Posted 2006-01-10 2:28 AM (#35227) Subject: Gelding problem
Regular
Posts: 55 Location: west valley city , utah
I am looking for some feed back on a gelding problem . I have a 5 year old that has all ways been with other geldings in the pasture . A mare that was in heat was put out in the pasture , and now I have had problems .
The gelding is able to have relations with her . I have talked with lots of people about his actions , and every body tells me a gelding can't do it . I witnessed the event several times , and I'm sure he can perform the act .
I had another horse that was proud cut , and he would mount a mare however he couldn't perform the act . The proud cut horse acted like a stud . He was mean with other geldings . The horse in question doesn't act like he is proud cut , and gets along with all the horses .
A blood test was performed as well as a examination . The vet advised the blood work showed his hormone levels were normal for a gelding . I was advised to call back for a drug called Reganait ( or spelled some thing like that Reg-an-eight ) .
My problem is at times the horse is going to have to be with mares in the pasture , and I'm concerned with the horses getting hurt .
I'm wondering if any body has had the same kind of problems , and can offer any advice .
Posted 2006-01-10 9:31 AM (#35235 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Twice, we've had a mare with geldings and had a similar problem as yours. ( we're slow learners, although with different horses). Both times we sold the mare. Most of our friends have either mares or geldings. The mixing of mares and geldings is unusual for our circle of friends.
Posted 2006-01-10 11:15 AM (#35244 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Veteran
Posts: 207 Location: Illinois
I had a gelding with the same "problem". He didn't bother some mares, but others were fair game. My vet explained to me that some geldings have a higher level of hormone than others. For years it wasn't a problem, but this past summer he hit an all time high and was mounting my little mare frequently! Many people keep either one or the other, mare or gelding. I personally prefer a gelding, but that's just a matter of opinion.
Posted 2006-01-10 12:11 PM (#35245 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Regular
Posts: 55 Location: west valley city , utah
I am glad to hear other people have seen or heard of this happening . All the local people I talked with were making me feel like I really didn't see it happen .
It could come down to keeping him away from any mares . I try to only keep geldings since that is what I like to ride . I'm a little worried that if I divide the pasture the gelding may still try to get at the mare , and get hurt in the fence . There is plenty of room ( 40 acres ) , But I still worry his urge may be to strong to stop .
It never fails I always get horses that have some little quirk .
Posted 2006-01-10 3:07 PM (#35258 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Regular
Posts: 81
My good friend about dropped her jaw into her coffe cup one morning last summer when her daughter's gelding mounted and entered her sister's mare
We've all been around horses our entire lives and this was a first for any of us -- I guess we've lived sheltered lives, even if we were raised on farms - lol lol
In this instance, it only happened once, but I am learning it is more common than I would have imagined - lol lol
Posted 2006-01-10 6:38 PM (#35276 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
I'll put mares(several)with a gelding but NOT the other way around.The least that happens is one trys to take her over and lots of postering,mad horses.The worst that happens is big kick fights.Sometimes with dire results.Other glans produce hormones.Some geldings cover mares a lot.Seen mares absorb and abort because of geldings in the pasture with them.Classic signs of tooth rake marks on their sides etc.A few years ago I stopped inter mixing the sexes.Several years ago went to a daytime partys at a big boarding barn on a 100plus acres.They had turned all the horses out to use the barn for party etc.During the day someone said LOOK and on a big green hillside was 5 groups of horses.4 groups were made up of several mares and 1 gelding.The other group was several geldings OFF way to the side by themselves.Kinda classic.
Posted 2006-01-11 7:37 AM (#35294 - in reply to #35245) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Perry, Georgia
It's always something isnt it? Have you considered separating them with electic fencing and a 2-3 ft. moat? I doubt he'd get near the fencing and with the moat they aren't able to touch noses so he should be able to control his "urges".
Posted 2006-01-11 8:34 AM (#35305 - in reply to #35300) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Perry, Georgia
When I say moat, I mean you leave about 2-3 feet between each fence so they cant touch noses. The OP feared the gelding would break through. I'm sure she considered electric fencing and some horses are crazy enough to try to break through it. Also, sometimes electricity goes out. If there are two "fences" separating them the liklihood of trouble is much less.
Posted 2006-01-11 8:37 AM (#35306 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Veteran
Posts: 207 Location: Illinois
I did the separation thing too. I used cattle panels that make up my separate coralls, and he jumped them. My horse went through a fence, a gate, and nearly cleared the cattle panel. I had electric strung along the top, he just busted it. He tore up his legs, and finally it just wasn't worth watching him kill himself to get to her. This wasn't the way it was all the time, just when it got to the head of things this past summer. My gelding had other health problems, and eventually became so aggressive we had to put him down. My horse was already sick, but he had been known to mount mares his entire life. I was riding with a friend one day, and he mounted her mare. I have lost a few friends because of my "stud". I now have 2 geldings and the same mare. They get along fine and there isn't any more "stud" behavior!
I wouldn't consider selling my mare, because she is my 7 year old son's trail horse. She's a one of a kind horse!!!
Good luck
Posted 2006-01-11 9:12 AM (#35311 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
Wow! Don't think I've ever heard such before.I've got hot wire between studs and mares and beteen studs and studs.In 30 years never had one jump it or try it more then twice and only one or to do that.
Posted 2006-01-11 11:14 AM (#35325 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Veteran
Posts: 207 Location: Illinois
Well, he had a bacteria (leptospirosis), and the vet even suspected a tumor. His extreme behavior only came after this summer and the loss of his eyesight to boot. Picture a blind (nearly), very stout 15HH appaloosa gelding jumping such fences! We still have the panel that he "landed" on. It's bowed quite a bit, but he made it over (trashed the electric fence too).
Like I said, my extreme case had lots of other factors involved. Not all geldings or stallions for that matter are that nuts! He would challenge the gate even if a human would approach. Needless to say, we banned my 7 year old son from going anywhere near the pasture.
He was also aggressive and extremely nasty to our 2 and 3 year old geldings too. I feared that he would kill one of them and himself. The only animal that was safe was a little miniature Donkey. He NEVER put a tooth or hoof to him. Hmmm, can't figure that out!
Posted 2006-01-11 3:07 PM (#35338 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
I was in the hunt for a broodmare several years ago and found a nice maiden 17HH 3 year old, drop dead gorgeous to say the least. I had her vet checked to the guys disbelief, after all she was maiden.?. She had one of the worst cases of E.Coli infection my vet(equine specialist and very well known) had even seen. I asked how...the answer any gelding could have caused it. Just because she hadn't been stood to stud did not mean she would be free from problems.
She went back that same day and the guy could not understand her test results.
Posted 2006-01-11 7:10 PM (#35350 - in reply to #35347) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Perry, Georgia
Sorry we didnt answer your question exactly. I've just never seen the cribbing collars work. And yes, the cayanne pepper is the old cowboy cure I was talking about! I use it in vaseline to treat some types of wounds. Can't argue with an old cowboy. ;)
Posted 2006-01-13 8:49 PM (#35452 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Regular
Posts: 67 Location: Iowa
My 11 yr old gelding was a stud when I bought him. We gelded him immediately. He still showed quite a bit of characteristics for a year or so. He finally calmed down quite a bit on trail rides. Part of his problems were due to hormones, the other was that he wasn't used to being around horses very muc-- grew up in a pature with bulls. Anyway, when we bought a mare, he mounted her every month, It was a nice way for us to know when she was in heat. He never tried anything on the trail, though.
Posted 2006-01-18 9:45 PM (#35699 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Member
Posts: 15
Location: Highlandville, MO
I had a gelding and 2 mares. One mare he never bothered but when the other came in heat he showed his proud cut. He did get solid and even did what the mare wanted(she would back up to him). So yes, proud cut horses may not show there maleness until a mare comes in heat.
Posted 2006-04-19 2:10 PM (#40682 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Regular
Posts: 50 Location: Delta Junction, Alaska
Please keep in mind that you should have your geldings sheath cleaned reg. This will help make sure you mare does not get a infection. I have had two geldings that do this and know of a few other here in the state. Hope all is well
Posted 2006-04-20 1:43 PM (#40740 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Elite Veteran
Posts: 644 Location: Odenville, Alabama
I have 4 geldings and 1 mare pastured together. 2 of the geldings have both mounted and entered this mare. 1 of the geldings is 20 years old, and I first noticed him doing this maybe 16 years ago. I had some blood work done, and he was found to be absent of active sperm. He's been with many different mares in the past, and has left them all alone except for this particular "Hussie". I've only seen him mount her once though. The other gelding is only 6 and relatively new to the herd. I've seen him mount and enter her when she's been in season ( she welcomes such advances when she's in season ! ). He tends to like to keep her to himself during this time, and keeps her moving away from the other geldings. Personally, I wouldn 't get myself in too big of a tizz over this as long as the gelding isn't being too mean or rough. Mares have a way of letting them know when enough is enough.
Posted 2006-04-21 1:35 PM (#40793 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Novato, California
I have a 23 year old gelding that I've owned since he was 18. He has lived with my haflinger mare. He is the sweetest horse ever and has never even put his ears back. My haflinger foal arrived March 25th and the delivery was witnessed by the gelding, even though he was in a separate area. My stall walls only go half way up. Due to the heavy rains I had to board up the exit from the stall to the paddock as is was completely open. March 27th we had a burst of sunshine so I decided to lead the mare out of her area, through the geldings pasture, (about 10 feet) into their pasture. The gelding was about 2 acres away but when he saw me lead the mare and baby out he came running over. I wasn't concerned because he had never shown signs that would lead me to believe there would be a problem. He immediately grabbed the baby by the neck and started flinging her like a rag doll. When she hit the ground he stomped on her. I then turned the mare loose so she could defend her baby but it didn't matter. The mare kicked at him with all her might but his focus was on the baby. My neighbor heard my screams so he jumped the fence to help. Three times my gelding attacked the baby before we were able to catch him and lock him in the stall. Since the walls of the stall only went half way up we had to board him in completely. Fortunately for me my vet called earlier in the day to ask if she could come see the baby since she was out of town. She arrived just as we got the gelding boarded up and was able to sedate him. I've had to remove him from the property. I'm still unsure if I'll be able to bring him back to the property. I have learned that this type of behavior is not uncommon when mares and babies are involved. I've also know alot of people that let there mares deliver in the same pasture as geldings, stallions and other mares with no problems. So who knows?
Posted 2006-04-21 5:29 PM (#40802 - in reply to #40793) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
My horses are all pastured together with out a problem. I have a 2yr old stud, a 4yr old gelding and two mares(4&20), younger one with a baby. The older mare tried to steal the baby when she was born(she was desperate for a baby), but now the mares have worked out a joint custody type thing. When ever the stud or gelding start getting pushy with the filly my older "not the momma" mare goes at them like she was the momma. Its actually funny to watch. After the filly had been in pasure for a week my neighbours came over and asked which mare was the dam. They said they had seen both run off the stud and she appeared to be nursing off of both. The older mare has no milk but lets the baby try anyway.
Posted 2006-04-21 8:35 PM (#40809 - in reply to #35227) Subject: RE: Gelding problem
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 303 Location: Grapeland, Texas
I have a john mule that fell in love with my buggy mare and the first few months I had him he would mount her whenever she was in. He seems to be over it now. Also had a stallion that I kept with mares 365 days a year. He was the best babysitter there was.
Gelding problem
I've just never seen the cribbing collars work. And yes, the cayanne pepper is the old cowboy cure I was talking about! I use it in vaseline to treat some types of wounds. Can't argue with an old cowboy. ;) .jpg)
