Re: RC: Difficult stallion (long)

[Farafix@aol.com]

Celeste,

With the caveat that I have only raised, trained & ridden 1 stallion, I'll 
offer the following observation.  Sounds to me that your stallion is very 
interested in the other horses --- my stallion is definitely the most social 
of the 2 mares & gelding that I've ridden.  They can be interested in 
geldings just as well as mares as they will want to establish their dominance 
over other males.
This behavior can NOT be tolerated when under saddle.  You don't want to be 
on board when the stallion decides to assert himself with another horse.
My boy tried the backing up routine when he was first started under saddle, 
very athletic, could do 20 meter circles backing up.  We did a lot of 20 
meter circles in reverse.  I would make him continue backing up & then stop & 
stand.  & stand.  & stand.  & stand.  The standing was very boring for him & 
he finally would realize that going forward was better than standing.  
Standing is a lot safer for the rider than getting into a battle with kicking 
& whipping --- my personal opinion is that one has to be cautious whipping a 
stallion -- they are very sensitive about their flank area & it can provoke a 
confrontation.
The minute I see/sense him thinking about slowing down, speeding up, turning 
to look at another horse, I use my loud voice to scold.  I also keep some of 
those baby carrots in my pocket & reward him when he does do something right 
(like standing nice & still while I mount & then when I tighten the girth 
from the saddle).  He knows I have some treats & it seems to keep his 
attitude positive rather than confrontational --- there's something in it for 
him (what you can buy with some silly little carrots!).  A lot of folks 
believe that feeding stallions treats encourages nipping, but that has not 
been a problem for me.  One of the cowboy trainers (can't remember who, said 
something to the effect that the art of training is to figure out how to make 
the horse want to do what you want --- so I figure a little reward sure 
helps!).
The other issue is that my stallion grew up with his dam & his gelding cousin 
(his own little horse herd) & learned horse manners from them.  I started him 
at a very young age following his mother or cousin on the trail.  I then had 
some very brave friends who went out on trail with their geldings & we added 
mares (not in heat).  We would play leapfrog, making Tempo stay behind, or go 
ahead. I took him to an indoor ring as well where other horses were being 
ridden (the huge barn & indoor ring were more of an issue than the other 
horses as he'd been out on trail with other horses).
I think it helps immensely if a stallion can be a horse on his own time --- 
then being with other horses when under saddle isn't such a novel experience. 
 My rule has always been that when he had any tack on or if the other horse 
had any tack on, he could not play.  When all horses were "naked," then he 
could play his horsey games.
I spent a lot of time training Tempo from a very young age & took it nice & 
slow in small increments, but it has paid off.
Good luck!!!

Nancy & Tempo (1200+ miles, loves to go to rides & be a part of everything)
 MD