Horse Training Tips – Stud
Dear Friend and Horseman,
Here it is, Springtime again. I both love and hate this time of year. I love it for the nice weather, spring flowers etc. I also hate it because this is the time of year when the 3 year-old stallions get zapped with their first big dose of testosterone. It turns some of them into holey terrors. It’s also the time of year when the mares start to cycle, driving the young stallions crazy. All this makes a trainer’s job more difficult, oftentimes unpleasant and sometimes down right dangerous. But that’s just part of the profession, you take the bad with the good.
If you have a stallion and you are inexperienced with studs, let me share with you my personal philosophy…
If your stallion ever gives you that “I’m going to get you” look, it would probably be wise to let a more experienced handler take over. No stud is worth getting hurt or killed over. Hardly anybody realizes it but many people have been injured by stallions. More people than you would ever imagine, have been maimed or killed.
Now, let me make something perfectly clear… Not all stallions are overly aggressive. In fact some of the best horses I've ever ridden were stallions. However, let me point out that they were the exception, not the rule.
If a stallion is to become a sire, he should be exceptional. To my way of thinking, the only horse that deserves to be a stud is one that possesses those exceptionally good qualities and consistently passes them on to his offspring.
On the other side of the coin, we have the problem stallions. These are the ones you need to watch out for. These are the ones that are overly aggressive and threaten to get you. This over-aggressiveness is sometimes a stallion's normal behavior. Sometimes the aggressiveness is man-made. Either way, it's dangerous.
Some owners who have a problem stallion, refuse to castrate them. These folks have not been viciously mauled… yet. Their time will come.
I have been attacked several times and luckily escaped without serious injury. But, I have personally witnessed people getting maimed by studs. One guy lost his ear and part of his shoulder muscle. Another guy was almost mauled to death before anyone could get the stud off him.
A trainer friend of mine came crawling to the show arena on his hands and knees, covered in blood. His cutting stallion had attacked and mauled him just a few minutes prior to the class. Pretty scary stuff.
Most people don’t have a clue how quickly a stallion can change from “passive” to “attacking”. Seldom do you have much warning. With experience, you can learn to read a stud and learn what they are thinking. But, the learning process can be a little risky.
I remember well the first time I was attacked by a stallion. I was 10 years old. I wanted a palomino stallion in the worst way and to my surprise my folks got me one. (In my parent's defense, I should tell you I had horses since I was 7 and was a heck of a good rider by the time I was 10. They just didn't realize the danger).
I can remember it like it was yesterday. It was Spring, a Friday and I was walking home from school. As I came down the driveway and into the barnyard, there was a cattle truck parked there at the loading chute. My folks were standing there talking to the driver of the truck. I approached and asked what was going on. With an enthusiastic smile on her face, my Mom said there was a surprise waiting for me in the barn.
Just then I heard the unmistakable scream of an excited stallion and I knew my dream horse was inside our barn.
I ran to the barn and went inside. Standing loose in the big stall was a beautiful palomino stallion with a white mane and tail. He was short, about 14.1 hands, but he was stout. He was upset because he could see the mares standing outside in the pasture and he wanted to get out there with them.
I should have known better than to go in his stall without haltering him first, but I went in to pet him anyway. As I walked up to pet his neck, he opened his mouth wide, like an alligator, and lightning-fast took hold of my shoulder. He picked me up, shook me like a rag doll, then threw me into the corner.
He wasn’t finished with me yet! I’m on the ground and here he comes again with his mouth wide open. Man, I was scared. I figured here he comes again and I’m a gonner. My hands and legs were flailing about trying to fend him off. Just by shear luck, I hit the stud in the eye just as he was coming in to bite me again. The poke in the eye startled him enough to give me time to get the heck out of there.
If you have children who love horses, pay close attention to this next part.
There I was, 10 years old, shirt all torn up and I'm hurt bad. What would you guess I did next? If you guessed I ran to my parents and showed them what had happened, you guessed wrong. If they knew the stud had attacked me, they would have gotten rid of him.
I was way more afraid of losing the horse than getting mauled again!
I stayed in the barn until the coast was clear, then ran to the house, cleaned myself up and went upstairs to my room before anyone suspected anything. While I was going up the stairs, my two younger sisters saw my injured shoulder and I had to bribe them to keep their mouth shut. (Actually, during my entire childhood, I had to continually bribe them to keep quiet about stuff I had done).
Next morning, I was up at dawn. I fed all the horses but not the stud. I had other plans for him and I had to do them before my parents came outside.
First thing I did was rope that rank little stud in the stall and snub him up real short to the corner post. I managed to get him saddled and bridled without getting bitten. The next part was the most dangerous. I had to figure out a way to get him out of the barn and get on him without being attacked.
The stud had that mean, “I’m going to get you” look in his eye, so I knew I didn’t dare untie and lead him. Instead, I climbed on his back first, gathered up the reins and then untied him from the safety of the saddle. Once he realized he was untied, he bogged his head and gave a couple of crow hops but nothing too bad.
I stayed on his back while opening the stall gate. Once we were outside, I headed him up the drive way and away we went. I figured I would tire him out by riding him to all the neighboring farms and ranches and show them my new stallion.
That little palomino son-of-a-gun was rank… and not very broke. For the first hour all he did was scream and run off with me. After about three hours though, he was dripping with sweat and starting to run out of steam. I just kept riding him and visiting all my friends in the area.
By the time we returned home, it was almost dark. And guess what? That little stud was too tired to do anything but hang his head and put one foot in front of the other. When we got to the barn, I fed him a double ration of hay and said good night.
The following morning, when I went out to feed, my little stallion had a different expression on his face. That mean “I’m going to get you” look was gone. He still was a handful to saddle and bridle. And he still tried to bite me, but the "viciousness" was no longer there.
I gave him another “all day” ride. And for the next two weeks, I rode him everyday before and after school. I rode him so much, that stud thought he had died and gone to hell. Within a month he was dog gentle.
I learned a lot about horse nature from that little stud. Most of all though, I learned that the easiest horses to get along with are the tired ones.
Take care and have fun training your horse.
Larry Trocha
www.HorseTrainingVideos.com
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Sharon ReevesHi Larry,
I am a novice horse owner, with an approximately 16 year old Stud (Spotted Saddle Back is what I was told he is smaller.) I have had him for three years and he has always been a joy. He is a rescue that spent 8 years (yes, 8 years) on a chain tied to a tree next to a busy road. He is pretty stable and does not spook or get upset. Basically in my opinion he is a really good horse (the vet agreed and said don't geld him he is too old). Recently several people in the neighborhood have moved in and brought horses with them. He has been pretty spunky with a lot of screaming going on between all of them. (One of them being a 18 month old stud.) Last night a gelding got in our pasture and I had no idea. Since I had not seen him most of the day I decided to walk out and look for him on foot and there he was with this gelding. When I rolled up he acted protective of me and the two little donkeys that followed me back running the other horse away. So I went to the house donkeys in tow and called the owner. He came today to pick him up and I thought for sure someone was gonna get killed by my little stud. He went nuts when the man went to take the gelding home. He reared up and screamed and they went in circles for a while. He even mounted the gelding no biting was going on but he was TERRIBLE… Can you help me understand why this happened? What can I do to make him better around other horses. Is he really to old to geld? The vet said he is set in his ways and gelding will not change a thing. I ask because I rarely ride and a few weeks back I took him out and he was very hard to control when I went past these other horses while they were in their pasture (yup it scared me). Also, his behavior concerned me he was soaked and tired and well, so was I. Thanks for any horse information you can provide.
Signed — A person who probably should not own a horse but just could not keep driving by a horse on a chain.
Sharon Reeves SReeves337@elmore.rr.com
Tom BoyleWell Larry,
I had a man bring a horse over to me yesterday. Lets say the mans name is John. ( Cause it is.) John had a 12 yr old stud he could no longer take care of. The horse is a fine horse outta Endevor Doc of Guy Vernon Performance Horses. If you no how mean and nasty Endevor can be you know to keep an eye open for him. Endeavor won a bunch of Money with Guy but he also kicked him n the Boys a time or too and Bite the stuff out of Guy. I went to the Pasture to feed him last winter and the little turd popped me with both hind feet.( Keep in mind he is Gelded, So in walks John with one of Endevors Babbies and he still has his boy's attached to his back side. I asked John why he had not gelded him. John stated because he was a perfect gentleman,( Keep in mind John was trying to fin the stud a home.)I looked at this horse and thought to my self….Self this Stud is gonna try to get ya. Self answered with I know, And I am not gonna let this thing put me in the hospital.. Anyway, I penned the horse and promised John I would take good care of him and keep him all Boy.( I lied to John so he would not worry and called Doc to see how much it was gonna cost to take the stud down and have him de Jeweled.
Turns out Doc could not get to it for a month as its really busy right now and he lost a vet that moved out of State. So, here I am knowing that this horse had won some reining s and thinking well I just need to ride him with the Boys attached .To tell ya the truth I just wanted to see if this older horse still had some savey.
Si I go to the pen and see that sneaky eye on him again. I knew he was playing poker . I called him over to the fence patted him form a safe distance. Talked nice to him and slipped on a halter.
I opened the gate making careful I was not in the way. I pulled the raskall out of the pen and walked him up into the barn. Thats when the fun started as my Gunner Mare who is a VIXON and a Hussie turned her tale and winked at him. He let our a shrill and the two stud behind's behind me in the stalls urged him on . I hit him with a stick and yanked on the stud chain and quickly got his attention and moved away from the HO BAG that started the ruckus. Got him to the saddling area . There was another mare in a stall near by so I thought to myself. Hes just going to have to get use to being back around girls.
So, I grabed the brush and that went well, Making sure I stayed right up againt him so he could no kick me. All the time seeing that eye track me are the mare he was thinking about. I knew he was looking for a opportunistic time to clobber me, Git the pad and the saddle on making sure I stayed really close. And thought maybe he aint that studdy and its all me. Wrong thought. I turned to get the bit and bridle and out of the corner of my eye I saw him move. I moved to the right just as his back to hooves went to where I was gonna be .
I am greatful for and grand father that reminded me time and time again to never trust a stud not to be all boy. And to never , ever trust them. I almost got kicked in the head yesterday. Almost only counts with horse shoes and hand granades, Grand Dad is long gone about 14 years now. But I am sure glad I can still here him talking.
I rode the crud out of that white bastard yesterday. He was really nice to ride. Glad I was able to step up on him.
People who do not understand stud should never be around them. They can and will hurt you. There is a fine line on how to treat them. You have to get there attention by whacking them with out making them mad. As well you have to constantly love on them and reward them for the right thing. I really feel sorry for my Wife. Glad I am here to tell you this story. This happened yesterday. Thanks Grand PA.
Tom Boyle
Elizabeth, CO
I needed to read this one Larry. I sure hope Doc gets to the Barn soon.
PS. I was up at the Walmart tonight and seen a horse trainer friend of mine. She rides over at the barn as well. She looked at me and said. Did you take that Stud of John's? I laughed and said" yep ,and hes getting cut." To which my friend responded."I remember when that horse mauled John at a show and put him in the hospital. I just laughed and said, Really Johm told me he as meek as a lamb…We both got a good laugh.
Ronnie WellsI had a "breaking" book about 25 years ago, long before I got into what I'm into now and with all the natural horsemanship stuff I am fortunate enough to view.
I was breaking two two year old mares that a friend of mine had. I only wanted to ride a horse!!!! But, he gave me this small book and said that if I followed what the book said, I'd be on the horses within a couple of days. Neither of them had ever had a halter on them. It all worked exactly as the book said. Of course, they were mares.
Point being, one of the things the book said do was to tie a horse to a fence post and leave it there, when the horse didn't want to cooperate. A couple of times, one of them just refused to do anything she had been taught the day before. So, like a child with their nose in the circle on the wall or like being sat in a corner, they were tied up (with no space to do anything but look at the post). Every time I returned to work with them, they seemed eager to please.
By the way, Deck Of Stars was the house stud and attraction.
LaurenHi Larry!
Im only 16 and just got a Thoroughbred stallion thats barely 2years old and about 15.2hnds I dont know if you ever heard of his dad whos Wagon Limit(Look up his 1998 gold cup race) I only had one stallion and Im gonna get this one cut pretty soon but ive barely had him 7hrs and he already pawed me!!(Just my luck hah) Do you know any way I cant get him to know Im in charge?? Im only 5'5" and 115 lbs and this horse is so much bigger than me and he knows it.
shawn mckibbinHi Larry, great article. One that really needed written. I have seen many people injured by stallions. I have owned several stallions over the years and knock on wood have yet to have an incident, but I don't take no shit. I don't abuse them, but I do demand respect, I constantly keep them in check, And I agree a tired horse is easier to get along with and wet blankets are what most horses need. I don't know a horse out there that couldn't use a few more wet blankets and stallions even more so, but it also amazes me the people that love their stallions, but disposition is something passed on, and if I get a baby with attitude he becomes a gelding and I look at my stallion a little closer, not always the case, but evaluation on temperment should be in decision
BeckyGood comments about owning a stud. The worst thing you can do is not give them a job. I have had 3 of my own over the past 30 years, and would never consider keeping one intact unless it had a good disposition. Even the quiet ones can hurt you in an instant. I narrowly escaped losing an eye, merely from my horse swinging his head towards me in response to another horse neighing. I had a leadshank with chain on him, and was opening a gate to lead him through, and he caught me with the snap right in the corner of the eye, which took 5 stitches to repair.
CarynI took my green 7-Year old stallion to another ranch rodeo last week to get used to commotion. He was "socialized" by 1400# mares on the ranch where he was raised, so it was very interesting to watch him tippy-toe around the mares at the rodes, particularly the snarly ones. He's also very quiet and I don't think anyone would think he's a stallion except for his jaws and musculature. He has a different personality if turned out with a band of mares and last year he tore down gates & fences to get at another stallion's mares (who wanted him instead of the other stallion). Then he got stuck in a fence for 4 days (jumped 2, caught 1) back at his ranch with no water or food in 100 degrees. He lost 250 # yet pulled through. I have him now and think he enjoys having a job hope he continues to behave like a model citizen so folks can see that some stallions are ok and should be judged case-by-case. I got him in spite of being a stallion, not because he was one – only after I saw his kind eye. Be careful, most are not like mine…and I always have my eye on him…just in case.
Randy NawrotHi Larry, just wanted to say I've got some of your dvd's and I must say they are the most informative and easy to understand. There are lots of little things you do, like checking up the horse when you're trying to talk on the video that speaks volumes. To many people would let the little things like that go and then complain about how after a bit they can't get their horse to stand still. That stud story was excellent. I had the fear of god put into me a couple of years ago by one. First off a little background, I'm ranch raised, been around horses all my life. Dad always said to me and my brother when we were out riding to stay away from the studs and their mares. We usually had a couple of studs running out with mares but we always were pretty well mounted and thought that we could out run the stud. Yeah, right up until the day we saw the Cylde stud run down gelding that was a pretty good horse. That was 30 years ago. So as the story goes, yup I should have known better. So as I said a couple of years ago myself and a couple of friends where out checking some grassers on a 320 acre pasture and out in this pasture was a quarter horse stud and some mares and colts. We had come across the stud a couple of times and when he would come towards us we would just hollar and move towards him and he would retreat back to his mares. We were just going to head in when we saw the stud and his mares. They were on top of a hill about 3/4 of a mile away. He gathered them up and they disappeared over the top, a few seconds later that stud came back over the top and he was really moving. Now my gelding was 16 hh and a pretty handy horse but he was aways kinda dominant and when the stud approached us before I kinda thought he was looking at my gelding but my buddys said I was just being paranoid. He was really closing in on us, I told the guys I'm pretty sure he's heading for my horse so they got in front of me about 3 ft apart and got there ropes down. Well, he blasted between them and before I knew it us all over my horse. I was hitting the stud in the face with my rope but I may as well been using feather duster for all the good it was doing. I tryed to take off but the stud was everywhere and my horse was bucking and kicking just trying to get the stud off him. I was yelling at my buddy's to get a rope on him, they are both excellent ropers but were both riding young green horses that really didn't want to get to close to the stud. I decided to bail but the saddle I was using wasn't mine. I was trying it out for my daughter so it was a little small for me and I had I hard time bailing when I did come out I landed hard on my shoulder, my horse went about 40ft and then started to come back towards me I was kinda shookup but I figured this might not be the place to standing around so I headed out with my horse following me and the stud all over him. About then one of the guys got a rope on the studs front leg and got him pulled up. I gathered my horse and headed back to the corral while they held the stud. They tried to heel him to get the rope off but couldn't so they eventually turned him loose with the rope which the owner of the horse found in the pasture the next day. Back at corral I took inventory. Horse 38 bites. Rider missing some fringe off chinks and pant leg torn from knee to ankle. Saddle missing a set of strings teeth marks on one fender and on both sides of skirt plus back of cantle. This was probably the scariest thing that's ever happened to me horseback. Even now when a horse lopes up behind my horse he pretty nervous until he sees what it is and whenever I hear a stud squeal he definately has my attention now. As it happens the saddle I was trying out also owned the stud, he was quite surprised when I brought it back in the condition it was in. I didn't buy it. Hope this comment wasn't to long and keep up the great work you're doing with these videos because there just aren't enough trainers telling it like it should be told. Take care Randy
Doug PA friend of mine here in Ontario was at a well know trainers in Texas and witnessed
a snotty and quite aggressive colt who had been giving her trouble lead out to the mares paddock, tied to a tree and have molasses poured over his back for all the mares to lick. After about 5 or 6 hours of this humiliation, the colt came back to the barn really humbled and quite willing to get back to being trained.
LarryTrocha
N. DobsonHi Larry
Thanks for the article.
I have a young Quarter Horse colt and no I have never raised a stallion before.
I am seriously considering keeping him whole as he presents himself as a good stud prospect given the expert trainer comments that I have received.
Your article is a good wake up call for me so thanks.
My colt is 16 months old and at the moment the testosterone hasn't seemed to have kicked in yet.
We have shown him lightly where he has received awards, he is also positively handled by my wife and I. He responds very well but I am loathed to get him cut yet until he matures some more and I can get a better idea of how his nature and confirmation really turn out.
I feel confident to handle him but if it comes down to risk to visitors or others not familiar with him then that is a whole different thing.
My question is when would you consider the best or the latest time to get a stud cut?
Looking forward to your reply.
Regards
Neil
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