STOCKYARD
HORSE  DISCUSSION FORUMS

sparkie

can anyone give me some advice..... I am looking at getting a little colt very well bred good bloodlines. i want to keep him for breeding and i am confident i can handle him and educate this little guy but i dont know how to go about the whole servicing thing ahh... obvisouly i will have to have tall hot wire fences.... keep him away from others (i shouldnt have to keep him away from other should i?) mares in season yes? i am very new at this and very willing to take this on just dont want to get it wrong need to suss out my options

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*No one becomes perfect ... but some become great*

Arnie

What breed???
Why do you want to breed?
Do you have your own property?
Have you got the experience behind you to handle a colt or stallion?

Just a few minor questions.
There's nothing wrong about starting out. I have limited experience handling colts and stallions but I have an arabian colt that I will use to breed from but I have my conditions:

He will have to earn the right to keep his rocks.
He will be socialised (showed) as much as possible to help insure he stays a safe stallion.
He is handled almost daily and up to date with his training.
I will not use him unless he is on the same property as us.
If he hits 3-4 and we don't have him on a property then we will geld him.
He must do well at shows and prove himself against the best.
If he EVER is aggressive then off come his rocks!

Thats just my checklist. A few of them have been knocked out now we're moving onto the farm but he still has yet to prove he'll be a good stallion. I believe he's lovely in everyway and he's what "I" want and I do have 'types' I want to breed but we'll see. I am in no hurry to breed at all so will not rush into the decision.
Owning a colt / stallion takes alot of work.
We're in the middle of building his paddock. Now the girls paddock was easy to throw up but we've done so much designing and spent hundreds more $$$ on his paddock to ensure its fit and safe enough to keep a stallion in.

Just a few things to think about...

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***IF YOU CAN LAUGH ABOUT IT LATER THEN YOU CAN LAUGH ABOUT IT NOW!***

sparkie

little stock horse very good lines he will easily earn his keep. yeh i am capable to handle a stallion. i dont think i waould 'show' him i want to use him as aperformance horse mainly show jumping and dressage. i was thinking of a solar powered elect fence fairly high. i wont have him stay on another property due to the fact of unwanted mares drifting into his paddock etc. what about artificial insamination (probly spelt it wrong)? what is the go with that now days?

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*No one becomes perfect ... but some become great*

Arnie

I was thinking solar power or my battery powered electric fence system but decided against it. I want something with a good kick for just incase so bought a mains powered one which I think is cheaper then battery or solar power anyway! (I bought a 10km Gallahger for about $200).

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***IF YOU CAN LAUGH ABOUT IT LATER THEN YOU CAN LAUGH ABOUT IT NOW!***

deschuur

He may have good bloodlines but that does not mean he will be a good breeding stallion. How old is he at the moment? Do as much handling as you can even if you have only 10 mins to spare on that day(life can sometimes get in the way) make those 10 mins count! If you can get put him in as a youngster with mares to teach him some ettiquette that only mares are good at teaching stallions and also a gelding to keep him company will make for a very happy stallion

I like stallions, actually horses in general, to have fence respect! If Frits tested fences he will find himself in a vet surgery and come out two stone lighter!

Also if you are under 18 you cannot handle a stallion in a public place.

Have lessons including groundwork ones - they are invaluable.

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...none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor.

sparkie

i wouldlove mains power but i have no power on the property i am on now it is also up for sale so i dont want to be going about doing anything to hard to pull down again i have got a good place to go to when they do sell but that probly wont sell for another 3years they asking too much typical shire. so i think solar is my best option as i dont have to recharge the battery all the time. do you know much about the process of artificail insamiation?

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*No one becomes perfect ... but some become great*

Rebecca

Maybe talk to Angela at Breakaway stud in Northam (they advertise on stockyard) - very knowledgable and she can probably give you advice and help in handling your own

QHfans Appy stallion is standing there this season and she will be handling him there with Angela helping

deschuur

If you want to go down the AI route you will have to have your stallions semen tested to see if it freezes or chills as not all stallions can do that. Also the process is $$$ and not always successful.

Good fencing and space between paddocks should stop mares from wandering in, although that is not always the case

I have 'sex' gear for Frits. This way he knows when that gear is on what kind of work he will be doing!

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...none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor.

sparkie

no problem with the handling side of things it is the breeding side of things i am uncertain with. breeding gear? I am only looking at him at the moment he has been in a paddock with the pregnant mares and foals they brought him in the other day for me to have a look and feet to be done and he had started already mounting these mares, he is only just a 1yo lovely natured horses i meet his dad doesnt get handle much mind you and he is cool and calm. as i understand they are not ment to know what to do until they hit 2 1/2years is that right? not the case with this guy early bloomer. didnt know that about the AI.

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*No one becomes perfect ... but some become great*

deschuur

Frits breeding gear is a bull bit (so different from his riding/showing bit that he understands what it is for), a good quality webbing halter (his every day ones are PVC or rope halters), piece of polly pipe (just incase lol) and a nice long lead rope to give him space. This was advice given to me by a breeder in UK.

Another thing about AI is you have to teach the stallion to mount a dummy mare and also collect the swimmers, so you will need help with handling unless you are an octopus lol. Although there are vets and studs that offer this service.

Colts as yearlings can do the deed but mainly they are just testing the theory. However if he is penetrating mares then this could be unhealthy and spread STDs. Pregnant mares as a general rule are great to put colts in with as they generally don't allow for such shanannigans! However some mares are just tarts

There are some good books about breeding available I recommend that you get a few copies so that you can get as much info as you can

Hopefully some more experienced stallion owners will be on soon and give you much more info

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...none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor.