have been riding and handling horses for about 6 years and I just got a horse that I have been riding that had a mental health issue and had to be sold. I just found a 2 years old Dutch warmblood stallion that I want to train and ride but I have never competed in english, I have experiance with stallions but in the change of riding sports would it be okay to train a stallion to show jump with proper lessons and help. I am a world champion barrel racer so I have plenty of time experiance with horses but how will a stallion react differently to situations other them mares. I have only had mares at rodeos but have handled peoples stallion and rode them. That have more power under saddle then a mare or gelding but I am new to training stallions, any advice? I have no mares on the property now.

Answer
Hi Katie,

With the proper training of a young stallion, he should handle situations no differently than a gelding in the show arena in any discipline.  Remember though, that what any horse is suited for is going to depend upon their disposition.  As a two-year-old, if the stud colt already has a great, calm and willing disposition, you should have no problems.  If he is already exhibiting bad stallion behaviors, then you would need to consider whether he should be kept a stallion or gelded.

The best advice I can give you is; if he is showing a good disposition as a stud colt, then you should concentrate only on his training before ever using him to breed.  Get all of his ducks in a row, so to say, before introducing him to the world of mares and breeding.  Not only will you have a well-behaved stallion in the future but it will also make him more attractive to potential clients for breeding purposes.

Best of luck,
Sandy