Stallions in the neighborhood

[lesson junkie]

I did a search for previous threads, but no luck. We have neighbor who has a yearling stallion. She is planning to breed him in the future, and perhaps get two more. She has 3 acres, and very modest fencing-2-board, no hot wire-you get the picture.

How worried should I be about this horse getting out and trying to get to my mares? I am about 200 yards down the lane from the colt. My fencing is fine for my mares and geldings, but I would not trust it for a stallion. I don't want to seem paranoid, but my only experience with stallions has been via UPS! Am I required to fence him out, or is she required to fence him in?

TIA

[TrueColours]

What a potential nightmare for you, but I have to admit - this comment:

I don't want to seem paranoid, but my only experience with stallions has been via UPS!

completely and totally cracked me up!!! :lol:

I would say - legally - the onus is on her to keep him fenced in, but if you dont see that happening in your lifetime, might be time to ensure he stays away from your mares by running a hot wire or something similar on the outside of your fencing

Can you talk to them about your concerns?

[lesson junkie]

Unfortunately, we have had poor relations in the past. She is quick to become offended-a "handle with kid gloves" kind of person. She hasn't had horses long, I hope she is getting responsible advice from the vet. She doesn't work with any kind of trainer or other professional.

I am willing to go to a good deal of trouble to avoid conflict with her-she is able to be very unpleasant.

Guess I'll be putting up hotwire.

[Hampton Bay]

I would check the laws for your area. Some states or counties have laws about what constitutes suitable fencing for a stallion.

In any case though, it is technically her job to keep him contained.

[Daydream Believer]

Your best defense is a good fence around your mares...electric works well. I once had a mare get loose and head for my stallions paddock...several mares actually have done that (mares are worse than stallions)...but this one did it when I was not home to round her up. I came home to find two very frustrated individuals each on their own side of the fence and from the amount of poop and torn up ground, they'd been at it for hours to no avail. Neither one would touch or challenge the electric fence to get to the other. Make sure your fences are a strong deterrent and a fence will keep out a determined sex starved horse of either gender.

[lesson junkie]

Daydream-that's good to know. Neither of my mares need to join the gene pool, and her colt is definitly "not my type"-I don't want to make the front page of Fugly!

[okggo]

I'd second checking the laws in your state. I know in some instances, they are not considered a stallion until 2 (or potentially even older). Likely a yearling colt is just that, but I would bet once she has a mature stallion there are laws in the book that dictate proper enclosures. Maybe not...but sure worth checking.

[mlranchtx]

Sigh. Neighbors can be such a pain in the butt. :no::no:

Here's my suggestion because I was talking to my vet about my neighbor's stud who got in with my mares a few months ago. Had I known this, I would have handled the situation differently.

Check your state coggins laws. I live in TX and here, according to my vet, if my horses all have a current coggins test on them and my neighbor's horses get in my pasture I just call the Sheriff. The Sheriff and/or state vet will force the owner to get coggins done on all his horses and quarentine them for a period. Now, I don't know if this is true or not but I'm sure going to try it the next time I have trouble.

Yes, hot wire is your friend. Also, be very, very careful around him if he ever gets loose. I was trying to remove my horses from the pasture of mine that he got into and he tried to kick me several times. His horses are basically feral, never have been handled. It's very sad. Like I said, neighbors are a pain.

[lesson junkie]

This creature will be rising 2 this spring. He looks to be about 400lbs right now. Hopefully she will send him somewhere this summer to get him started. That way he will have some social skills, and she can get some education herself.

I try to stay positive, but we are in close quarters.

[092556]

In my county here in Fl. you have to double fence your stallion. I'd check into that and send/give her a copy.

My sister in-law's mare got bred by the stallion that lived across the street. The hot wire on top of a board on no climb horse wire did not stop him. After over a year of calling the cops and animal control weekly and not getting any help, the horse hit a motorcycle crossing the road killing the drive and critically injuring the passenger. That got the attention of the states attorney, who said he should of be notified when the problems began, yea right.

It will be a problem if the stallions are not properly fenced.

Then you will want to document everything that happens, name of every county/state official you ask help from. If they don't resovle the problem go to the states attorney's office with your documention.
Good luck

[AdAblurr02]

You do not say where you are located, OP, but in most western states, there are serious laws to deal with "estray livestock", and "estray stud animals" are a serious legal liability for their owners. It is definitely required that they be kept adequately contained and controlled. Fencing and housing requirements will vary with jurisdiction.

You may try contacting your local animal control office - they will have access to the rules and regs for your district and are a good place to start - especially as they may well be the ones that have to round up the miscreants if they do get to roaming the neighborhood!

[classicsporthorses]

Great advice here. Very true about the "estray" livestock. Basically in our parts loose stallions can be akin to loose bulls, meaning an animal control office can take any measure to get them under control-if you catch my drift. Also, she is liable for any damage. Does she have insurance on them-it's through her homeowners/farm insurance.

I have to horses here: The first is a result of a 2-plus year old getting loose and breeding her dam (I bought the foal after she was born). The second is a free broodie I got a couple of year ago who was already in foal but had been "raped" by a stallion who had jumped fence and bred her.

My stallions are behind hot fence-my other one is behind fence that his nearly 6 feet high and it has kept him in when others, including geldings, have gotten out and gone to visit him.

Use the law to your favor.

[lesson junkie]

Thanks so much to everyone for your help. I am in the Tryon, N.C. area. It's a very, very horsey place, but not many stallions. Animal control helps with loose horses, but it's just a matter of seeing them home again.

My other horse owning neighbor has spoken to her about our concern-I hope she has gotten prepared to take care of her side of the situation.

Thanks again.

[Dressage_Diva333]

Definately check the laws... you could also sue for any damages that horse does to your property, and/or your horses.

My county requires six foot fencing for the stallions. Regardless of if they are ponies, or full sized Warmbloods, thats the law. There are hefty fines if a stallion gets out and causes damages especially if they are fenced properly. Thankfully I live in an extremly isolated area, and my stallions have no access to any other horses for miles, or even to a road for that matter. I still keep them in proper fencing though, just in case.

I guess you can't control what the neighbor does... hopefully they are responsable about it...