people!!!!

[anotherdeal1]

why oh why do people (mainly judges) ask the question, How old is he (my stallion) ? i reply "11" next question without fail "do you use him?" Well of course i do why on earth would he still have the big round things attatched if he wasnt used Is it just a conversation starter or are there really people out there who keep boys entire all their lives and dont use them??

[halfpass]

Aug 23, 2009 21:15:50 GMT anotherdeal1 said:

Is it just a conversation starter or are there really people out there who keep boys entire all their lives and dont use them??

There are a few that keep stallions but never use them, don't ask me why but they do

[ShowPonies&Shetlands]

i think they do it because people believe if they have never been used they are supposed to be better to show with mares around them, but having never owned a stallion i'm not really sure

[Balvenie]

Perhaps people (judges) are just interested to find out more about your pony. Cant really see anything wrong in them asking.
Yes, as Halfpass says some people do keep stallions and never use them!

[hs]

Quite a lot of dressage people keep stallions entire and don't breed from them as they believe a stallion has more prescense or sparkle - personally I think it is a little cruel to not geld if you are not going to use a stallion as a breeding animal as it does restrict them a bit in terms turnout unless you have your own land and it must be frustrating for them sometimes to be around mares in season and have to behave.

[girly]

I think a many of the ridden M&M stallions are not used at stud.

[ladybird]

I agree with hs, promote the geldings in ALL breeds i say. WIth the autumn sales coming up i suppose once again we shall see an influx of hundreds of colts, ok too young to be gelded yet, but breeders once again should take responsability, keep the pony till its older, geld him, and sell with a far better chance of finding a good home. sorry, suppose im going off thread.....!!!

[sarahp]

Mine is girly - he ran out with mares here for two seasons at three and four yo before being ridden, then he came back for a month last year too in the middle of his novice showing season. This year he has stayed away concentrating on his open showing though, but he knows how to behave around mares anyway. I wouldn't keep him entire unless he was to be used, I'm a great gelding fan too, I think they are far happier cut if not used at stud.

[hopeteam]

I Think some people just keep ponies entire because they believe it gifts them more prescence, although as has already being mentioned It is quite cruel, as it sets limitations in turnout and in turnout happiness if they are not doing and stud duties.

[jazz]

Perhaps if the judges, judged a gelding on equal terms as a stallion especially in Inhand classes then more people won't be tempted to keep ponies whole. Over the years I've seen many geldings put down behind a not so good example of a stallion. Having their bits in tact doesn't always make it better a pony/horse.

In todays climate of many unwanted colts maybe the judges should begin to set a presidence that a good gelding can come through the ranks whether it be youngstock classes or 4 yrs & over instead of concentrating on whats between their legs.

Also totally agree why does a judge have to ask the age of your pony/horse when competing in ridden or inhand classes over 4 yrs of age?

I know of a judge who ask's the age and if your pony/horse is 4 yrs old they won't give it a look as they feel an inhand class is no place for 4 year olds! Regardless of quality or what else is the ring. To me this is totally unacceptable as their personal opinion shouldn't come into it, they should judge the breed to the standards set out, not age.

[elliebee]

I had this conversation at the last show I was at, I think it is unfair to put Stallions up against geldings and mares they just have more attitude and presence, they should have a seperate class just for stallions but then saying that my little shettie beat a lovely Shetland stallion at my last show and took the championship!
A yard owner at my old yard has a Andalusian Stallion, never goes out he is a big baby and hacks out with mares and pays no attention to them at all. I think he thinks he is a gelding either that or can you get gay horses LOLxx

[cassie30]

lol elliebee!! think one of our geldings was bi !!

[turtlepooch]

Quite a lot of my dressage friends keep stallions but don't use although some of them said they will use at a later date after competing.

[bowditchblobs]

Some judges do put a good gelding up over a stallion, iv had it happen to me this year, and at one of the last shows i went to a very poor example of the breed was put above mine because it was entire, it so so naughty it didnt even trot out or behave, hmmmmmm lovely. Just pick and chose who you go under, i always keep a record.

[seahorse]

see nothing wrong with keeping a Stallion and not using it until you are ready as long as they have the experiance to deal with an entire, saying that I find them easier than geldings. Give me and Mare or Stallion any day at least you know where you stand. only ever really loved and miss two geldings in my life and one of those was FM who was gelded at three. Have loved many mares and the stallions i have had the joy to work with

[pentaran]

I am quite a believer in a colt doing a job of work for a few years before it is used, so it proves itself as having the ability and the temperament to do a job of work and then maybe having a couple of your own good mares to see what he produces . Therefore it could be quite possible to have an 8,9,10 year old stallion who is little or not used. One of ours was 14 before he was put forwards for grading , after doing well in many spheres and having offspring who were also proving themselves. I dont see a problem with keeping one entire and not using it as long as all its other welfare needs are met and you more than likely have your own land , Id rather see this than people keeping inferior stallions and using them rather than gelding them. So more than likely the question was asked purely out of interest .