Proud cut gelding or just being naughty?

Question

About 2 months ago we bought a little 6 year old pony gelding for my 8 year old daughter. He's been pretty good for us until my two mares came into heat. He squeals, kicks, arches his neck and tries to mount them in the pasture. He also urinates over their urine. He gets upset when we take the mares out to ride them even though my older gelding is still with him.

Also, when he first got him he was the low man in the pecking order but now he's pushing the mares around and also trying to kick and push around my older "herd boss" gelding.

So, I'm wondering if he could possibly be proud cut and if there's anything to do to help him get over this or if some geldings are just like that.

We're debating wether to sell him or not so any input is greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

My girlfriend had a pony....one t******e.

Now WHAT vet is going to leave a t******e on purpose?!!!

He was just as you explained of yours.  Absolutely horrible.

Do you think that maybe they gelded this little pony recently?  I mean like within the past year and if he had bred before he was gelded?  That may have a huge impact on his behavior now.

Personally...I'd sell.  He's really disrupting the harmony and may cause a serious injury while out on the trail or a show.

My gelding still acts out at times with stallion behavior.  He snakes his neck, herds the mares, he's ruler and king of his domain.  He nuzzles and loves on the mares but has NEVER tried to mount them.  He moves up to them like he's going to but hasn't.

He does herd them though.  

He was gelded late.

Answer 2

He sounds pretty proud cut to me. Or he may have a condition that only one of his Testicals dropped. Have your vet check for that.

  But if hes not being affected on how he rides and is safe to handle....then why sell?

Answer 3

Your first mistake was to buy a pony. Many people don't realize this, but ponies are a one owner animal. Your pony is proud cut. More and likely he was the "big" horse where he was at. Your best bet is to get rid of the pony and get your daughter a quarter pony.

Answer 4

Its possible that the gelding didn't go properly, but I find it more likely that your guy is just feeling like stud.  My mare convinces my geldings to do all kinds of stud behaviors (peeing all over, rubbing her back with their necks, arched necks, up turned lips, and so on....)  Your guy is probably also jelous of the gelding still in the feild with "his girls".  Your pony would be trying to establish his harem of girls, and another guy out there might try to steal them from him.  If he is still fine to ride, then I might not sell him.  If the pasture behavior makes you crazy then you could divide the boys from the girls and that should mellow out the issues in the long run. (short run he's going to scream bloody murder.)

Answer 5

Being proud cut is a possibility - but I have seen several gelding that are not proud cut that behave this way.

You can have your veterinarian do a testerone test on him to see if he is proud cut of cryptorchid.

If he's great under saddle it might end up being okay - you might have to seperate home into a different pen.  Otherwise, they usually get better after a few heat cycles and after everyone has their own place in the herd (takes several months).

If he's not that spectacular under saddle and your daughter isn't totally head over heals for him then I'd say sell him.  The horse market is pretty bad right now and you can get a nice horse/pony for a really low price right now.

Best wishes!

Answer 6

if he's half proud you could try adding a b-1/thianine supplement to his feed. sometimes this can have a bit of a calming effect on a horse. give it about a month. if that doesn't work and you don't want to sell him you can ask you vet for something to give him but that can get pricey and it is long term. other than being half proud, his other problem is that he is a pony. most ponies have a bossy/pushy attitude already, i think they have a form of short man's syndrome :). if you really aren't happy with how things are going i would definitely sell him and get a horse that is on the smaller side, horses usually have a much better mindset than ponies. good luck :)

Answer 7

I have a proud cut quarter/thouroughbred and he acts the same way  just his nature...  my horse is 30 we retired him from everything, he just is there eating and he acts like his a 3 year old stud  its funny... its normal girl

Answer 8

How long ago was he gelded?  Most horses within a year or so of being gelded (some horses are gelded later in life and therefore remain "studly") will remain and act like a stud until they get their "last shot" out.

My friend has a gelding that LOVES ponies and will act almost the same way if a pony even comes near him (whether it be a gelding or mare!).

If he is fine under saddle then there shouldn't be too much of a reason to sell him.

Answer 9

A male horse's adrenal gland can continue to produce extra testosterone long after the horse is gelded.  Some horses have too much of this hormone and act studdish.  If you can't determine the answer, try calling a vet and asking some questions.