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RE: [RC] [RC] stallions in endurance - Faustina DuffyJust teach them everything you would another horse, but be CERTAIN it is clear in their minds. I find that it is very important to be sure that your stallion is comfortable in crowd situations (when other horses are bumping HIM), and that he knows NOT to crowd other horses. Riders become more tense when an unknown stallion is around, even if horses don't (some do, some don't) so they will probably notice your/your horse's trail manners more than another gelding or mare. Look ahead on trail, be aware of horses coming toward you, and be ready to move aside to share trail-a few steps into the woods to allow other riders (especially those with juniors) to have plenty of room will help everyone relax and ride pleasantly. ANYTHING can happen with horses, so even if your horse is NOT the one who acted up, he may still be accused of being the problem simply for being a stallion (my mare NEVER kicks, but that stallion smell had her ALL worked up <sigh!>even if it was partly due to a tense rider accidentally locking legs on her while holding the reins firm...). At least Endurance riding doesn't institute a "no stallion" policy like some organized rides do. I find that MOST stallions that are being ridden to be promoted as breeding prospects have BETTER manners than the average mare or gelding (their rider KNOWS that they have to make a good impression!). Endurance doesn't seem to suffer much from the "I'm a REALLY good rider because I can handle a STALLION" mentality that does pop up in other parts of the horse world (face it, "I rode a stallion in a 50 mile ride" doesn't quite impress me like "I've got 9,000 miles on this horse <insert ANY gender>" <grin!>, so the sport is just a little more protected from that one...). Most folks in the Central area know my speckled boy, Romeo, by now. I HOPE that most will tell you that he is a remarkably calm gentleman (though his riders a little spacey). But even though I know that horses crowding around him and rubbing on him rarely upset him, I still try to keep him back from groups so that other riders don't have to wonder (I know him, but they may not <grin!>). Face it, when you have that yellow ribbon back there, you're a bit under the microscope-people will notice both the good AND the bad things your horse does a little more clearly, as there aren't really too many stallions competing regularly... I don't know how much your horse reacts to others around, so I'll throw this in-if your horse is one to get distracted by mares, you may want to practice keeping his attention during vet checks. Romeo rarely does notice other horses going by (he just wants to EAT), but I have seen his heart rate go up when a horse he had been crowded by on the trail came trotting toward him (he'd been jostled by that horse several times that morning-not rider rudeness, we had agreed to help with a training issue). I can have Romeo's full attention by rubbing inside his ears or under his jaw....(he's a kitten at heart). If your stallion is very vocal, you might want to try to keep him a little ways back from a vet check area to avoid his calls causing that mare's heart rate to spike...Look at who is in front of you in the line and behind you, and maybe at the person helping the vets, and tell them you'd like to step out of the crowd, but that you don't want to have to wait all day, will they keep you in the order if you walk over there? Anyway, I'll try to work my way down from the soapbox, here, but before that last step...remember, being a stallion is PART of an explanation for a horses behavior, but it isn't an excuse for ANY misbehavior. Pay attention, look ahead for what might happen (should you pass that mare ahead who has been winking all morning now and get some distance? Is the trail just a little too washed out, maybe you should walk a bit and hope to pass when you catch her again in the open?) and be as courteous as you possibly can to other riders... Lucky #m33830 and Snowline Romeo #h37823 (and after all these miles, some folks STILL look underneath me 'cause they don't believe I'm all boy! hrmph!)
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