AboutStallynrydr Expertise I am able to answer questions about Equine behavior and health issues. I can give educated advice about lameness and stallion management as well as tips on socializing and exhibiting a stallion in public competition. I have worked with Thoroughbreds and other Warmblood breeds for the last 20 years. I also own and manage a Sporthorse boarding facility.
Experience I have been a stallion handler for the last 20 years and I have many years experience showing English and Western horses. I have started and finished some very successful showhorses and have taught students of all ages and levels of riding ability. I have spent all of my adult life working with animals, horses being my primary focus.
Publications Practical Pet Care Horse Forums (Moderator), Practical Pet Care Farm Animal Forums (Moderator)I have just Co-Authored a Basic Wildlife Evaluation and Care training book that all Team Leaders will have on hand to refer to in our local Wildlife Center.
Education/Credentials Degree from UC Davis in Equine Physiology and management and large animal healthcare. Personaized instruction from Hilda Gurney in 1999 on Stallion handling/Kurring demonstrations with my stallion Gallant Summer. I have attended symposiums with Parelli and Lyons and I have found that my own philosophies are very similar to "Natural Horsemanship" methods of teaching a horse to understand what is being asked of it. Patience not force
Question My husband and I have two mares and have a boarder who has a gelding, which is in separate field now due to him mounting one of my mares. They have been separated for over 3 months but the gelding continues to yell and runs frantically if the mares are taken out of his sight. Now we can only ride when the owner is present though she just stands out with him trying to calm him. We fear he will try to go through the fence. Is this something that he will get over eventually on his own.
Answer You can invest in a little peace of mind and put up an electric wire either just inside of the fence or fix a strand of hot wire to the top rail of his pen/field and then let him run and yell all he wants. He may touch the wire a couple of times in the process and will soon learn that it does no good to throw a fit when all it gets him is "bit" by the fence.
You need to continue doing things with your own horses and pay no attention to his hysterics. Once you are out of sight and earshot, you will be able to enjoy your ride. If you have the electric fence turned on and maybe even throw him a flake of hay to munch on, he will eventually wear off some of his anxiety and in time; hopefully, he will get past this potentially harmful behavior.
Having the owner stand out with him while he is throwing a fit only rewards this anxiety. Why not have the owner tack him up and put him to work in the arena 10 minutes or so before you ride your horses. Do not let him just stop everything when the other horses leave but make him do something that he has to think about ... trotting over ground poles or lateral work on the diagonal, etc ... The idea is to put all that energy to work instead of just standing by waiting for an accident to happen.
He won't go through the fence once he discovers that it bites him when he touches it. So you will actually be teaching him a valuable lesson that will make things better for everyone... Don't let him control how you spend time with your own horses...
