Re: Stallions in endurance riding

["Catherine Costner" <costner4@srvinet.com>]

A few people in our area (NW) ride very well mannered stallions in
endurance.  They seem to compete well.  I have seen a local trainer and her
teenager ride stallions side by side at a crowded horse show without so much
as a twitch from either gentleman.  However, other people's horses were
obviously unsettled by their presence outside the rail.

I don't want to discourage you, but the presence of a stallion, no matter
how well mannered he is, affects all the other horses at the ride.  Young
horses get scared.  Other stallions get territorial.  Broody mares get
romantic, sometimes go AWOL.  An eligible gent really does make their hearts
go pitty pat.  We learned this the hard way.  I have a good old trail mare
who will carry a beginner safely for 25 miles yet get hysterically
frightened around a stallion tied to a trailer near the finish line.  I have
another very calm mare whose usually languid heartrate simply won't return
to normal at a vet check when a stallion is tethered nearby.

My husband's first organized trail ride on his new filly toured past a
flashy fellow in his paddock.  At first we were delighted with Fianna's
seeming concentration and good manners.  But, she waited until she was out
of the stallion's line of sight and then had a serious blow out.  We all
waited while John and the filly threw in a few extra, non sanctioned,
vertical miles.  Luckily, hubby took his thumps as a rough stock rodeo rider
in his younger years and rode it out.  I am not exaggerating when I write
that the filly was in flight mode for 16 miles of Idaho high country.  Even
in the midst of her own her herd, this filly was very frightened of the
stallion.

So, I guess you have to ask yourself, if you are willing to put up with
other horses' reactions to your stallion.  It may affect your ride.

Good luck.

Cathy





----- Original Message -----
From: <guest@endurance.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 8:09 PM
Subject: RC: Stallions in endurance riding


> Sarah patchworkfarmshorsestuff@hotmail.com
> We have a 3(going on 4)yr old pinto stallion.  He is being trained right
> now.  He has lots of stanima.  I was wondering, is there any rules against
> riding a well mannered stallion in endurance. He is GREAT mannered. he
> does not talk to mares when we are working(thats a no no) get back to me,
> thanks.
>
>
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