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Post by elmere on May 25, 2012 10:13:46 GMT
One of my stallions is strong when covering mares and I would like to know what bits everybody else uses with the same problem? I dont want to run them out in case he gets injured as hes being shown under saddle.
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Post by Ashenvalestud on May 25, 2012 11:04:58 GMT
Have you tried using a normal snaffle bridle but using a chain?
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Post by lisadundee on May 25, 2012 11:26:09 GMT
I used a ported Pelham on my D stallion with a curb chain and threaded the lunge line through the curb rings and he back off when I asked him to! He hated jointed bits and I couldn't hold him in a normal straight bar Mullen mouth
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Tywood
Full Member
"Great ponies are never forgotten, just locked away in our hearts"
Posts: 482
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Post by Tywood on May 25, 2012 11:52:22 GMT
I use an ordinary nylon straight bar inhand bit with a chain, and this has been sufficient on a number of stallions around 13.2hh. One thing I would say is whatever bit you do use, only use that type of bit for use during covering, then he will start to know that when that bit is used he is going to cover a mare, and when any other bit is used he's going to do another job that doesn't include mares and therefore helps with excitement when attending shows etc.
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Post by lisadundee on May 25, 2012 11:55:38 GMT
Yes I always used a red line with my d and a certain bridle and he knew when the red line and this bridle came out he was going to work lol
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Post by elmere on May 25, 2012 13:04:38 GMT
My 13.2 stallions are no problem to handle but hes a 14.2 and theres alot of him, he's a very big lad, weve been using a chifney on him and have a man handling him but he's just too strong. He's alright on his back but when your on the ground he just sets his neck and off he goes. Maybe i should try a bit and chain then?
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Post by Ashenvalestud on May 25, 2012 13:19:23 GMT
I used to cover in bit and chain, maybe do some work with him in the chain before hand so he respects it and then see how you get on. Maybe you could tease the mare and if she is showing in season then you could run them out, safer for you and if the mare is showing she should stand for him.
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Post by greasedweasel on May 25, 2012 14:18:03 GMT
Ours wear a chiffney for covering and will "drop" immediately they have it on, even out of sight of the mare!!
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Post by lisadundee on May 25, 2012 15:01:20 GMT
I wouldn't use a chiffney for covering as its an anti rear bit so in one hand it's a bit to stop rearing and on the other hand your asking stallion to get up on the mare which I think is contradicting for the horse but each to their own!
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Post by elmere on May 25, 2012 16:23:35 GMT
I wouldn't use a chiffney for covering as its an anti rear bit so in one hand it's a bit to stop rearing and on the other hand your asking stallion to get up on the mare which I think is contradicting for the horse but each to their own! I know its an anti rear bit but when the stallion is ready he will be given the signal and no pressure will be put on it at that point, its a harsh bit but its like he cant even feel it sometimes even though hes got a really soft mouth. Im going to get a lunge with a chain attachment I think. |
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Post by greasedweasel on May 25, 2012 21:19:24 GMT
I wouldn't use a chiffney for covering as its an anti rear bit so in one hand it's a bit to stop rearing and on the other hand your asking stallion to get up on the mare which I think is contradicting for the horse but each to their own! Like Elmere says at that point I have absolutely no contact on him, he is walked up to the mare calmly and told when he can get on, I suspect he might find someone swinging of ANY bit or chain at that point a little off putting and unecessary? in fact 99.9% of the time I will never touch his mouth but I believe its safer to have plenty of control over him whatever the situation and keep everyone safe, him included ;D In my experience with other peoples stallions a bad mannered stallion will usually go up and plunge towards the mare so an anti rearing bit can be a great help. ETA - must admit though your combo of a ported pelham with a lunge line through the curb rings rather made me wince, just shows what works for one won't work for another. |
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Post by lisadundee on May 25, 2012 21:46:45 GMT
I wouldn't use a chiffney for covering as its an anti rear bit so in one hand it's a bit to stop rearing and on the other hand your asking stallion to get up on the mare which I think is contradicting for the horse but each to their own! Like Elmere says at that point I have absolutely no contact on him, he is walked up to the mare calmly and told when he can get on, I suspect he might find someone swinging of ANY bit or chain at that point a little off putting and unecessary? in fact 99.9% of the time I will never touch his mouth but I believe its safer to have plenty of control over him whatever the situation and keep everyone safe, him included ;D In my experience with other peoples stallions a bad mannered stallion will usually go up and plunge towards the mare so an anti rearing bit can be a great help. ETA - must admit though your combo of a ported pelham with a lunge line through the curb rings rather made me wince, just shows what works for one won't work for another. well he was 7 year old but was totally wild when I got him And had just run out with his mares all his life so not used to someone on the end of a rope telling him to wait! He had a very soft mouth when ridden but he never reared when covering he would just try drag me and run through the bit and me, tried various bits but this was the right bit for him for covering! Never needed to carry a stick or jab him or "swing" off him in it, just a slight tweak and a "wait" was enough. |
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Post by lisadundee on May 25, 2012 21:54:03 GMT
Our Hanoverian stallion covered in an ordinary jointed snaffle tied on to an old headcollar with string! That's what his previous owners had used on him for years and he recognised that as his covering bridle so we stuck with it
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Post by stormyskies on May 27, 2012 8:20:48 GMT
I just use his normal snaffle bridle that I lunge him in. He is very good for me, much better for me than my husband. I think it's cos I tell him he won't get any tea if he is strong for me lol lol. Am sure he listens! I tell him to wait and he does, often kissing me in the process! He is very much a mummy's boy though. The first year he covered he was more interested in me holding the mare than the poor mare!
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sarahp
Happy to help
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Post by sarahp on May 27, 2012 10:18:44 GMT
I think a lot is down to their initial covering experience and education, and of course natural temperament and general level of handling. I'm no great expert but have a friend who is, and when we had a little stallion here once who had been running out on the hill in his youth she found he was unwilling to be dictated to when covering in hand, she had to be very tactful with him. With mine we try to cover in hand first on their first time, insisting they are polite and obedient, and then turn out together immediately.
On the other hand, running out does help teach them their stallion manners as experienced mares will belt them if they get out of order! I heard once of a D owner taking his stallion to cover a D mare at a racing stud (mare was there as a foster mother) where all the staff were amazed at the stallion's good manners and polite way of working - top TB stallions can get shall we say over-enthusiastic and are often only presented with mares that have been checked by a vet for readiness and then teased by a teaser so are ready for covering, so all horses and humans need full safety equipment!
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Post by elmere on May 27, 2012 10:34:47 GMT
The stallion has only ever ran out with mares since the age of two and was really good with the first mare we covered ih but with the second he just went a little crazy about and it was a maiden who was unsure herself so there wasn't the choice of running them out together.  |
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Post by lisadundee on May 27, 2012 10:51:41 GMT
The stallion has only ever ran out with mares since the age of two and was really good with the first mare we covered ih but with the second he just went a little crazy about and it was a maiden who was unsure herself so there wasn't the choice of running them out together. sounds a bit like my boy, the first time I dont think he knew what to expect and then the second time he wanted to do it without my say so lol, but like I said you just need a bit that he backs off in when you say so x |
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Post by dantheman on May 27, 2012 22:46:50 GMT
I have the opposite problem!! Trying to get him near them!! Turned him out with an experienced mare as a two year old so now he is overly polite with them he stops about ten steps away from the mare nickering and will walk to them one step at a time with his eyes nearly closed bless him!!! Poor mares are practically sat down by the time he actually "does the deed"!!!
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Post by Guestless on May 28, 2012 8:48:49 GMT
I have the opposite problem!! Trying to get him near them!! Turned him out with an experienced mare as a two year old so now he is overly polite with them he stops about ten steps away from the mare nickering and will walk to them one step at a time with his eyes nearly closed bless him!!! Poor mares are practically sat down by the time he actually "does the deed"!!! Lol, my 2 year old was like that last week when I gave him a mare to play with. She wasn't quite ready the first day and very quickly put him in his place and he was much more polite thereafter.  I can't help with bit advice especially when you are far more experienced handling entires than I am. However in case it helps anyone else, I can't believe the difference in holding my colt now that I am using a stallion chain - I'm not using a bit at all. I read about threading it from one side of the headcollar to the other (but importantly over the nose rather than under) and then diagonally under the head to the ring on the nearside. I easily managed to hold him in that when taking him to the school to cover my mare even when he could see her and knew what he was going to get up to. |
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Post by keepsake on May 29, 2012 11:05:36 GMT
This is quite interesting. We bought a coloured stallion (15hh but a big strapping lad) and he is 5 this year, he has covered inhand in the past with his previous owners but in the past we have always had stallions/colts which we have owned from foals and taught them how to cover inhand.... So i was shocked when our coloured stallion was strong.... very strong and nothing was golding him back... in fact it was almost dangerous. But now thanks to the chifney I have a very mannerly stallion who waits and is a dream to cover with now..... The chifney was a last resort but my god he is a different horse and never pulls, eventually I would like to wean him off the chifney as my other stallions have only ever needed a bridle with the chain through the bit at the most.
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Post by gubrach on Jun 1, 2012 19:07:22 GMT
I can easily cover mares with just a head collar on my boy he is so mannerly but when covering mas we do not know he wares a particular bridle with a copper snaffle and a chain and long lead rope he knows when he gets the copper bit in his mouth it is action time |
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Post by gillwales on Jun 12, 2012 6:10:40 GMT
As has been previously said. it is down to the initial education, we used to have our stallions loose with the mare held from the other side of a filled in gate, the stallion handler had a schooling whip which really was not needed, we found all of our boys much quieter this way and patient. Stallions do need to be taught manors and once they are no longer shy around a mare then if they are too strong then make them aware that their behavior is unacceptable. I recall Fairfield Stud put bells on their covering bridles so the stallion knew when he was working, that way they could hack out mares and stallions together. I put a small stallion out with large mares he would not be able to cover, when he started his working life he asked extremely politely if he could have the pleasure!
Please do not just think of your stallion, remember the mares, I have had mares sent to me that have obviously been roughly treated by other stallions and it can make them very nervous to cover.
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Post by bardwellstud on Sept 26, 2012 23:35:03 GMT
stallions are like men and have to be taught and kept in their place !!!!
my boy had a very stroppy lady when he was a nipper and over keen and she put him in his place !!!! so now we have to take our time and wait to be asked politely !!!
but then cos he was a bit unstedy when he first started covering i helped by hugging him behind and holding him up and stedy !
well!!!! talk about a rod for my own back !!! i must be mad !! cos now when he gets up he looks round for me and if im not there he gets down!!! with that "well im here were are you !! come im waiting "
go on say it !! i know ! ive lost the plot but hes my man and i love him xx
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Post by pattendown on Sept 30, 2012 21:00:14 GMT
my sec b is an absolute star he only has a headcollar on mainly and very respectfull of it but he is still young but im hopeing he will stay that way as my sec a was good
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Post by Sam on Oct 1, 2012 9:08:16 GMT
Both mine cover in a headcollar so lucky there, mind you i have got a bit of a sgt major voice with a few f's if they pee around.
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