STALLION MANAGEMENT

Dr. Jack Sales, DVM

Lesson One

Stallion Historical and Modern Day Behavioral Patterns

One of the most important aspects involved in successful “Stallion Management” is the ability to understand and apply knowledge learned about the normal and natural behavioral characteristics of the stallion. In order to understand, and then implement that knowledge, it is important to study and understand the expected behavior of the stallion in the wild and then attempt to relate it to the stallion we might find as a prospect for a breeding program.

Obviously, the stallion in the wild that ends up being the dominant stallion with a harem of mares is selected by an evolutionary process that has been refined over the centuries. This process selects the most virile, masculine, stallion with the greatest potential for propagating the species. In today’s world, the process of selection is much different; we choose or select the breeding stallion based on successful athletic accomplishments such as racing, cutting, jumping, reining, or other desirable qualities in the show ring.

Would this have been the same individual as would have been selected by nature? Very unlikely. And yet, there may be many stallion behavioral characteristics that these two individuals have in common.

First of all you must understand that breeding stallions (dominant herd or harem stallions) were selected over many centuries, for aggression, speed, stamina, strength, libido, and overall dominant behavioral characteristics within a herd, especially among their peers. Discipline and domination by human masters is not easily accepted by this type of personality. As an individual responsible for the successful management of a breeding stallion on today’s modern breeding farms, this can be a very difficult and challenging task and also sometimes a very dangerous task.

Many stories and antidotes abound in the horse breeding industry regarding killer or rouge stallions. When such stallions are found to be an important part of the overall success of a particular breeding operation it is because they have achieved status as a valuable breeding stallion, not because of his overall good manners. The status of such stallions is based on superior athletic accomplishments or superior pedigree.

It may very well be your responsibility to modify those dangerous behavior patterns in such a way that you can successfully and safely maximize this stallion’s ability to produce healthy, live foals.

On the other hand, because of the way breeding stallions are selected in today’s horse industry, you may experience the opposite end of the spectrum, a non-aggressive, shy breeder with little or no natural libido. You will encounter breeding stallions in the industry on all parts of the behavioral spectrum from completely out of control in the breeding shed, to ones that have little of no interest in the receptive mare.

Another factor that you need to keep in mind if you find yourself in a position where you are responsible for managing a successful equine breeding operation is the fact that many stallions are made bad or rouge by inexperienced handlers. If a difficult stallion is not handled properly, bad habits and fearful or aggressive behavior can be easily exacerbated and become a near permanent part of the stallion’s personality. In these situations, only an expert stallion manager or equine behavioral professional would need to be depended upon to try and correct the situation. When we talk about a stallion behavioral professional we would rarely be talking about an “intellectual” type, but someone who has a great amount of “real-world” experience in the proper handling of the breeding stallion.

When dealing with the average stallion there are a few things that you should keep in mind. These are rules of thumb that most successful trainers would probably agree on regarding dealing with a stallion, whether it is a breeding stallion or a stallion in performance training.

RULE ONE:

Never Trust a Stallion

Many who have been around horses for a significant amount of time can probably name a stallion or have heard a story about a stallion that has been a perfect gentleman his entire life. "Excellent disposition” or “bomb proof” is usually one of their advertised claims to fame. It is still unwise to completely trust them in all situations. When something pulls a stallion's primordial trigger, he tends to forget his humanization. How fast he reverts depends on his training. When dealing with a stallion, remember to always be on guard and “never trust a stallion”

To train and maintain discipline over a stallion, you have to convince him you are more powerful than he is. There are many forms of restraints available, but when it comes right down to it, a stallion is only going to respect the person who is more dominant than he. That is the law of nature. Keeping a stallion under control often involves the use of restraint devices that do not cause pain unless they are implemented. The most commonly used form is the use of a chain (stallion) shank attached to the sturdy halter by way of the chain being over the nose or in the mouth or possibly above the upper gum (lip chain). None of these techniques are cruel, but can easily and quickly be put into play by the stallion handler when the Stallion begins to act up.

Chain over Nose

Chain through Mouth

Chain under Chin

Lip Chain

A common method of stallion control involves a lot of beating and banging. Inflicting pain can give you control over his body, but a stallion can never be dominated unless you gain his respect. A stallion respects power, aggression, stamina, and cunning in a fight. Every day can be a fight with a stallion to see who rules, which leads to rule number two:

RULE TWO:

Always Be Alert and Focused When Handling a Stallion

Whenever in the presence of a stallion, be at your sharpest. Even the nicest of stallions is trying to play some kind of mind game with you to gain a little dominance. A stallion must have a very clear idea of exactly what he may or may not do.

Draw an “acceptable behavior line“ in your mind, and when (not “if”….he will test you) he crosses the line immediately get his attention by way of a quick snatching of the lead rope to let him know his behavior is not acceptable. You must establish that you are in control.

The most prevalent bad habit of stallions is biting. A well-trained stallion has definitely had the fire knocked out of him for nipping. He knows it is unacceptable behavior. But do you let him rub his muzzle on you? Was it your idea or his? Unless the stallion clearly understands the answer to this question, he perceives this behavior as a little way to cheat on your rules - to gain a little dominance.

Horse Biting in the Wild

This is the game stallions play. The variations on the basic theme are endless. There is nothing unusual or aberrant about it. A stallion constantly seeks to control his environment---to take charge of a herd. As long as the horse is consistently dominated, the stallion can live in harmony with his human companions. The trouble begins when the stallion controls the situation part of the time or, heaven forbid, all of the time, which leads to the third rule, which should be followed to the letter:

RULE THREE:

WHEN IT IS TIME TO DISCIPLINE A STALLION BE QUICK, DIRECT AND NON-ABUSIVE

Black is black. Wrong is wrong. Once a stallion understands what he can and can't do, then discipline and, if necessary, appropriate punishment is an integral part of keeping the horse under control.

I’m not suggesting you beat a stallion. The key to gaining his respect lies in his initial training….he stallion must understand what he can and can't do. Like all horses, stallions are not born knowing human etiquette. They must be taught. Fortunately, the herd gives us a hand. A horse learns to expect retaliation if he threatens another animal. Biting, kicking, and other aggressive gestures may bring on war in the pasture----in your barn, the same laws should apply. You should demand respect from a stallion and in turn, never take him for granted. Treat him as if you are the herd leader and he is a younger male. You will allow him to breed with mares in your band as long as he obeys your rules.

This attitude makes sense to stallions. In the wild, young stallions are subordinate to the breeding males and have a hierarchy within their own male groups. Assuming this position with young two- and three-year-old stallions entering the breeding shed for the first time is relatively easy, as they usually are not willing to commit to an all-out war for domination of the herd.

As you might expect, older and more experienced breeding stallions that have not been taught manners are going to put up a good fight to maintain control in the breeding shed. Their evolutionary history dictates they should have to fight for breeding rights. Still, most stallions know when the battle is lost and will accept domination by humans who allow them to cover mares.

This is the raw perception of life for the rogue stallion: dominate or be dominated.

Is it possible we are breeding too much aggression into our stallions? I don't believe so. Most stallions are nice horses that would rather not hurt anyone. For the 1 percent with deserved reputations for being rogues, I believe we are not necessarily looking at a problem of too much aggression, but of too little horsemanship. Some of the most successful Thoroughbred breeding stallions in the nineteenth century had reputations for being a bit roguish. The English stallion of the late eighteenth century, St. Simon, founded a dynasty that today belongs to the clan of Princequillo. The family of Fair Play, his sire Hastings, and many of his sons were also known for their tempers. The great energy of Native Dancer was also passed down to many of his sons, who were considered cantankerous to handle. It would be hard to imagine the modern-day Thoroughbred without the influence of these horses because it takes aggression to win races. In fact, it takes aggression to do most of the high-energy competitive events: racing, cutting, reigning, jumping, and endurance.

I believe what we need is not less aggressive stallions, but more people capable of understanding the uniqueness of the stallion in the breeding shed. A good stallion handler does not walk in off the street. It takes years of experience to understand the nature of the beast. To be successful handling stallions in the breeding shed you must be capable of projecting the power and domination necessary to control a fourteen-hundred-pound breeding machine responding to his hormonal urge to breed.

Click Here To View a Power Point Presentation about The Stallion

Assignment:

Please answer the following questions and send your essay to Dr. Sales at jsales@horsecoursesonline.com

Be sure to include your full name, lesson number and email address on all work.

1. What is your experience with stallions?

2. What perceived notions or feelings do you have about how to deal with stallions?

3. Have you ever been around a rogue stallion?

4. Have you, or someone you know, ever been hurt by a stallion?

5. Are you currently involved with a breeding stallion?

6. Do a quick computer search on behavior modification of a domestic animal and write a couple of paragraphs explaining how some of these techniques could be used successfully in “stallion management“.