My stallions that wintered together...

[Mona]

I was so disappointed the other day when I went out to feed the horses 2 hours earlier than usual as we weren't going to be home at their regular feedtime. I saw the boys were all snuggled in their shelter, and so wished I would have had my camera! I just knew if I had left their pen and went back to the house they would have gotten up before I got back anyway.

I was just at the counter around noon making a sandwich, and looked out and saw the stallions were not out in their pen. I knew they were in their shelter, but wondered if they were standing in there or sleeping again, soo I grabbed the camera and took my chances and went out the same way I did the other day. Sure enough, they wer laying down sleeping. It didn't look as pretty today though, because the sun was not shining, plus, the other day, they were both laying the same direction. Today, they were laying in opposite directions, but I got some pics anyway!

This also will show the shelter/hut up closer, since the last time I posted pics of them playing, the shelter was in the background and many people posted questions here, emailed and pm'd me questions about it.

They have gotten along so very well, I really enjoyed being able to put them together for the winter. This is a first for me(keeping stallions together in the same pen), but I am hoping I can do it again in the future, but will be separating them during summer/breeding season!

These are the same boys in their summer attire...

 

[MyLilShowGirl]

Aw, that hut is so nice for them! Cute pictures

 

[MBhorses]

aw

so cute.

thanks for sharing.

 

[Debd]

That is a great shelter. The boys are very handsome.

 

[Birchcrestminis]

Great idea for a shelter. And the boys look happy with it too.

Too cute!

 

[user 488]

Cute picture Mona!

 

[EAD Minis]

Awww great picturs!!

I just LOVE Royalty!

 

[SWA]

Awe, such handsome boys!

All comfy and cozy in there!

 

[hhpminis]

Mona, that is really cool that they get along that well to not only live together but to share the hut and lie down together. Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. Did you wait till the girls went dormant before you put them together? Did they get along right from the start or did they have to argue a bit? How far away from the girls are they?

My boys are in open wall stalls next to each other so they can nose each other and visit. I have noticed that in the last week though that the kids are getting a bit twitterpated around here. The calm has ended I think.

 

[barefoot]

I love your shelter. That is the best idea! They look soo cozy.

 

[Leeana]

Awe there are my boys big brother

. Love them both Mona

 

[Mona]

Mona, that is really cool that they get along that well to not only live together but to share the hut and lie down together. Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. Did you wait till the girls went dormant before you put them together? Did they get along right from the start or did they have to argue a bit? How far away from the girls are they?

My boys are in open wall stalls next to each other so they can nose each other and visit. I have noticed that in the last week though that the kids are getting a bit twitterpated around here. The calm has ended I think.

Hi Annette. Yes, it gave me that same "warm fuzzy" feeling to see that!!

That is why I was so upset when I missed my first opportunity at the pics of them laying together that way!

I put them together on August 18, 2007. Ditto was done breeding by then, and had bred his last mare in June. At that time, they were in a pen that did not adjoin the mares. Royalty was only a yearling, so I think that may have been an advantage. However, that said, it was Royalty that was acting like a BRAT and all "studdy" towards Ditto! Ditto was in the pen they are both in now, all summer, so he bordered the mares and let me know when they were in heat. Royalty was in another pen, across the yard. In August, I moved my yearling fillies back in with the mares. I had taken them out of my mares herd so there was no chance they could be bred through the fence!) When I put the yearling fillies back in with the mares, I put Ditto over in the pen they were in. This pen shared a common fenceline with Royalty. This is when Royalty was acting like a brat, rearing up on the other side of the fence, but Ditto wasn't intimidated and never retaliated. Maybe it was then that I thought they would get along.

Here are photos of Royalty acting like a "big boy" when I put Ditto in a pen next to him.

Here is a photo of them the day I put them together. I left halters on them for awhile until I fel I would not have to get a hold of one fast! These were all the same day, and very close (timewise) to each other.

They actually got along really well right from the start...there was rough-housing, a few kicks thrown, but nothing serious. I watched like a hawk as I was scared there might be trouble. I have never house stallions together in the past, as I was so scared of what might happen, and I cannot even remember what prompted me to put these boys together. I think I just wanted them to have each other's company, PLUS, if they got along well, it would be easier for winter as would mean less extension cords to run for heated water troughs/buckets.

I moved them up into the pen they are in now, as soon as the weather started freezing and the heated water buckets were needed. It was in early November I believe. By then, the mares were all settled, and the yearlings no longer cycling. They have gotten along very well all winter. Here is a photo of them I just took to show you their proximity to the mares. (the stallions have the red dot next to each of them) They share the fenceline with them (the mares), however, they WILL be separated once Spring comes and mares start foaling and/or going into season!

The black trough is in the mares pasture, the blue tub is in with the boys.

 

[River Wood]

Cute!

We have shelters that look a bit similar to that...for calves.....work fantastic and are portable and they love them!!!

 

[maplegum]

Awwww, how sweet is that!

 

[Manyspots]

I am glad you posted theses pictures as I have always wondered just how friendly they can be during the non breeding season. It is also obvious they like their hut and I bet it is warm with the two of them sharing it. Pretty nice looking stallions to I must say! Lavonne

 

[Champ]

Your boy happy

If you don't mind me asking where do you get your hut I think it's a great idea?

 

[Basketmiss]

What an adorable hut for them! I LOVE the fuzzy pictures- they look Oh so sweet!!

 

[Mona]

Your boy happy

If you don't mind me asking where do you get your hut I think it's a great idea?

I got mine directly from their factory in Wisconsin, but I imagine they will have their dealers listed on their web site HERE.

 

[Southern_Heart]

Thats a cute hut and they seem to really like it. They look nice and snug and comfy in there.

They also look awesome in the summer pic.

Joyce

 

[Champ]

thanks for the website