I should have mentioned I have camera surveillance, night vision, etc on it, so honestly the colts have never had a go at a mare. I can watch the tapes on fast forward and nothing has happened with them.
I don't think we need more unwanted horses, I have saved over 30 horses now that were a product of well-bred stallions with papers that are worth a 6 figure sum one day and zero the next. My plans were to have the stallion gelded, but the vet called in sick twice. And I am not willing to do it without anaesthetic. I can take care of the horses the rest of their lives, I have done so for 10 years now. I have no intentions of breeding non stop, I just thought it would have been nice to have one or two....(or 5 for that matter) foals. I think a lot of people involved in rescues get to feeling like this at times, as we never get to choose our own horses really, like people who make a choice and choose to purchase the horse.
The only problems I have had with fencing have been neighbours not fixing fences, not me. At any rate, whether it is a stallion or gelding or mare, a horse can still get out on the road. The same must be said for the thousands of thoroughbred/quarter horse etc, etc studs in the world, where the possibility always could arise that a stallion could get out.
My stallion is not registered, not a show horse, wouldn't have a clue about his bloodlines as he was a rescue, his conformation seems ok, his parents were probably shipped off to the same sales that he was.
I understand what you are saying, though. But without directly having a go at anyone here who has a stud operation, which is their right, I have worked at many a throughbred stud, where the stallions are of superb bloodlines, great conformation, their parents did win races, their relatives won at shows and it was me picking up these poor offspring who the studs showed no care for after they fetched $600 000 at the horse sales for them....only to fail on the racetrack and end up with me racing to get them before the dogger's truck arrived. That to me is the true abuse of horses. For me, if I have 2 or 5 foals, then geld him, it is a responsibility I can afford and I want to enjoy my money with horses. I feel doing over 30 rescues, if I want a foal, then I should be able to do that.
I have never in my life knocked a horse back that was on its way to the doggers. I have either found it a home with the option to be returned to me at any time, or it is here with me now. The difficult colts who arrive, well they are gelded very soon thereafter. The quieter ones, well, they were all meant to be done, but then the horse flu broke out here and vets would not do them, so we learned to cope with them, simply because the only other option was the doggers.
What I guess I am getting at is that studs will churn out foals year after year after year after year, for profit and joy, and while I am sure they love their foals, it is hard for them to prevent any ending up in dire straights. I want a foal for sheer joy, and I intend to care for it like I would a child. If it were children I was talking about having, I doubt anyone would say a word to me. But I don't want any kids :)))
But regardless, thank you for all the hints on stallion ownership, I really do appreciate all of it. And I can understand how angry you feel, but I do not intend on just dumping any of Tonto's foals, or selling them. The only reason there are way to many horses out there without homes, though, is because of the people who do not intend to care for the lifetime welfare of what they produce into this world. I am not breeding for greed, profit or otherwise, the foal (s) will be looked after and won't leave me. I hope this kinda makes you feel better. Lisa has the same intentions, also. For the moment, while we can safely enjoy our stallions, we intend to. I have much more dangerous geldings in the herd, believe me!!! :)))
Kim xoxoxoox
________________________________
From: twinpinesmt <twinpinesmt@yahoo.com>
To: askavet@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 4 October, 2009 12:52:14 PM
Subject: [AskAVet] Stallions
I have been sitting back and watching this conversation for a while now and I would like to add my two cents.
While you think their behavior is all cute and cuddly what happens when they turn their aggression on you? Stallions in herds can and have attacked people when they take horses out of 'their' pasture especially mares. You cannot be with them 24/7 to see if they are 'interested' in mares, a colt a year of age can breed a mare and I have seen that one happen. Even stallions pastured with just geldings can and will drive the weaker gelding out of the herd. Stallions will kill foals that are weak and are not their own. They can and will hurt/kill people if you are seen as a threat. All of your mares could be pregnant. They will find a way, I have seen mares in holes to get bred and pony mares bred by full size stallions. A stallion can and will chase a mare into submission or beat the crap out of her to get her that way. A stallion can and will go through several fences to breed A mare or breed her over the fence. If you are in the states do you really think
we need more horses that dont have homes? Can you take care of these horses for the rest of their lives? 5 mares, 5 babies a year for 15 years? that is 81 horses until you factor in those babies making more babies too. What happens with those cute fuzzy stallions break down the fences and get into the neighbors horses? They could kill/injure/ mame their geldings and mares or get hit on the road....they could hurt someone trying to save their own horses or kill someone in a car.
ok off that soapbox....
now...are these stallions registered? do their bloodlines fit a certain niche? are they conformational sound? are they show horses? do they have a job besides being cute? did their parents have jobs? Do they have a reason to stay a stallion?
I am not against stallions and I am not against breeding, but their are WAY too many horses out there without homes.
Im sorry but their is absolutely NO reason to have a stallion around to just have a stallion around. It is not fair to them and it could be dangerous. Even gelded later in life some still do retain their undesirable behaviors.
ok, I feel better now.
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