stallion

Question
QUESTION: i have a stallion that i rescued they wanted to put him down.  he did not get along with other horse.  But was great horse back riding.   I have been working with him he is sweet  and kind and enjoys attention.  He does not get along with other horses.   Is he going to act out if i trail ride with another horse.  what should i, I was going to take him for a short walk on the ground with my mothers horse, not sure what to expect.   they say he was gelded and only has one testical.   Is he still just as much as a stallion?


ANSWER: Yes your stallion is very much a stallion and always will be. An undescended testicle does not mean the hormones are not present. Your stallion will always "act out" around other horses. The trick to handling a stallion, is to never let your guard down... ever.

True, people should always remain alert around any horse but people commonly fall into the habit of trusting their animals and they become lax. In the company of other riders and horses, people tend to chatter among themselves and they miss subtle signals of communication between the ridden animals. Eventually, somebody gets kicked or bucked off and the horses are blamed.    

You will never be able to ride in this manner with other horses. A stallion will always be a stallion first and your partner second. Around other horses he will want to court the girls and compete with the boys. ALWAYS! You CAN ride near others if you keep some distance between them and you, and tell your companions to respect this distance at all times.

A stallion unfortunately leads a lonesome life. Gelding him will give him a better chance at living in harmony with other horses. You do not mention his age, so I have to assume he is mature. Once mature, stallions learn their hormone induced behaviors and rarely forget all of them even if castrated later in life.

I own a Thoroughbred gelding who was gelded at 18 years of age. Now he is 23 and is very much a stallion in his own mind. He lives next to other horses but I still consider it dangerous to allow him direct physical contact with the others. He naturally wants to mount any other horse and/or dominate them if he gets a chance.

He is the perfect gentleman under saddle and in the Dressage arena, and in hand he is obedient and kind to his handler. Even so... we treat him as a stallion at all times. It is a huge responsibility, you are responsible if someone should get hurt by him or if he should injure another creature... yep... you are the one paying the Dr/Vet bill. Some town have ordinances for stallion owners regarding the enclosure they must be kept in and so on ... You might want to look into that to avoid a lawsuit later on.

Please rethink the idea of taking him on a walk with other horses. You are more at risk of injury if he should rear or charge the other horse. You could get in between the two if they decide to turn and kick at each other. It only takes a second for a horse to change your life.

Good luck with him... I don't mean to sound discouraging about owning a stallion... I personally, love them and I have spend the last 20 years of my professional and personal life working with stallions exclusively. I feel I know what I am talking about...

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for your quick answer.  He is  years old and at this time a very good boy!  I guess this will change as he gets older.  His testostorim level is .15 i was hoping that maybe he didnt have enough to consider him a stallion.   I love him so very much and would love to have his other testical removed.  They say its just residue tissue.  Do you have any Idea of the cost.  If he was just alone with me and my back yard and rode him alone with no other horses.  Is he still going to act out in a manner that may put me in danger?  What are the the things that i should be aware of.   Do they just snap.   Have you ever had a stallion that was carm and honest.  where he is only 5 will he only get worse?

Answer
I have a stallion right now that is the most honest creature I have ever known. I would trust him more then I would trust any other horse I have met so far... BUT  He is still a stallion and in a situation involving other horses and/or mares in heat, all bets are off. The instinct to dominate and breed is more powerful then any sense of reason or trust.

If you work with your youngster away from other horses in your backyard, you probably will not have any more issues with him then you would have with a mare or a gelding. As far as "snapping" who can say if that will happen let alone when. I still recommend that you constantly keep your eyes open around him and insist that he mind his manners with anyone who handles him.

 He MAY become more aggressive as he matures, or he may settle down nicely. It's impossible for me to predict. Completing the castration will definitely stop the mood altering flow of hormones and you WILL see a change in his physical development. He will get more height and his head and neck will turn out more refined and less bulky. He may experience fewer injuries after being gelded the he would if kept intact. Keep these ideas in mind when weighing the cost of the surgery and future vet bills related to owning a stallion.

 You should contact your local Vet to ask about the cost involved... I really have no idea what they might charge. I do know it will cost a bit more then just a simple castration. I'm glad to see that you are a smart stallion owner, taking the time to ask people for advice is the best way to learn without putting yourself in a dangerous situation unknowingly. Lots of professional stallion handlers will be quick to offer suggestions to people like yourself. We hate to see anyone get hurt or worse... see a wonderful stallion injured or in the wrong hands... Keep me informed of your progress if you have a chance to do so...

 Another word of advice... as much as you love your boy... respect his potential even more.