Rigg/stallion behaviour?

[kturner]

Could I please have some ideas of riggy and stallion behavior, as my gelding has always been difficult and I have always put it down to him being bright and wanting to be entertained all the time. He is very dominant and I spend all my time keeping him in his place.

I can explain more if I find he has 9 out of 10 of the symptoms, which I think he will have. Dont want to put any ideas into your heads first, thought I would do it the other way round.

[**Krista**]

Ok 'symptons' of riggy behaviour are:
Nipping
Willy out around mares or in general :p
Dominance
Rearing
Striking out with front legs
Mounting other horses
Jumping in to be with other horses
Fighting/acting territorial over mares/ other geldings
Serious interest in mares

I have a riggy gelding but he isn't a true rig, I think he was just cut late in life and so around this time of year he becomes rather er, 'friendly' :rolleyes: However he is not interested in mares AT ALL... its me he takes a shine to :eek: So I have to be very dominant at this time of year and keep him in his place which he doesnt like at all! He is always nippy during the year but at this time of year he will up the ante so to speak and although he isn't dangerous you have to be careful, as you do with all horses.

[kturner]

Thanks for that info. He ticks all except two boxes, but I could add at least another half dozen or so to your list.

Here goes:

Semi-feral lived with herd of 28 mares and foals with stallion for 4 years. Breeder had a stroke and couldnt look after them, so eventually, sold all except 3 or 4 off.

He is 10 now. I bought him off the trainer he was sent to for backing and sale. Very BHS, loads of shouting and hitting. He was out of control when he got there as he had not been handled much. He is a Section A. Never had on a headcollar or been brushed, mane to the floor etc. Absolute hooligan only ever played and never been told what to do.

I dont know what age he was gelded at, but have been told by trainer/backer it was late.

Very dominant.
Always with the herd leader whether it is boss mare or gelding.
Has no problem starting fights with 17.3 h. He is 11.2h.
When playing rears, strikes, hangs on the big ones necks, causing them to squeal then runs away, back to the herd leader for protection.
Always biting, nipping, pulling my clothes to make me go and play.
Done loads of parelli, but he only submits if he wants to.
Very opinionated, may be my fault for letting him have an opinion. Natural Horsemanship, I try to listen to what he has to say and have a 49/51% relationship.
Leads well, even at liberty stays behind me, but is always pushing my back with his nose, as if he is herding me along. Gets in the odd nip as well.
Never left my loan mare side, always going round and round her 24/7 keeping others away.
Tried mounting her cousin, but unfortunately too short. He was nuts about her, but hasnt tried it with any other mares.
Keeps me away from other horses by circling me and nipping at me, did this again today.
Always has his bits and pieces out when I am there!!!
Has never tried jumping out of field, scared of electric tape.
Doesnt like backing, but will do it if I insist.

He has got particularly bad at mugging since I started clicker training, but I believe that is a stage of the training where he has to understand I have control of the treats. Read my thread under Natural Horsemanship called, Broke my own rules.

He always gets worse in summer and better in winter.

Any thoughts on that lot lol

I have always assumed it is because I may be too soft, but now am wondering if there is a reason for this. He has never kicked, although he has thought about it, so I would assume he has respect for me. If I get cross he does back down.

[**Krista**]

TBH he sounds alot like my boy in some respects!! For your peace of mind I would speak to the vet - my boy is definately NOT a rig but he acts like one :rolleyes: I have really struggled to maintain dominance over him and he is a stubborn a*se and if he doesnt want to do it he wont! I think as long as you are consistent it gets easier but I know this year has been really tough for me because the grass is really good and thats hyped him up even more!

[kturner]

Kirsta do you have any idea about tests, he would kill a vet trying to draw blood, but I think I could get a urine sample easily enough. and what about cost?

PS. mine is a lami so doesnt get much spring grass, but he gets his friends back as he is alone in winter because they all get haylage which is too strong for him. he starts to play horse with me when he is with other horses takes him a while to settle again. he is much calmer in winter when he only has me, and I only play human lol

thanks anyway

[maryb]

the usual test is oestrone sulphate, it is a blood test. It cost us £30 or £40 if I remember correctly, that was about 1 yr ago.

http://www.nwlabs.co.uk/tp2-equine-rig-test.htm

http://www.cslabs.co.uk/reproduction%20male%20page.htm

I think it is worth considering what you do if it shows he is a rigg. In the end we got it done for other people. I would not have gone down the surgery route, as I believe it is quite risky (almost by definition - if the unwanted tissue was easy to get at it would have been removed at gelding - if it's still there it's going to be difficult to find and remove) Our boy is not a rigg, and we have ended up dealing with it by keeping him like a stallion - which is what we would have done anyway if the test had been positive. This for us meant a change of yard, and that meant 24/7 stabling over the winter, not what we would want in an ideal world, but the only way we could keep him away from mares. The change has helped, and indeed I think the stabling has helped too, as we think he is much more attached to us, and we think he is happier, probably because he no longer has the stress of looking after his little herd. He is certainly in fantastic condition.

However he was very different from what you describe, there was no agression (hope that choice of word doesn't offend, that's my interpretation of what you have said), and his manners were very good when ridden or being handled. The rigg behaviour was with other horses.

HTH

mary

[kturner]

thanks for the info

We are on a private yard with only 4 geldings, so no mares to worry about. He has only been posessive of my two mares not any others. His herding is all based around me, as they have gone now. His biting to keep control of me doesnt extend to other people either. He just seems to be either keeping me in place or protecting me or jealous of me near other horses.

It is a bit of a puzzle really, because as I said he is not like this in winter when he only has my company and my sharer. He turns more horsey in summer when he is back with the others and that is when he keeps me away from them or , them away from me, not sure which. He hasnt bitten since October and started again this month, same time he got his friends back.

:confused::confused: