Unruly gelding? - Western Training & Behavior - Western Training & Behavior - Horse Community, Horse Pictures, Horse Forum and Information

Posted : 6/29/2010 2:59:29 PM

I need some help understanding my 8 year old appendix quater horse/appy gelding. Starting just this year he had developed a bad habit of kicking any gelding (not his pasturemates) close to him, including on the trail. A very dangerous and undesirable behavior. The term "Proud Cut" has been bounced around the campfire. He has exhibited stud like behavior such as cresting his neck around mares, screaming whinnies with gutteral grunts following, mounting mares in heat in the pasture and now kicking out at any other gelding that isn't his pasturemates.
I wasn't able to ride him for the last two years because of a bad car accident. A good friend took care of him for me while i was unable to, and told me of his amourus behavior twards her mares.
I don't want to ride him on the trail until I can break him of his bad habits. I would like some advice on traing tips. Otherwise I will have to sell him.
Thank you for your time.

Impdreams

Posted : 6/29/2010 7:37:15 PM

I just went through this. Your vet can palpate your gelding in case a testicle is caught in the inguinal ring. If the testicle has not descended, but may still be there, a testosterone test can be given to determine if in fact he still has a testicle or just perhaps has a high level of testosterone. It isn't very expensive around $100 more or less depending on your vet. This will rule out whether it is indeed a biological problem or a training one.

ashlingaling

Posted : 7/4/2010 6:17:45 PM

yep i think an undesended testicles cud be ur prob, which wud explain the stallion-like behaviour. Try ur vet and he'll know what to do, a testosterone test sounds best.

2manyhorses

Posted : 7/4/2010 8:15:22 PM

While the testing is relatively simple and cheap, the surgery to correct it can be very expensive. I paid over $900 for a double cryptorchid surgery and had complications afterwards.

hunterseat

Posted : 7/4/2010 9:18:00 PM

My gelding went through a little "kicking" phase. He's off the track and can arch his neck, raise his tail straight up and get that "I'm a stud" mentality. HOWEVER he's very sensible and I know exactly how far to trust him. On the trail, the first time he kicked it took me completely by surprise. It was more of a tag, not hard but still, unacceptable. After that, when he tried to kick I'd slap the tar out of his butt RIGHT AWAY. He got the message quickly. It took a couple of times of "NO!" *swack* and he's been fine on the last several trails. This will only be a good idea if you can handle the surprised reaction of a horse that's just been slapped on the butt! [ ':)'

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Are you trying ANYTHING to get him to stop? Be sure to tie a red ribbon on his tail!

wundahoss

Posted : 7/13/2010 5:19:55 AM

A red ribbon on his tail will alert other trail riders to keep their distance. While it sounds like there's perhaps more to it than that, is it possible the other geldings are coming up too close for comfort, their riders aren't being considerate of other horses &/or he is nervous of this? If any of that is so, I wouldn't blame him frankly, and wouldn't punish him for it. As for the other 'studdish' behaviour, he could well be a cryptorchid or such, or he could just have learned the behaviour, from being cut late perhaps.