Conference noted::equitation

    
    	I would suggest that while they are using the mare, put 
    	him in his stall, assuming he has one that he can't climb
    	out of. 
    
    	

    I'd like to know the answer to this one because we have the same
    problem! Well, almost the same. Our gelding has shared stable and
    turn-out with our mares for about 8 years. BUT just recently he has
    decided that he can't let the mares out of his sight!
    
    We tried leaving him in his stall while we took the mares out for a
    hack (as suggested in .9) but he jumped out of the open top half of the
    stall door! We've been reluctant to repeat the experiment with the top
    door closed for fear he'll destroy the stall and/or himself.
    
    John 

I have a little story for you that caught me by surprise, and I thought I
would share it with you.

Joey is my 29year old Gelding.  And last week we sprained his ankle.  We
packed him in mud for 3 days and kept him inside.  Joey has 2 stable mates
Chipper a mean 13yr old appy gelding and Shree an 8yr old Arab mare.  They
have been stable mates now for 2yrs.

When Joey was kept inside for 3 days, Shree refused to eat!  She just hung
out by the barn door all day and did nothing.  When usually she is the pig
of the bunch and they are always romping around the 6 acre's.

When Joey was finally let outside, I was not to worried since he is a good
natured old man.  But as soon as I let him out you could tell his was happy.
He was jumping and rearing and bucking and rolling in the snow..a very happy
camper.  

The next day, I noticed he looked very tired but I did not worry.  Then he
walks up next to me and he is snickering and snickering (Joey never snickers)
and I thought he was saying thankyou for taking such good care of him..well.
I was wrong...

He was snickering at Shree!   They both were rubbing there necks together and
snickering back and forth.  THEN...Shree turned around and put her tail
over her head and Joey proceeded to mount her...he not only just mounted her
they were in the "ACT".

I could not believe my eyes!  They have been together for 2yrs and they never
even winked at one another and Shree goes in heat all the time and it never
bothered him before..and it's not bothering Chipper the mean appy at all.

Joey is 29 w/ a sprained ankle!   but I guess he is feeling alot better! :-)
infact, they were in the act about 10times yesterday.  and both will not eat!
they just hang there heads over the stall door's and snicker at one another.

This morning..there grain bins were still full.  They are in love.

Louisa

Hi Louisa,

Even though Shree and Joey may be having fun, if it is allowed to continue, it
could become a dangerous habit for both of them. Shree could be injured by
flailing hooves, and Joey could get seriously injured if Shree decides
to be fickle in the middle of this activity and kicks out.

Caroline could be injured if Joey decided to mount Shree while you were on a 
trail ride, or if she were riding in the field and Joey were unattended. Even
though it seems cute and amorous, it could be dangerous.

I'd discourage the behavior if possible.

	JoAnne (the wet blanket)

    
    Thanks Joanne, your not being a wet blanket!  It's good advice.  I know
    they will stop, they were just upset that Joey was gone for 3days, Im
    sure by tonight there be back to normal.
    
    I just can't belie him.  He's 29 and gelded.  What does he think he's
    doing?  Trying to be king of the pasture again, just becasue he was
    gone for 3 days, he feels like he has to re-gain his title?
    
    (when can we ride again)
    
    Lou

    Well lou.....
    
    I bet Lindsay must of told you about my gelding being simular....
    
    I have a now 4 year old appy that we gelded last spring(91) and I kept 
    him away from the mares....I am able to turn him out with other horses
    including mares and he is good. BUT once he is out with his mother and
    another mare I have and a big gelding....all hell breaks out. Squirt
    is only 14 hands and my other gelding in 16 hands....Squirts beats the
    crap out of the bigger gelding and then my two mares who have had may
    foals stand there and he goes to town with them. It gets sickning. My
    bigger gelding got mentally depressed and stopped eating. Once that
    Squirt was removed he goes back to normal. I can put the two gelding
    out together no problem it is just with my two mares.
    
    what a pain.
    
    tr

    
    I just called my vet.  She is worreid about Joey re-injuring
    himself..BUT..she thinkgs it will be worse to seperate them again.  She
    is positive it is somthing in the minds and not a medican problem 
    (some medicans can casue a testoarone -sp- level high)
    
    She is sure if we seperate them again, it will be worse.  I should just
    wait it out.  She is sure that them being apart for 3 days has caused
    the problem and it should sub-side is a few days.
    
    We just hope that it will never happen again, but once they get a taste
    of this type of act and they like it, it will likely happen again.  
    
    I just have to keep an eye on his leg.
    
    Lou

    The vet didn't suggest you wrap his ankle for support?
    

    
    No, Joey will just get it off being in the pasture and being active.
    and he will probelly get tangled up in it.  They didn't do it yesterday
    so maybe the are done :-0 ?
    
    He's not limping anymore, but he still needs to take it easy.  He has
    had NO heat at all either.  The other gelding in the pasture could care
    less about what is going on.
    
    Joey and Shree are still eating there hay together in the mornings -
    which they NEVER did before.  Joey would allwasy kick her out of his
    hay.  I guess love does strage things to you.  
    
    p.s  The owner of the barn made me 3 hay mangers so Joey can not pee on
    the hay anymore. :-)
    
    	Lou 

    RE: .11
    
    I have just run into the same problem.  My gelding is 21yo and has been
    stabled with a pony gelding for the last 8 years.  I just brought a
    young mare home yesterday and my old man suddenly thinks he is a
    stallion.  Marking around her fence line and mooning over her every
    move.  I took him out for a ride this morning and while he looked
    over his shoulder once he went out dutifully and came home just fine.
    But boy was he anxious to be near her, he wouldn't even munch the
    lawn.  Will this run its course or for those of you who have
    experienced this phenomena were you able to calm those raging
    but supposedly absent hormones?
    
    Thanks.  Jeannie