Calming a yearling ungelded Miniature Colt?

Question

Alright so I have a miniature yearling colt whom I wish to not geld because of his lineage and the color he could throw but I have been having a problem with him. He's been charging at me, Rearing, kicking out with his forelegs, and biting me and the more I try to stop him from doing it, the more agressive he gets. Is there anything that I can do that will diminish this? I know it won't be rid of competely especially with the fact of the mare pastured next to him.

Answer 1

He sounds like a normal young colt gelding him may not make him better he should grow through and be fine when he is older just be Patin and keep on him as he may be the type of horse that will aways test you know matter what you do.

Answer 2

Hey

Your boy has obviously got something very good from which you really want to keep him a stallion.

If I were you I would get him gelded but freeze the sperm so it is artificial insemination (AI) so you still can breed from him but he is a gelding and you don't have to worry about him being with mares.  That would be my choice and do it to a good mare and if you get a colt from day one handle him.

Or other option.

Get him professionally handled.

Also this could be just a cheeky pony thing because when I have trained ponies on rear occasions they have been stupid and do that stuff.

Answer 3

I have 2 miniature stallions and they are the sweetest most gentle horses you would ever want to be around.I say keep him a stud and work with him.you could try spraying him with a water hose when he charges you,but don't shy away from him.stand your ground till he comes up properly and then reward him.People are to quick to want to seperate or isolate their stallions which tends to make their behavior get worse.my stallions live all together with five mares and a foal and they all get along and are  a well balanced herd.

Answer 4

You need to remove him from other horses ESPECIALLY mares. If your not formillar with breeding i would suggest u sell him or geld him. He may be small but can hurt you just as easily. IF his temperment is already like this why would u wanna breed him an pass it on to the offspring?

Since he is a stud he has alot mroe stress that he would if he was gelded. Stallions require alot of special handling big or small. Id use a chain on him an work with him n his manners but if he can see other horses its a waste of time.

Answer 5

Lineage and color is no reason to keep him a stud. Conformation, disposition, papers and a show record are what makes a stallion worthy. If you don't know how to train a horse to mind his manners you certainly shouldn't be handling a stallion.

Obviously you don't know how to handle a misbehaving horse or you wouldn't have posted. And if you can't even spell confOrmation, how do you know what's good and what's bad?

Answer 6

For Ethical resons he should be gelded.  Simply put he does not have the temperment of stud material.  It is completely unethical to keep this animal as a stud and breed him.

Breeding him in any way passes on the genes for temperment as well.  Simply put it is such unethical breeders that produce horses that can not be handled.  

It does not matter that your horse is a mini either, since many times it is kids that mini's are gotten for.

Breed for temperament first, second, color third, and lineage last.

It really doesn't matter why he deliberately charges a human.  The fact that he does is enough to determine that he is not stud material.  He is not now nor will he ever be decent material simply because a good stud does not turn mean.  If the stud does then he is not a good stud.

BTW that is the same order of importance that should be used when looking into buying a horse.

Answer 7

1.) Being pastured next to a mare might make him "sexually frustrated". Try moving him to a different pasture. Prefferably one with an older gelding that won't tolerate his behavior and will "put him in his place" in a way that your horse will understand.

2.) Take a look at what you're doing about his behavior problems. Yes, it's clear that you love him and want the best for him; but sometimes as humans we can convey confusing messages to horses. When the horses don't do what we ask, we get frustrated, which confuses the horses more.

3.) If he doesn't do much other than graze in a pasture all day, try getting him involved in something. Even though you can't ride him, it doesn't mean he's only good for breeding. Some people train minis to be assistants for disabled people. I'm sure with enough training and patience, you could probably teach this guy to help you out on the farm (pulling a small hay cart, etc.).

Right now, he's being a young horse. You can't just expect him to know that you wish he'd be good-natured. If you need to, find a decent trainer.

Answer 8

Sorry, but I agree with Jeff and arabianhorses on this one...temperament is a major issue when you breed.  You don't do the world or the horses you breed any favors by genetically transmitting a bad temperament..and we know that temperament is genetically transmitted.  It does no good to save sperm to artificially inseminate...you're still breeding a horse that shouldn't be bred.

Answer 9

You can try calming herbs to help take the edge off while you work with him or find a trainer.  Drs. Foster and Smith have some listed on their site

Answer 10

If he has always been like this then I am with Jeff Sadler on this one, geld him.  Thank god he is a mini he would of killed you by now.  He still can hurt you pretty good.  There is very few stallions, mares that should be bred.  There is alot more into breeding horses then color and lineage.  Temperament is a big one.  If you are going to keep him, definitely get some professional help.  He has no ground manners and does not respect you or your space at all.  I hope he has had his rabies shot since he is biting you.  If you want to breed sounds like he will be an aggressive breeder and could hurt the mares or kill them.  You might plan on using the artificial way if you plan on keeping him a stallion.

Answer 11

First off, I'd probably move him away from the mare unless you want him to attempt to get through the fence and breed early in life.  As far as the aggressiveness, you might want to get a professional trainer in to work with him.  I tend to stay away from horses that come at me like that.

Answer 12

Hi

Your colt sound extremely spirited, if you posted a picture i could give you a rough idea of his temperament. He could just be threatened or scared. To calm him down, try tying him up and massaging some Bach flower remedies onto him also drop some into his water and food. These remedies are a food and drug and cannot be over dosed as you can use as much as you wan when you want! Don't worry about it i have dealt with yearlings and horses etc like this before. It'll be fine. Also try lunging and then a joining up process to bond with the foal. If you want to try this look it up or just ask and i will send a response!

Good Luck and you'll find the remedies on the Internet!!

Alice L

Answer 13

I have a mini stallion too. We got him at 10 months old and apart from the odd nip here and there trying to find his place in the "herd" he had a lovely nature. 2-3 months or so later when his balls dropped he was a pony from h**l!! I wrote to a breeder and was told that he needs to learn some respect. Out went my soft attitude towards him and in came the whip!! I never struck him but the noise of it flying through the air when he was charging at me was enough to get him to back off.  Even waving his rope halter fast through the air so it makes that hissing type noise sorted him out. The breeder said respect starts with feed time which was when my mini was most difficult. Now he isnt allowed near his feed dish until he has presented his head to me for a pat. There is an excellent video of it on you tube. The guy i wrote to is called Mr horse problems and although he deals with large horses he said to me a horse is a horse no matter the size. Type in horseproblems australia in google and you should get his website.  The guy is a champ and full of honest information with no bullshit thrown in. He has lots of good tips. Anyway a couple of months of "tough love" and my mini is back to knowing where his place is in our herd.  He isnt gelded and i cant see any reason why he should be (at this stage anyway) but he isnt around other horses and is a pet in my large backyard. While he is supervised my kids play with him and my 2 year old rides him. I suggest give him some time and work with him. THEN if all else fails maybe think about the gelding.

Answer 14

I agree w Jeff & Arabianhorses.  If the temperment's not there, I don't care if he's the picture of perfection of his breed - I'd geld him [and have done so in my own horses].

A couple of options to get him to grow out of it are: work him hard every day [lunge, round pen, etc], handle him every day.  Expect to take control of the situation quickly and stay in control.  Carry a whip with you - when he charges, snap it at him and chase him off.  Out his halter on him and work him.  If he's misbehaving, take a cue from older mares - a young unruly colt will be kicked, bitten and driven out of the herd. To expect not to discipline him is going to cause greater problems.  You're going to have to prove that you're the head of the herd [did you know it's a dominate mare that leads a herd?]

Also, put him in with an older experienced mare [not to breed] - she will help teach him manners.  It sounds to me like he's been allowed to be spoiled rotten.  Until you're on top of this, please don't breed him.  If it's just a matter of a spoiled kid, then you can fix it - but if it's his temperment - geld him.  

Ultimately, if you don't think you can handle him or you're too afraid to work him - bring in a professional trainer.

Answer 15

Some colts are just more obnoxious than others.  I have seen many that were exactly what you are describing who's temperaments were actually quite agreeable and compliant with training.

At this stage having him next to the mare is keeping his hormones in an uproar. If you can, change that situation until you get a handle on this colt.  Have one out, one in if necessary.

Stall this colt. Make him rely on you for everything. No grain at this time. Work with him on leading, handling, moving around you, feet etc. in a quiet, undistracted area - I suggest you start in the stall and move to the outside as he progresses.  Have a helper near when you work him for safety reasons. Quit on the good notes.

If this fails and a professional evaluates him as too nasty , then castrate him.  Look for another colt with a nice temperament with similar bloodlines.

Good Luck

EDIT:  As a yearling, he is not a stallion.  

He has tuned you out.  You need to get him paying attention and focusing on you.  

As I said, work with him for short periods several times a day in a quiet area. Leave a breakaway halter on him if you have to for the time being. Put a regular halter over that when you work with him.

Get his mind and you have the horse.

Answer 16

Be consistent. Quick punishments and quick praise. Pick something to work on a night, walking beside you, brushing and so on. Remove all distractions! That includes food and water. Become his life! Be willing to spend 12 hours with him until he does the required task for the day! The more he realizes that he can't win the less he will try and fight you. Remember he is a small animal which makes him more a fighter because that is how it works in nature. He would have to fight for everything in a herd. He needs to learn that you are the lead horse in your little herd.

And please, until you get his aggressive behaviour under control, DO NOT BREED HIM! It could really go bad from there! I hope this helps.

PS I broke kids ponies for 5 years, also did a few re trainings. One of a mini that was biting his owner in the chest and shaking her like a dog. Just thought you might need some back story on what advice I have given you.