Newly Gelded 12 yr old...in a mixed herd?

[Judysmom]

Just chiming in, agree with what others have said I’ve owned two horses that were gelded late, one at 4, the other at 9.

Never had any stallion like issues with the one gelded at 4. He goes out alone because he’s a turd with other horses, not study, just a turd. And that’s all him.

Now my guy who was gelded at 9, he has never, ever forgotten that he used to be a stallion. Turning him out with a mixed herd is a BAD idea, mounts and penetrates mares, fights other geldings, keeps all other horses away from the water trough and gate. In my defense, because it sounds so stupid and like an obvious result, we tried this with him 3 yrs after he had been gelded, where the best pasture was offered as a mixed herd setting. Oh well.

I used to have to watch my old guy around actual stallions, (one farm I boarded at had a few jumper stallions, competition horses) because he would want to fight them. Even now, almost 20 years since he was gelded, I still have to be unusually careful with with who he is stabled next to, and who his turn out buddies are (does fine with meek geldings). And its taken 15 years for him to quiet down enough to have ANY turn out buddies.

So, I think it has alot to do with the individual horse, but I would avoid a mixed herd with an ex-stud, and personally, I would avoid a mixed herd in general.

[candysgirl]

I think it completely depends on the former stallion and how he behaves. In this case? I’d say keep him where he is. Adding him to that herd sounds like a recipe for disaster.

My Arab got gelded at 4. My friend’s Arab was a halter stallion until he was about 10. They’re turned out together. With mares. And everyone gets along just fine.

Mine is actually the bigger bully of the two and her’s is quite submissive. They do play fight a fair amount (it truly is playing) and seem to enjoy each others company for the most part. For whatever reason, neither really does the claim the mares thing. My guy’s best buddy is a more dominant gelding and her guy’s best friend is her big foxhunter mare. He follows her around like she’s his mother. Neither gets all that interested in the mares, even when they’re in heat. Despite the mares’ best efforts… Do I think that just because these two get along in a mixed herd setting that many former stallions could? No. Not at all. I think they are very much the exception to the rule.

[okggo]

I don’t think it’s the best idea. My gelding was gelded at 3, and he still mounts mares he is pastured with (he’s 7 now). We’ve had all mares every year, so have never had boys to put him with. He’s always been our babysitter as well as he is rediculously baby smart. Right now he has a weanling colt and filly out with him, a yearling mare and a 4 year old mare. They are doing very well together, colt will be gelded here shortly, but next spring if there is ANY sign of trouble the boys will have their own field without mares.

I also used to work at a boarding barn where a 12 year old stud was gelded and put in an all boy field with a shared fenceline to the mares field. He would pace that fence line day in and day out chasing off any gelding that came near.

I guess my thought is, since they HAVE an alternative that is working, why risk it?

[ElegantExpressionsFa]

Just wanted to update, the BO decided to put all the “boys” in one field and to take the mares out. Everything is now “perfect” in the horses world. Phew!! SO happy that was the decision, thanks again for your wonderful help!!

[misita]

[QUOTE=ahf;6586769]
I’m a little unclear? Is your friend the barn manager whol ultimately decides who goes out with who?

fF that’s the case, and your friend already KNOWS this is a bad idea - then she needs to grow a backbone and stick to her guns. Regardless of what the new owner desires, the barn manager has an obligation to all the horses in that field to try as much as possible to keep them safe. What is being proposed is not safe.

I’m not a fan of mixed turnout anyway unless it’s an extremely stable herd with very few changes.[/QUOTE]

This ** I can’t find the ‘like’ button.