OMG What is wrong with people?!?! If you have a stud, build a fence!!!

[PhoenixFarm]

I’m fuming!!

I just got a call from the mother of one of my students. They keep their horses at home, and have neighbors that have horses on an adjoining fence line, mostly drafts. My folks have a pair of elderly trail geldings, and a nice competition mare the 15-year-old daughter rides and competes with me, that we started from scratch.

Today, she found that one of the drafts had pushed through the fence, and three of the horses had gotten in with their horses. Ok, so far, no big deal, could happen to anyone right?

Well it turns out unbeknownst to my clients, the neighbors have a acquired a two and half year old Gypsy Vanner stud colt, and when they arrived on scene he was breeding (as in yes, in the middle of the act), one of the neighbors mares in my client’s field, and their own competition mare was huddled in the corner bearing some concerning, and tell tale scrapes on her neck, back and shoulders. The mother of my client ran out (foolishly so, as she’s not really a horse person, and could have been hurt or killed) grabbed their mare, and got her in to the barn, with Mr. Studly in hot pursuit!

The neighbors neither informed them of their new acquisition, nor did the neighbors do anything to shore up the mutual fence line that is barely adequate for keeping sedate geldings behind. When confronted by my clients, they first said, well, at 2 1/2 he’s not fertile yet :eek::eek::eek::eek: , then said, well, even if he did breed her, you could get a free Gypsy Vanner colt out of the deal! Lucky you!

Needless to say my client has called the vet to have her ultrasounded and if needed, pinched and flushed when enough time has passed, and a fencing contractor to shore up her side of the line, since the neighbors apparently don’t feel this is a big problem. I’m dying to see how they feel next spring when when THEIR mares start dropping offspring from this “infertile” youngster.

I’m just so horrified by what could have happened, it’s a miracle neither the mare, nor my client’s Mom wasn’t severely injured. And the attitude of the neighbors just shocks me.

Phew, OK, calming down now, trying to breathe.

[Nootka]

:eek::eek::mad:

idiots! Free gypsy vanner foal… woooohhhppeee… ignorant asses

I am at a loss for words right now:confused:

[reinerspook]

Call the local animal control authorities.

[hoopoe]

I agree with reiner

you need to find out what the laws are for your area and report the incident

armed with that info you then need to consult your vet about timing and pinching. There might be a hormone shot that can be given but often such shots need to be within 48 hours. If the mares were not in season but penetrated anyway, consult about possible trauma or std.

A lawyer might need to be consulted about responsibility for the vet bills.

stud owners need to be educated that yes indeed a 2.5 yo colt is fertile.

[Rancher]

I am about to have a similar situation on my hands. I just found out that the 160 fenced acres that I bought is surrounded with loose horses that belong to an indian reservation. One for sure is a stallion. They don’t HAVE to fence them in…and apparently they don’t have to keep them on reserve land. So now I have to eventually build an interior fence all around my property to keep my horses away from the fence line. I just spent the weekend building a 30 acre holding pasture in the middle that will hopefully be enough of a barrier to keep the others away. I am so mad. I shouldn’t HAVE to double fence my horses in just because of a loose stallion.

They will probably need a double fence…with a fairly large alley in between them. If they can’t touch noses they are less likely to jump. That is what I have been told in my quest for an answer anyway.

[JoZ]

If this really happened today, they don’t have to (and shouldn’t) wait for an ultrasound to then pinch the embryo. Have the vet out to administer a shot of (I think it is called) Lutalyse. I don’t know if it is done immediately or after the mare goes out of heat. But I have to think that would be easier and cheaper.

Free Gypsy Vanner colt – gah! :mad:

[TB_or_not_TB]

Maybe it will poop enough gold to by a brick wall :rolleyes:

[fourmares]

I have you beat… I have idiot neighbors who have a stallion, a stall, and NO fence at all. Often they tie the stallion to a tree all day unattended… occassionally they lunge him or better yet ride him… sometimes he gets away while being lunged, and he almost always bucks his rider off when he’s ridden. He always ends up at my place since it’s just him and a handfull of goats at his place. So far he’s stayed on the other side of the fence… I’m considering running hot wire on the outside of the fence.

[strawberry_roan]

For sure call animal control. Nothing like irresponsible owners. :mad:

[spaghetti_legs]

Electric fence is relatively cheap and you can give it a reaaaaaaaaaaaal good kick. Wet the neighbours horses and then try and get them to touch the fence. They won’t come near your fence line again.

[Equilibrium]

Yes I completely agree with this title and so sorry your client’s mare had to go through that ordeal.

Funny I remember a post like this a few months back in which the OP was told it wasn’t the SO’s fault she had a mare. Except her mare didn’t have a few scratches, she got pretty banged up.

I will say the same thing I did then. Responsible SO’s don’t have these problems as they sort out their fencing. Irresponsible SO’s cause other horses to be hurt. I have found most on this board to be in the responsible category.

Mind you I don’t understand why, when the same situation is presented, you get one where a poster is supported in her annoyance (and right too), and the other poster was maligned.

Anyway, best of luck to your client.

Terri

[Trakehner]

[QUOTE=hoopoe;4137201]
stud owners need to be educated that yes indeed a 2.5 yo colt is fertile.[/QUOTE]

Uh, a filly is fertile, a colt is potent.

[BelladonnaLily]

I would definitely put electric up…and check it regularly. Now that he has done this, he’s going to keep trying to find that hole in your defenses. The second your electric fence goes down, bet that he’ll be back over for a visit.

And, I’d send the vet bill to the neighbors.

Yes, Lutalyse should do the trick if caught early. Once, I sold a mare in foal and deeply regretted it. She was resold :no: and by the time I caught up with her, she was days from foaling. I made arrangements to buy her back (with her colt, one that I had bred) but she foaled there. The owner then came up with an “alternative” deal. In order for him to sell her back (he’d already agreed to the price with no strings attached), he’d field breed her back to his stallion (ugly, IMHO) and get the resulting baby. To “sweeten” the deal, he’d allow another breed back for a baby for me (yay :rolleyes:). I got the mare home, gave her a shot and never heard from him again.

[Janet]

It sounds as if there is just one fence between the horses.

Who owns the fence?
Who is responsible for maintaining the fence?

[Equibrit]

[QUOTE=hoopoe;4137201]
I agree with reiner

you need to find out what the laws are for your area and report the incident

armed with that info you then need to consult your vet about timing and pinching. There might be a hormone shot that can be given but often such shots need to be within 48 hours. If the mares were not in season but penetrated anyway, consult about possible trauma or std.

A lawyer might need to be consulted about responsibility for the vet bills.

stud owners need to be educated that yes indeed a 2.5 yo colt is fertile.[/QUOTE]

All of the above - and your client should present the neighbours with the bills.

[Equibrit]

[QUOTE=hoopoe;4137201]
I agree with reiner

you need to find out what the laws are for your area and report the incident

armed with that info you then need to consult your vet about timing and pinching. There might be a hormone shot that can be given but often such shots need to be within 48 hours. If the mares were not in season but penetrated anyway, consult about possible trauma or std.

A lawyer might need to be consulted about responsibility for the vet bills.

stud owners need to be educated that yes indeed a 2.5 yo colt is fertile.[/QUOTE]

All of the above - and your client should present the neighbours with the bills. If necessary, there is always small claims court.

[Bravestrom]

absolutely a 2 yr old is potent - I bred my 2 yr old to one of our mares and she is in foal (on purpose).

I feel for your client and not to stir the pot but there may be another side to this story.

[classicsporthorses]

in NY at least you are to carry extra insurance if you have a stallion(s). Also, at least here they are considered “dangerous” animals, like bulls and can be disposed of, if you catch my drift, if they run amuck.

The SO is liable for any and all damage created by a stallion-this means to a mare, property and such, if he gets loose. If the owners are sited and then the stallion gets out again-as in they don’t fix their fencing, then criminal charges can be filed and the SO can be put in jail!

We have stallions and we do our upmost to protect them, our own mares and property. They are behind HOT fencing.

[gloriginger]

Am I missing something…it sounds to me like TWO mares might be at risk of carrying this Majikal horse’s baby?

NM- I get it now, one was the client’s, one was the irresponsible owner’s mare.

[monstrpony]

I thought there were laws about required fencing for keeping a stallion. (aren’t you in CA?) Doesn’t sound like the neighbors have such fencing …

Hope the mare is okay. What a fiasco!