Stallions living out with their mares and foals?

[Ritazza]

I’ve read a few threads on this but needed to give it a more personal spin to see if anyone has some input on this.

We have a stallion here who is a great guy. He was living in a stall all the time before he got here and was alone, and fretted and walked the fence all the time when he got here. Now, we have him living out 24/7 with a bred mare (this is his baby), and he is the most mellow happy guy around. He LOVES having his mare. He gained a ton of weight, no more fretting or walking, and yes, he’s completely capable of being taken away from her and worked or trailered off. Everything about it has made him so much happier and way easier to handle in every way. It’s a great setup, and the mare is happy too. They spend all their time together, side by side, sharing a bucket, sharing a haybag, drinking out of the trough together.

So my question is for when it comes time for foaling. With a mare and stallion like this, a bonded pair, where it is his offspring, would we stand a fair chance at it being safe to keep them all together? It sounds like we would but I want to make sure I think the entire thing out and have backup plans or all the considerations addressed. My thought was to probably separate her (with a shared fence) for the actual act, watching how they interact together across the fence, and then seeing from there if they can be safely put back together. Thoughts? Anything to add?

[csaper58]

I think it’s a real cr@p shoot if the stallion has never been out with a foal.

How do you plan to foal out the mare? Will you let her foal in the pasture or bring her into a stall? I am thinking weather may be a factor, it usually is. What if it is raining and muddy for a week and the foal can’t go out?

Is it the mare’s first foal? Is she an alpha mare who will defend her foal if the stallion gets rough?

If you try putting them all together, just know that some stallions will try to kill a foal even if it is their own. It works in the wild because the stallions grow up from birth in a mixed herd. They know what foals are. Stallions that have never seen a foal tend to think it is something they need to protect the mare from.

The mare will need a couple of days of alone time with her foal to bond, and let the foal gain coordination, and speed. And have a plan for if the mare or foal get sick or injured before or any time after the introduction.

If you have the ability to do so, put the stallion in a stall right next to the mare and foal and closely watch how he reacts, especially his eyes.

Does his eye become hard, glaring, and does he pin back his ears when he looks at the foal? All very negative signs

Or does he go soft eyed and nicker in low tones? Positive signs but not a guarantee of acceptance.

And of course what will you do when the mare comes in heat? If they are pastured together, the stud will surly know before you do.

[Ritazza]

Thanks, all good considerations!

[ASB_Stars]

I had a stallion who was awful with walking fence, stall, etc., who I turned out with a mare years ago. She got in foal, and I left them together until right before she foaled, and then I had her in a paddock next to him. He was fine with that arrangement, and after she foaled, he was fascinated by the foal, but I would have been concerned about turning him back out with the mare and foal.

Just my .02.

[Megaladon]

When I was growing up, our family did this. Mares would get close to foaling and be brought into a foaling stall or large paddock. Foaled out, gave it a few days and back with the stallion and herd. It was really cute, the last filly my mother bred was such a snot and would push her dad around like nobody’s business! They were Andalusians if that matters.

Your plan sounds good. If you feel comfortable enough to introduce you could have him on a halter/lead that way you have some control of him. Good luck.

[crosscreeksh]

[QUOTE=Ritazza;8732312]
I’ve read a few threads on this but needed to give it a more personal spin to see if anyone has some input on this.

We have a stallion here who is a great guy. He was living in a stall all the time before he got here and was alone, and fretted and walked the fence all the time when he got here. Now, we have him living out 24/7 with a bred mare (this is his baby), and he is the most mellow happy guy around. He LOVES having his mare. He gained a ton of weight, no more fretting or walking, and yes, he’s completely capable of being taken away from her and worked or trailered off. Everything about it has made him so much happier and way easier to handle in every way. It’s a great setup, and the mare is happy too. They spend all their time together, side by side, sharing a bucket, sharing a haybag, drinking out of the trough together.

So my question is for when it comes time for foaling. With a mare and stallion like this, a bonded pair, where it is his offspring, would we stand a fair chance at it being safe to keep them all together? It sounds like we would but I want to make sure I think the entire thing out and have backup plans or all the considerations addressed. My thought was to probably separate her (with a shared fence) for the actual act, watching how they interact together across the fence, and then seeing from there if they can be safely put back together. Thoughts? Anything to add?[/QUOTE]

OP…I could have written this post!! We have/had the exact situation!! Our stallion, new to us as a 7 yo., did the exact thing. Previous owner kept him over a single, high, mesh fence where he could touch, but was not with the mares. Live covered, hand bred the mares, but he walked himself to death!! Here he is surrounded by geldings across 16 foot aisles, but if any horses went out of sight he got frantic. We hand bred him to each of 6 mares this year, then left one mare at a time with him for the heat cycle. We’ve left the last mare to be bred with him and he is a different horse. Happy as an old married man!! NO fuss, walking, calling. He didn’t mind us pulling one mare and replacing her with a new one!!! Just wants company. Our plan is to leave him with this last mare until foaling time…then give him a new “friend”. I’m not sure I’m brave enough to leave a newborn in with a stallion…no matter how nice he is!! Foals are just too fragile!! Let us know how your plan works out!!

[LockeMeadows]

When we were still breeding ponies, I had a large pony that was a doll baby. He always did so much better when I left a mare or mares in with him. We had one older mare that was his favorite. We left her in with him with every intention of pulling her two weeks before she foaled. Well, she had other ideas. I came home after work and there were all three. He was a WONDERFUL daddy and I think paid closer attention to the foal than the dam did. When I sold him, his new owners understood that he really needed to have a mare in with him. Good luck with your boy. It worked fine for us.

[IronwoodFarm]

My stallion lives out with his mares and foals. He always has had a life as a horse, not a stallion. He competed successfully in eventing, dressage and driving. Never a problem. Never a problem handling him, the mares or the foals. He is the supreme babysitter and the foals get left with him when weaned. He even tolerates attempts to nurse with aplomb.

However, he is a Fjord and the breed is known for being relatively quiet and calm. He also was born on our farm and has been with us all his life. I am not sure I would try this with another breed or with an older stallion.

[snowrider]

My friend who breed draft crosses has her draft and draft cross boy out with her mares. She started doing this 20 years ago and so the younger boy has grown up- around mares and they are really amazingly good stallions. Very respectful and well behaved and, I think, much happier than many stallions.

[cripplecreekfrm]

I have a warmblood stallion that used to go out with my personal broodmare and her foal. He is much happier with her and really loves the babies. What I did was pulled her out a couple weeks before she was due and put her in the adjoining paddock and then a couple weeks after the foal is born they go back out with them. Then at weaning time we take momma away and the baby stays with him through the winter. This year my mare aborted in January so no foal. She was out with him until she was confirmed back in foal and then a friend of mine aquired a nursemare foal that came to live with Al. It has really thrived being out with him. He plays with it but doesn’t let it get out of line. He has really taught the foal how to be a horse. But my guy can also go out in a field of geldings fine so he might be an exception.