Racing stallions

Question
Hi Stephanie
My partner has a twelve month old TB colt who he has decided not to geld, unless the colt proves that he needs it.  However, I also have a mare and my partner is concerned that she will 'teach' him to be too focussed on being a stallion.  She has recently been backing up to the colt over the fence that separates them.  We have a very small property, so although I am able to separate them so that they cannot touch each other physically, they are still very close to one another. My partner doesn't want the colt to learn that he's a stallion and although the colt doesn't seem interested in her yet, he doesn't want him to reach the stage where he is interested.  I'm wondering if you have any advice re. whether I will have to agist her out to stop the colt's 'racing focus' from being impacted upon, etc. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Leisa.  

Answer
Hey Leisa!

Nice to hear from you again.  Your mare cannot actually "teach" your partner's colt to be a stallion.  Hormones will do that for him, or they won't.  If a colt is going to be studdish and rank, he'll start being difficult about it regardless of whether or not there is a mare nearby.  Simply having a mare close to him doesn't automatically mean that he'll turn into a raging monster.  As an example, we currently have a gorgeous three year old colt right now, who is the most laid back fellow you'll ever want to meet.  The fillies love him, and tease to him constantly, but he pays zero attention.  He's friendly, but very well behaved, no snorting, screaming, nothing.  It just isn't in his nature.

Conversely, many breeding stallions are perfectly behaved regardless of what else is going on around them, simply beacuse they have been trained that breeding has a time and a place, and that sort of behavior isn't tolerated anywhere else. My late Arab stallion was one of those.  He was an absolute gem.  A great breeder, but when you were leading him or riding him, you could take him straight through a field of open mares, and he wouldn't twitch.  A perfect gentleman, and an absolute joy.  He is greatly missed.

My advice would be to just deal with any problems as they happen.  If the colt starts getting difficult, or starts running the fence near the mare, then you can try to train him out of it, or you can just geld him.  A nervous, studdish colt wouldn't be much use at the races, anyway, trust me.  I've said before that I prefer to leave my colts intact as long as they behave, but I don't cut them any slack if they prove unable to handle the hormonal rush.  A good gelding is far preferable to a bad colt.

Is this colt out by himself?  He might be better adjusted if he had a buddy or two.  Horses are herd animals, and maybe he's hanging out by the mare more often out of loneliness, as much as anything.  

Good luck, and keep me posted!
Stephanie Frost
www.alchemybloodstock.com