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[RC] LD's on a stallion - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: Paula Juergens cowlitztractor@xxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== I ride a mustang stallion. And have nothing but compliments on how well behaved he was or how pretty, or that he didn't look like any mustang the person had ever seen before. Which is all great and wonderfull.But, I'm also preparing another older stallion as we speak for someone else. Both studs do stand to mares and are both very mannerly and can be told "no" and are expected to respect it. But the older stallion has had some mishandling by a gal that just through mares in with him and let him go bonkers, as well she was scared of stallions for the good reason that she should never have one to begin with and because she's no-where near fit to train one let alone handleone. So this guy is a bit harder to deal with. He's bigger, a fair bit bolder and had a woman teach him that he could push past a woman and may not have to respect me or any other gal as much as a man. I will still race with him, but I am having to do 10 times more round pen work to make sure that in his little horse brain I am Bigger then him and his hormones. I refuse no matter how much money one of these studs may be worth or how much I or the owner might make on selling breedings,, I refuse to risk my life or the lives of anyone out there by taking a horse out that runs a higher potential for risk then the average horse. We all take risks in this sport, these horses don't have a kill switch like a motorcycle, and we can't just shut them off when we want. So my stallions have to have far more training, control and restraint, respect and I have to work very hard to be a better then average horseman so as to not feel like I could risk any of you, my horse or myself out there. I have to make the preparations incase a mare in flaming heat backs into one of my boys when someones not paying attention, I did have a mare pee right on my little studs nose at a vet check... Boy did that get his attention. But all it took was one grutty little nicker and he was in deep dog doo-doo with the boss. My point to all this yes, I think the right stallions and right handlers should race. Set the example that good handlers and good stallions can go out and set examples for those that are less then adequate, We can "try" to lead by example. I also recommend doing the longest distances you can and don't limit yourself to LD's. Studs tend to get and stay fit a little easier then your average gelding and some mares. And they always want to save a little horse just incase there's a mare around the next turn that may need his attentions. I have found that they get too used to the LD's too fast and moving to the next distance is a good way to keep a stud honest and paying more attention to taking care of himself and not as much attention on saving a little horse for covering mares back at camp. My guys will set a comfortable pace, for them selves, they get to knowing how fast to go, and about how far till they get a break, getting them to move at a really competitive pace is tough depending on the horse, Some are better then others.So I really recommend that if your guys is like mine,, bump them up as their fitness allows. I also try to be carefull about where I put me and my boys in relation to the group, I try to point out to the vets if I have a stud and that I would have my place in line, outside the line until I know they can stand quietly and not make anyone nervous about having a stallion there with them. Many people love and are amazed at a well behaved stallion But everyone hates a bad one. I'm firly of the belief that a tired stallion is always easier to live with. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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