This guy who's 8 was gelded first of Nov. and l turned him out with the mares last weekend...almost a week later the mares are still beating up on him running him off etc and don't let him eat from there round bale. They know him he knows them they have been across the fence from him for the past 6 years itching and grooming. But now that he's amoung them they've decided he's the enemy. Any time frame for him to fit in??? Most of the mares are bred and he's not making any attempt to ride anyone as far as l know. He's the first older stallion who's been gelded here so really aren't sure how these things work or how long things take before all's settled..
gelding problem
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My advice would be to take a mare or 2 and let him be with them then slowly introduce the rest of them into the mix. I'm guessing that the mares are just putting him in his place and developing a new pecking order but I'd be cautious and just slowly introduce the mares to him.
MiLo Minis
Well-Known Member
An eight year old stallion if he has been used for breeding in the past will not change his behaviours any time soon if ever. The mares don't know he has been gelded. I agree with FoRebel - the girls are just putting him in his place as he is a recent herd member whether they met him over the fence or not. As long as he is getting to eat and isn't being picked on too severely you just need to ride it out and let them sort it out as when introducing any new herd member. That is one of the biggest problem with feeding from round bales - you need to be careful to see that everyone is getting their fair share. You may need to put out a second bale.
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barnbum
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Oh jeepers--my vet said a min of 60 days before the new gelding could be with mares. I assume they're still able to impregnant the mares until then.
Like putting any new horse in with the herd, I'd put him with only a couple of horses first and let him establish his place....then add the others back in a couple at a time. Do use care and watch him closely for awhile, that's not long for an older stallion to forget old habits.
Jan
Jan
Sorry but if your mares aren't bred already - you stand a good chance of having really late foals next year. I would suggest the same, remove him from the herd and move him to another area with maybe some mares who are not at risk of getting preggers.
Minimor
Well-Known Member
I was always told to wait 6 weeks before putting a newly gelded stallion in with mares.
In any case, I will say that no matter how long he is gelded, your mares may beat up on him when he's put in with them--or at least for the first while. I've got mares & geldings in adjoining pastures, and they should all know each other well. If one of the geldings--and these are long-gelded now--gets into the mare's pasture (it's happened a couple times when someone knocks down a fence rail and then one of the boys crawls over the remaining rails) those girls put him in his place. They don't run him or go out of their way to beat him up, but there's no way that he'd be allowed to eat with them if they've got hay out there. The girls will be eating and the gelding is off a ways, watching them.
In any case, I will say that no matter how long he is gelded, your mares may beat up on him when he's put in with them--or at least for the first while. I've got mares & geldings in adjoining pastures, and they should all know each other well. If one of the geldings--and these are long-gelded now--gets into the mare's pasture (it's happened a couple times when someone knocks down a fence rail and then one of the boys crawls over the remaining rails) those girls put him in his place. They don't run him or go out of their way to beat him up, but there's no way that he'd be allowed to eat with them if they've got hay out there. The girls will be eating and the gelding is off a ways, watching them.
rabbitsfizz
Well-Known Member
There is a whole lot more to being a stallion than a set of Crown Jewels!!
If you really have to have him out with the mares (I do not ever run geldings with bred mares, myself) I would definitely do as has been suggested and bring a couple of mares into his filed first, let them settle, bring in a couple more, and so on.
When you put a horse into a settled territory with a herd, whoever that horse is, there is going to be trouble.
I also agree you have been a bit premature with the timing!
But, hey, what's done is done, I would now just let him get on with it and put a separate pile of hay for him, or bring him out altogether and try again later, bringing the mares to him this time.
If you really have to have him out with the mares (I do not ever run geldings with bred mares, myself) I would definitely do as has been suggested and bring a couple of mares into his filed first, let them settle, bring in a couple more, and so on.
When you put a horse into a settled territory with a herd, whoever that horse is, there is going to be trouble.
I also agree you have been a bit premature with the timing!
But, hey, what's done is done, I would now just let him get on with it and put a separate pile of hay for him, or bring him out altogether and try again later, bringing the mares to him this time.
Thanks for the answers. My vet said within a month there's no way he would have any sperm to breed anyone
l was just certain he wouldn't get picked on as much as he has the poor guy. l was putting out seperate big piles spaced pretty far apart there's more then an acre in back of the barn so he has feed he won't go hungury.. this morning he is standing around with some of them eating of the round bale so a good sign things are going to get better l hope. He's very layed back so he's going to have to get another set of balls and learn to take care of himself and find his place in the pecking order in there with those 19 bossy mares because he ain't coming out now that he's gelded...next time l would do it more slowly and for sure in the spring when they can all be out on pasture not confined to an acre.
S Bar P
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We gelded a 5 yr old breeding stallion and he never fell into place with any herd setting after that. He would push any mares and band them into the farthest corner of the pasture. He beat up on any geldings or young stallions. He got along with weanlings only because he didn't notice they were there, he just ran the fences watching the broodmares. After 2 1/2 years trying to give him time to adjust he has a new home at a facility where he doesn't have other minis to try and dominate. I would say you are lucky it is working as well as it has for you. We would have liked to keep this gelding but he was not happy.
rabbitsfizz
Well-Known Member
I would say with 20 horses on as small an area as you have, that alone could be the problem.
Sometimes horses just need space to get away!!
Sometimes horses just need space to get away!!
Ellen
Well-Known Member
Ok, first of all.....I don't think he bred any mares. It only takes two times for him to shoot blanks and if it is winter, the mares aren't in any how. But he probably had to sniff, so they ran him off. I swear I once took two mares. Bathed and clipped them and put them back in the stall together. They tried to beat the crap out of eachother. They acted like they didn't remember eachother. Mind you, they were born and raised together. The mares are simply being mares and letting him know he is no longer the man. As long as they are not being too dominant all should be well.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
tagalong
Well-Known Member
Please tell that to two mares here - they do not care that it is winter and cold - they are in full blown heat. And how do you measure "two times"?
And yes - some stallions never realize that they are now geldings.
Ellen
Well-Known Member
Well if you look at an ultrasound it is generally a false heat, the ovaries are dormant. Where are you located? She is in Albeta, New York.And if he was kept out a full month. Chances are slim to none. Now granted it CAN happen. But....she kept him out a month. Any vet will say two ejaculates, and they will shoot blanks. So yes, a chance she may have two bred mares, possible. Not probable.
And my geldings are seperate from mares, but she has limitted space. Mares and geldings can co-exist. I know he will always think he is a stallion, but why do we need to talk down to people when they ask us questions?
She followed her vets advice. And just wants our suggestions. If a breeding occurred it happened. I am sure she will follow her mares.
I just read a lot of not so nice comments and wanted to make her feel better.
And my geldings are seperate from mares, but she has limitted space. Mares and geldings can co-exist. I know he will always think he is a stallion, but why do we need to talk down to people when they ask us questions?
She followed her vets advice. And just wants our suggestions. If a breeding occurred it happened. I am sure she will follow her mares.
I just read a lot of not so nice comments and wanted to make her feel better.
afoulk
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I too gelded an older breeding stallion and it took quite a bit of time before he could be turned out with anyone. I was once told that 30 days plus a month for every year that he was used as a breeding stallion. That did figure pretty true for this guy. Geldings are pretty low on the totem pole so unless I have a large field they are in I do keep them separated.
Arlene
Arlene
Knighthawke
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I have had a few older stallions gelded and my vet is a board certified Theiogenolist which is a specialist for reproduction. I always thought you had to separate for 30 days. But he told me at least 8 weeks. He should be keep from mares because he could still inpregnate mares.
I turned my stallion out with the gelding band and with some younger stallions. I have about a 1/2 acre pasture for them and they all learned there place and this was early spring so mares were starting to come into heat but putting them with the geldings they learned a herd mentality very quickly and because the fresh gelded stallions were in with younger colts they taught them the ropes very well of what was ok and what was not going to be allowed.
Then after I did turn the stallions that were gelded out with the mares. They did somewhat put them in there place for a day or two. I had more fighting between the stallions that were gelded fighting. They finally figured out a pecking order between them and everything settled out.
I will commend you for gelding your horse there is alot of nice stallions but it is a much nicer life if they are not going to be used for breeding to geld them and give them another life. I do alot of gelding of stallions and make them driving horses and put them with my local 4H kids and they have such fun with them.
I turned my stallion out with the gelding band and with some younger stallions. I have about a 1/2 acre pasture for them and they all learned there place and this was early spring so mares were starting to come into heat but putting them with the geldings they learned a herd mentality very quickly and because the fresh gelded stallions were in with younger colts they taught them the ropes very well of what was ok and what was not going to be allowed.
Then after I did turn the stallions that were gelded out with the mares. They did somewhat put them in there place for a day or two. I had more fighting between the stallions that were gelded fighting. They finally figured out a pecking order between them and everything settled out.
I will commend you for gelding your horse there is alot of nice stallions but it is a much nicer life if they are not going to be used for breeding to geld them and give them another life. I do alot of gelding of stallions and make them driving horses and put them with my local 4H kids and they have such fun with them.
