Bucking Colt, What age do you geld a colt?

Dawn11 · 07-15-2007, 05:00 PM

I have a 4 month old colt who is starting to get dangerous. My husband and I were out giving our horses grain ( 2 mares and the colt) I brought my one mare into my other pen I have while my husband was giving "mommy" her grain. Thunder "the colt" was standing beside his mom (he knew my hubby was there) and when hubby just touched his butt to move him over a bit (we have done this MANY times) Thunder out of nowhere gave a DOUBLE buck with his back legs at my hubby and kicked him in the leg, we were lucky he didn't break his leg.
I though Thunder did this because my hubby can be nervous around the horses (doesn't trust them) and nothing like Thunder proving him right lol

, so I went into Thunder with his grain and he was facing me standing beside mom when I walked up he turned his butt to me right away and I SAW him bunch his muscles getting ready to BUCK me. I had a riding crop with me just for this situation and I gave him a good SMACK on his butt and sent him running before he could buck.
I don't understand why he is doing this but I have 5 little kids that love to help out with the horses and mostly with Thunder, I will not be able to have my kids around him if he is pulling this. Is he doing this because he is starting to get older and figure's he is coming "into his own" or could this be something else. He is the first colt I have ever owned so I don't know what age you can get them gelded at, would that fix this problem if he keeps it up?

pattonspuff14 · 07-15-2007, 05:08 PM

He's a colt so its expected for him to act like that. once he does get gelded he most likely will be a lot less dangerous. I'm not really sure what age they can get gelded at though.

Dawn11 · 07-15-2007, 05:12 PM

I expect him to act like this "to a certain extent" also but part of my question is how to handle this so he doesn't make a habit of it. If he couldn't be gelded until let's say 1 yr old then what do I do in the mean time to stop this behavior?

pattonspuff14 · 07-15-2007, 05:18 PM

Disipline him everytime he tries to kick out at anybody, like when you said you hit him with the crop. that way he'll eventually learn that he can't get away with that kinda stuff. but still continue to handle him a lot and have contact with him so that he doesn't become afraid of people. Good luck with him though.

Anti-Silence · 07-15-2007, 05:20 PM

he's more than old enough to be gelded. some people will geld them when they're a couple of weeks old. gelding him won't fix the situation completely, but it should help. you need to train him and work with him to break him of the habit before it even begins. its harder to deal with it when they're four and 1000lbs, than when they're young like this. good luck

Nickori · 07-15-2007, 06:37 PM

I think they all go through a little phase where they want to be the boss. My three month filly has never been agressive with me, but today ran up behind my daughter with her ears pinned and nipping at her. and ran past her It surprised both of us at first. She came by a second time trying it again and my daughter popped her a good one. I think it is her way of placing my daughter in the herd and figuring out the pecking order. She is learning that she is on the very bottom. They are like naughty little children at times

JBandRio · 07-15-2007, 06:49 PM

Geld him now.

However, know that his behavior is typical colt behavior, gelded or not. Get a handle on his respect for people now. Carry a dressage whip - longer than a crop. Carry it 100% of the time you are around him. Any time he comes into your space, wave it at him - he is not allowed to violate your space. You can ask him in, and you can go into his space politely. But if he comes running, start waving a yelling at him - get big and mean and scary. Do not let him approach until he's looking submissive. Do not let him turn his butt to you, ever. Watch his front legs too - colts like to strike.

Haas Horse Farm · 07-15-2007, 10:19 PM

As all have said it is just typical colt behavior. You can cut them as soon as both are hanging. I have a friend that cuts all of hers at a month or so ...

Dawn11 · 07-16-2007, 06:12 AM

Will Vets do it this young do you think. I did ask my vet when he was here a month ago what age to do them and he said around a year. That was before Thunder started his little bucking spree though, so maybe he will do it if I ask. Is it best to do something like that in the fall when the bugs are not bad or does it matter?
The flies are SOOOOOOOOO bad right now you would think there was a DEAD animal living in with my horses.

GingerSnap · 07-16-2007, 06:30 AM

A colt that KICKS, is a colt with NO Manners. If he wants to act like a big boy then it's time to grow up and learn manners. I would have him gelded ASAP. Then start working on ground manners, and as JB has said get a dressage whip!

I had a yearling that acted this same way but he would come at you with teeth barred and ears flat and try to stomp you into the ground, after a couple of sessions with the whip and defining the correct way to approach a person, he was more than happy to stand facing you with his ears forward. He knew that his other actions were gonna get an unfriendly response. He also ended up being one of the best horse we owned.

Good luck and make that call to the vet!

07-15-2007, 05:00 PM	#1
Dawn11 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 360	Bucking Colt, What age do you geld a colt? I have a 4 month old colt who is starting to get dangerous. My husband and I were out giving our horses grain ( 2 mares and the colt) I brought my one mare into my other pen I have while my husband was giving "mommy" her grain. Thunder "the colt" was standing beside his mom (he knew my hubby was there) and when hubby just touched his butt to move him over a bit (we have done this MANY times) Thunder out of nowhere gave a DOUBLE buck with his back legs at my hubby and kicked him in the leg, we were lucky he didn't break his leg. I though Thunder did this because my hubby can be nervous around the horses (doesn't trust them) and nothing like Thunder proving him right lol , so I went into Thunder with his grain and he was facing me standing beside mom when I walked up he turned his butt to me right away and I SAW him bunch his muscles getting ready to BUCK me. I had a riding crop with me just for this situation and I gave him a good SMACK on his butt and sent him running before he could buck. I don't understand why he is doing this but I have 5 little kids that love to help out with the horses and mostly with Thunder, I will not be able to have my kids around him if he is pulling this. Is he doing this because he is starting to get older and figure's he is coming "into his own" or could this be something else. He is the first colt I have ever owned so I don't know what age you can get them gelded at, would that fix this problem if he keeps it up?

07-15-2007, 05:08 PM	#2
pattonspuff14 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 844 Images: 186	He's a colt so its expected for him to act like that. once he does get gelded he most likely will be a lot less dangerous. I'm not really sure what age they can get gelded at though. __________________ equestrian.."Part of the horse deal is that it comes with a whole lot of heartache, you get used to it but It never gets any easier. Its a long and hard struggle, and thats part of what makes it so rewarding"

07-15-2007, 05:18 PM	#4
pattonspuff14 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 844 Images: 186	Disipline him everytime he tries to kick out at anybody, like when you said you hit him with the crop. that way he'll eventually learn that he can't get away with that kinda stuff. but still continue to handle him a lot and have contact with him so that he doesn't become afraid of people. Good luck with him though. __________________ equestrian.."Part of the horse deal is that it comes with a whole lot of heartache, you get used to it but It never gets any easier. Its a long and hard struggle, and thats part of what makes it so rewarding"

07-15-2007, 05:20 PM	#5
Anti-Silence Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 2,553 Images: 711 Blog Entries: 118	he's more than old enough to be gelded. some people will geld them when they're a couple of weeks old. gelding him won't fix the situation completely, but it should help. you need to train him and work with him to break him of the habit before it even begins. its harder to deal with it when they're four and 1000lbs, than when they're young like this. good luck __________________ Outriders hit the showers; Mothers, grab your daughters. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? -- Psalm 27 RIP my beautiful little Artist.

07-15-2007, 06:49 PM	#7
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 21,648 Images: 132 Blog Entries: 12	Geld him now. However, know that his behavior is typical colt behavior, gelded or not. Get a handle on his respect for people now. Carry a dressage whip - longer than a crop. Carry it 100% of the time you are around him. Any time he comes into your space, wave it at him - he is not allowed to violate your space. You can ask him in, and you can go into his space politely. But if he comes running, start waving a yelling at him - get big and mean and scary. Do not let him approach until he's looking submissive. Do not let him turn his butt to you, ever. Watch his front legs too - colts like to strike. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - Rio feels good - he bounced an in-and-out

07-15-2007, 05:12 PM	#3
Dawn11 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 360	I expect him to act like this "to a certain extent" also but part of my question is how to handle this so he doesn't make a habit of it. If he couldn't be gelded until let's say 1 yr old then what do I do in the mean time to stop this behavior?

07-15-2007, 06:37 PM	#6
Nickori Full Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Temple, Texas Posts: 230 Images: 10	I think they all go through a little phase where they want to be the boss. My three month filly has never been agressive with me, but today ran up behind my daughter with her ears pinned and nipping at her. and ran past her It surprised both of us at first. She came by a second time trying it again and my daughter popped her a good one. I think it is her way of placing my daughter in the herd and figuring out the pecking order. She is learning that she is on the very bottom. They are like naughty little children at times

07-16-2007, 06:12 AM	#9
Dawn11 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 360	Will Vets do it this young do you think. I did ask my vet when he was here a month ago what age to do them and he said around a year. That was before Thunder started his little bucking spree though, so maybe he will do it if I ask. Is it best to do something like that in the fall when the bugs are not bad or does it matter? The flies are SOOOOOOOOO bad right now you would think there was a DEAD animal living in with my horses.

07-16-2007, 06:30 AM	#10
GingerSnap Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Desert bowl of the Columbia Basin Oregon Posts: 2,981 Images: 348 Blog Entries: 1	A colt that KICKS, is a colt with NO Manners. If he wants to act like a big boy then it's time to grow up and learn manners. I would have him gelded ASAP. Then start working on ground manners, and as JB has said get a dressage whip! I had a yearling that acted this same way but he would come at you with teeth barred and ears flat and try to stomp you into the ground, after a couple of sessions with the whip and defining the correct way to approach a person, he was more than happy to stand facing you with his ears forward. He knew that his other actions were gonna get an unfriendly response. He also ended up being one of the best horse we owned. Good luck and make that call to the vet! __________________ Fly with the Angels my sweet Annie! As far as the EAST is from the WEST, so far has he removed our Transgressions from us! Psalm 103:12 Annie voted HGS's horse with the most unique facial markings! http://www.freewebs.com/sugarpinepugs/

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