Safety around stallions is of concern for good reason. He once saw a woman killed by a stallion. The horse bit her throat and ripped her esophagus out. He has also seen two fingers snapped off, forearm tendons ripped out, and people lifted off the ground by the teeth of a stallion. He himself has been picked up and dragged.
There’s a stallion that lives in a maze of pens that funnel him into the breeding shed so no one has to handle him – even though all his teeth have been removed. One of the top thoroughbred sires in the world was so vicious, only one person could handle him and a pitchfork was required to approach.
At top horse establishments around the world, breeding barns look like torture chambers, equipped with chains, whips, hobbles, helmets and flak jackets. Yet every year, every breeding season, people are still hurt, maimed, or killed by stallions. What does this tell you about the potential perils of owning a stallion? In a fight, even a grizzly bear is no match for a stallion.
Even if your stallion appears mellow, please don’t be fooled. In the right situation, stallion behavior can change on a dime and this horse can become a killer. It was a “mild-mannered” stallion that ripped out that woman’s throat. When a stallion’s libido is aroused, he becomes a superhorse. Nothing stands in his way and he will fight to the death.
Upbringing is also an influence on stallion behavior. Usually, the more unnatural the environment, the more perverted the stallion behaves. Many stallions are kept isolated from other horses. Stallions crave contact with other horses, so isolation only worsens their behavior. Unable to do their jobs, segregated stallions become extremely pent-up. Then, when exposed to other horses, they exhibit extreme aggression and become very difficult to handle. On the other hand, when stallions are raised with other horses, they learn to become polite, if they’re rude, a pair of teeth or heels quickly come their way.
Often, stallions are petted and handled by people who don’t understand the importance of a respectful relationship. Or, the stallion may be handled aggressively, punished for excitable behavior, restrained with chains over their noses or gums, kept on a tight rein. Like a man in jail, his behavior rarely improves in prison; instead, it usually becomes more perverted. Very few stallions are excellent breeding quality. Far too many people keep a stallion because they don’t have the heart to geld him. Yet, the stallion goes on to live a life of frustration. Instead of breeding several times a day during the breeding season, he’s allowed one or two servings a year, if he’s lucky. And yet all his hormonal and instinctual drives are still there. Without enough outlet for his libido, you’ll have a very frustrated or depressed stallion on your hands, with potentially serious consequences.
