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| {{other uses|Stallion (disambiguation)}} | |||
| ] | |||
| A '''stallion''' is a ] ] that has not been ] (]). | |||
| Stallions follow the ] and ] of their ], but within that standard, the presence of ]s such as ] may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to female horses, known as ]s, and castrated males, called ]s. | |||
| Temperament varies widely based on ], and ], but because of their ] as herd animals, they may be prone to aggressive behavior, particularly toward other stallions, and thus require careful management by knowledgeable handlers. However, with proper training and management, stallions are effective equine athletes at the highest levels of many disciplines, including ], ]s, and international ] competition. | |||
| The term "stallion" dates from the era of ], who passed a number of laws relating to the breeding and export of horses in an attempt to improve the British stock, under which it was forbidden to allow uncastrated male horses to be turned out in fields or on the ]; they had to be "kept within bounds and tied in ]." (The term "stallion" for an uncastrated male horse dates from this time; stallion = stalled one.)<ref name=Wortley541-2>{{citation | |||
| | last = Wortley Axe | |||
| |first=J | |||
| | title = The Horse - Its Treatment In Health And Disease | |||
| | publisher = Hewlett Press | |||
| | location = | |||
| | year = 2008 | |||
| | pages = 541–542 | |||
| | isbn = 1-4437-7540-1 | |||
| }}</ref> "Stallion" is also used to refer to males of other equids, including ] and ]. | |||
| ==Herd behavior== | |||
| ] | |||
| {{main|Horse behavior}} | |||
| Contrary to popular myths, many stallions do not live with a harem of mares. Nor, in natural settings, do they fight each other to the death in competition for mares. Being social animals, stallions who are not able to find or win a harem of mares usually band together in stallions-only "bachelor" groups which are composed of stallions of all ages. Even with a band of mares, the stallion is not the leader of a herd, but defends and protects the herd from ]s and other stallions. The leadership role in a herd is held by a ], known colloquially as the "lead mare" or "boss mare." The mare determines the movement of the herd as it travels to obtain food, water, and shelter. She also determines the route the herd takes when fleeing from danger. When the herd is in motion, the dominant stallion herds the straggling members closer to the group and acts as a "rear guard" between the herd and a potential source of danger. When the herd is at rest, all members share the responsibility of keeping watch for danger. The stallion is usually on the edge of the group, to defend the herd if needed. | |||
| There is usually one dominant mature stallion for every mixed-sex herd of horses. The dominant stallion in the herd will tolerate both sexes of horses while young, but once they become sexually mature, often as ] or two-year olds, the stallion will drive both ] and ] from the herd. Colts may present competition for the stallion, but studies suggest that driving off young horses of both sexes may also be an ]ive behavior that minimizes the risk of ] within the herd, as most young are the offspring of the dominant stallion in the group. In some cases, a single younger mature male may be tolerated on the fringes of the herd. One theory is that this young male is considered a potential successor, as in time the younger stallion will eventually drive out the older herd stallion. | |||
| ]]] | |||
| Fillies usually soon join a different band with a dominant stallion different from the one that sired them. Colts or young stallions without mares of their own usually form small, all-male, "bachelor bands" in the wild. Living in a group gives these stallions the social and protective benefits of living in a herd. A ] may also contain older stallions who have lost their herd in a challenge.<ref name=Gender>{{cite web|last=Release |first=Press |url=http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=9881 |title=Gender Issues: Training Stallions |publisher=The Horse |date= June 29, 2007|accessdate=2011-11-06}}</ref> | |||
| Other stallions may directly challenge a herd stallion, or may simply attempt to "steal" mares and form a new, smaller herd. In either case, if the two stallions meet, there rarely is a true fight; more often there will be bluffing behavior and the weaker horse will back off. Even if a fight for dominance occurs, rarely do opponents hurt each other in the wild because the weaker combatant has a chance to flee. Fights between stallions in captivity may result in serious injuries; fences and other forms of confinement make it more difficult for the losing animal to safely escape. In the wild, ] stallions have been known to steal or mate with ] mares. | |||
| ==Reproductive anatomy== | |||
| {{commons cat|Equine male reproductive system}} | |||
| {{see also|Horse breeding|Horse anatomy#Stallion|Horse sheath cleaning|label 2=Horse anatomy}} | |||
| ] | |||
| The stallion's reproductive system is responsible for ] and ] (such as a large crest). | |||
| The external genitalia comprise: | |||
| * the ], which are suspended horizontally within the ]. The testes of an average stallion are ovoids {{convert|8|to|12|cm|in|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|6|to|7|cm|in|abbr=on}} high by {{convert|5|cm|in|abbr=on}} wide;<ref name=UWMadison/> | |||
| * the ], within the ], also known as the "]".<ref name="HayesKnightbridge2002">{{cite book|author1=Hayes, Captain M. Horace|author2=Knightbridge, Roy|title=Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners: New Revised Edition of the Standard Work for More Than 100 Years|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=rcNw1sUPmdsC&pg=PA364|year=2002|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-0-7432-3419-1|page=364}}</ref> Stallions have a vascular penis. When non-erect, it is quite flaccid and contained within the ] (foreskin, or sheath). The ] is relatively underdeveloped. Erection and protrusion take place gradually, by the increasing ] of the erectile vascular tissue in the '']''.<ref name="Sarkar">{{cite book| last =Sarkar| first = A.| title = Sexual Behaviour In Animals| publisher = Discovery Publishing House| year = 2003| isbn = 978-81-7141-746-9}}</ref> When not erect, the penis is housed within the prepuce, {{convert|50|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|2.5|to|6|cm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter with the distal end {{convert|15|to|20|cm|in|abbr=on}}. The ] contracts to retract the penis into the sheath and relaxes to allow the penis to extend from the sheath. When ], the penis doubles in length and thickness and the ] increases by 3 to {{nowrap|4 times}}. The ] opens within the '''urethral fossa''', a small pouch at the distal end of the glans.<ref name="McKinnonSquires2011">{{cite book|author1=McKinnon Angus O.|author2=Squires, Edward L.|author3=Vaala, Wendy E.|coauthors=Varner, Dickson D.|title=Equine Reproduction|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=QPJQT6-g-YMC&q=penis&f=false|year=2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-470-96187-2}}</ref> A structure called the urethral process projects beyond the glans.<ref>{{cite book|author=Equine Research|title=Horseman's Veterinary Encyclopedia, Revised and Updated|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=RXhcr53lkbwC&q=penis&f=false|year=2005|publisher=Lyons Press|isbn=978-0-7627-9451-5}}</ref> | |||
| The internal genitalia comprise the ], which include the ], the ] and the ]. These contribute fluid to the ] at ], but are not strictly necessary for fertility.<ref name=UWMadison>{{cite web|title=The Stallion: Breeding Soundness Examination & Reproductive Anatomy|publisher=University of Wisconsin-Madison|url=http://www.wisc.edu/ansci_repro/101equinelab/reproduction/stallion_exam.html|accessdate=7 July 2007|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070716140038/http://www.wisc.edu/ansci_repro/101equinelab/reproduction/stallion_exam.html|archivedate=2007-07-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=cCt9EKwu9r0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=penis&f=false |title=Equine Science|edition=4th|author=Parker, Rick|page=240|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=111113877X}}</ref> | |||
| ==Management and handling of domesticated stallions== | |||
| {{see also|Horse breeding|Horse training|Horse care}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] stallions are trained and managed in a variety of ways, depending on the region of the world, the owner's philosophy, and the individual stallion's temperament. In all cases, however, stallions have an inborn tendency to attempt to dominate both other horses and human handlers, and will be affected to some degree by proximity to other horses, especially ] in ]. They must be trained to behave with respect toward humans at all times or else their natural aggressiveness, particularly a tendency to bite, may pose a danger of serious injury.<ref name=Gender/> | |||
| For this reason, regardless of management style, stallions must be treated as individuals and should only be handled by people who are experienced with horses and thus recognize and correct inappropriate behavior before it becomes a danger.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hatfield |first=Sandy |url=http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=6343 |title=Handle Stallions With Care |publisher=The Horse |accessdate=2011-11-06}}</ref> While some breeds are of a more gentle temperament than others, and individual stallions may be well-behaved enough to even be handled by inexperienced people for short periods of time, common sense must always be used. Even the most gentle stallion has natural ]s that may overcome human training. As a general rule, children should not handle stallions, particularly in a breeding environment. | |||
| Management of stallions usually follows one of the following models: confinement or "isolation" management, where the stallion is kept alone, or in management systems variously called "natural", "herd", or "pasture" management where the stallion is allowed to be with other horses. In the "harem" model, the stallion is allowed to run loose with mares akin to that of a ] or ] herd. In the | |||
| "bachelor herd" model, stallions are kept in a male-only group of stallions, or, in some cases, with stallions and geldings. Sometime stallions may periodically be managed in multiple systems, depending on the season of the year. | |||
| The advantage of natural types of management is that the stallion is allowed to behave "like a horse" and may exhibit fewer ]. In a harem model, the mares may "cycle" or achieve ] more readily. Proponents of natural management also assert that mares are more likely to "settle" (become ]) in a natural herd setting. Some stallion managers keep a stallion with a mare herd year-round, others will only turn a stallion out with mares during the breeding season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Strickland |first=Charlene |url=http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=159&nID=5&n=Stallion |title=Return to Nature With Pasture Breeding |publisher=The Horse |date= July 5, 2007|accessdate=2011-11-06}}</ref> | |||
| In some places, young domesticated stallions are allowed to live separately in a "bachelor herd" while growing up, kept out of sight, sound or smell of mares. A Swiss study demonstrated that even mature breeding stallions kept well away from other horses could live peacefully together in a herd setting if proper precautions were taken while the initial herd hierarchy was established.<ref name=pasture>{{cite web|first= Christa |last=Lesté-Lasserre |url=http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=16476 |title=Pasturing Stallions Together Can Work, Says Study |publisher=The Horse |date= June 8, 2010|accessdate=2011-11-06}}</ref> | |||
| As an example, in the ], England, breeding stallions run out on the open Forest for about two to three months each year with the mares and youngstock. On being taken off the Forest, many of them stay together in bachelor herds for most of the rest of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.verderers.org.uk/oct05mins.pdf |title=MINUTES of the Court of Verderers |format=PDF |page=3 |date=19 October 2005 |accessdate=2011-12-26}}(Document refers to the local group-keeping of stallions: 15 stallions on winter grazing at New Park, 20 stallions at Cadland, and to free winter grazing to all stallions passed to run on the Forest, "all those stallions will now remain at our two secure grazing sites at New Park and the Manor of Cadland")</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.verderers.org.uk/apr09mins.pdf |title=MINUTES of the Court of Verderers |format=PDF |page=3 |date=15 April 2009 |accessdate=2011-12-24}}(Document refers to the group-keeping of 22 stallions at Cadland)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfstallions.info/ |title=New Forest Pony Stallions |publisher=Nfstallions.info |date=2011-10-02 |accessdate=2011-11-06}}(This site has photographs and video of group-kept stallions)</ref> New Forest stallions, when not in their breeding work, take part on the annual ], working alongside mares and geldings, and compete successfully in many disciplines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ellinghamshow.co.uk/attractions.html |title=Ellingham show ringside attractions |publisher=Ellinghamshow.co.uk |accessdate=2011-11-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newforestpony.com/news_quadrille_dec10.php |title=Winning Olympia Quadrille |publisher=The New Forest Pony |date=2010-12-18 |accessdate=2011-11-06}}</ref> | |||
| There are drawbacks to natural management, however. One is that the breeding date, and hence foaling date, of any given mare will be uncertain. Another problem is the risk of injury to the stallion or mare in the process of natural breeding, or the risk of injury while a hierarchy is established within an all-male herd. Some stallions become very anxious or temperamental in a herd setting and may lose considerable weight, sometimes to the point of a health risk. Some may become highly protective of their mares and thus more aggressive and dangerous to handle. There is also a greater risk that the stallion may escape from a pasture or be stolen. Stallions may break down fences between adjoining fields to fight another stallion or mate with the "wrong" herd of mares, thus putting the pedigree of ensuing foals in question.<ref>{{cite web|last=McDonnell |first=Sue |url=http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=6283 |title=Keeping Horses in Harems |publisher=The Horse |accessdate=2011-11-06}}</ref> | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| The other general method of managing stallions is to confine them individually, sometimes in a small ] with a tall fence, other times in a ], or, in certain places, in a small ] (or paddock) with a strong ]. The advantages to individual confinement include less of a risk of injury to the stallion or to other horses, controlled periods for breeding mares, greater certainty of what mares are bred when, less risk of escape or theft, and ease of access by humans. Some stallions are of such a temperament, or develop vicious behavior due to improper socialization or poor handling, that they must be confined and cannot be kept in a natural setting, either because they behave in a dangerous manner toward other horses, or because they are dangerous to humans when loose. | |||
| The drawbacks to confinement vary with the details of the actual method used, but stallions kept out of a herd setting require a careful balance of ] and exercise for optimal health and fertility. Lack of exercise can be a serious concern; stallions without sufficient exercise may not only become fat, which may reduce both health and fertility, but also may become aggressive or develop ] due to pent-up energy. Some stallions within sight or sound of other horses may become aggressive or noisy, calling or challenging other horses. This sometimes is addressed by keeping stallions in complete isolation from other animals. | |||
| However, complete isolation has significant drawbacks; stallions may develop additional behavior problems with aggression due to frustration and pent up energy. As a general rule, a stallion that has been isolated from the time of weaning or sexual maturity will have a more difficult time adapting to a herd environment than one allowed to live close to other animals. However, as horses are instinctively social creatures, even stallions are believed to benefit from being allowed social interaction with other horses, though proper management and cautions are needed.<ref name=pasture/> | |||
| Some managers attempt to compromise between the two methods by providing stallions daily turnout by themselves in a field where they can see, smell, and hear other horses. They may be stabled in a ] where there are bars or a grille between stalls where they can look out and see other animals. In some cases, a stallion may be kept with or next to a ] or a nonhorse companion animal such as a ], a gelded ], a ], or other creature. | |||
| Properly trained stallions can live and work close to mares and to one another. Examples include the ] stallions of the ] in ], ], where the entire group of stallions live part-time in a bachelor herd as young ], then are stabled, train, perform, and travel worldwide as adults with few if any management problems. However, even stallions who are unfamiliar with each other can work safely in reasonable proximity if properly trained; the vast majority of ] horses on the ] are stallions, as are many equine athletes in other forms of competition. Stallions are often shown together in the same ring at ]s, particularly in ] classes where their ] is evaluated. In horse show performance competition, stallions and mares often compete in the same arena with one another, particularly in ] and ] "pleasure"-type classes where horses are worked as a group. Overall, stallions can be trained to keep focused on work and may be brilliant performers if properly handled.<ref>{{cite web|last=Strickland |first=Charlene |url=http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=772&nID=5&n=Stallion |title=Males as Athletes |publisher=The Horse |accessdate=2011-11-06}}</ref> | |||
| A ] stallion is more apt to present challenging behavior to a human handler than one who has not bred mares, and stallions may be more difficult to handle in spring and summer, during the breeding season, than during the fall and winter. However, some stallions are used for both ] uses and for breeding at the same general time of year. Though compromises may need to be made in expectations for both athletic performance and ] rate, well-trained stallions with good temperaments can be taught that breeding behavior is only allowed in a certain area, or with certain cues, equipment, or with a particular handler.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mendell |first=Chad |url=http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=6549 |title=Stallion Handling (AAEP 2005) |publisher=The Horse |year= 2005|accessdate=2011-11-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McDonnell |first=Sue |url=http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=8808 |title=Keeping Stallions Focused |publisher=The Horse |accessdate=2011-11-06}}</ref> However, some stallions lack the temperament to focus on work if also breeding mares in the same general time period, and therefore are taken out of competition either temporarily or permanently to be used for breeding. When permitted by a ], use of ] is another technique that may reduce behavior problems in stallions. | |||
| ==Cultural views of stallions== | |||
| ] | |||
| Attitudes toward stallions vary between different parts of the world. In some parts of the world, the practice of ] is not widespread and stallions are common. In other places, most males are gelded and only a few stallions are kept as breeding stock. | |||
| ] who produce ] bloodstock often recommend that no more than the top 10 percent of all males be allowed to reproduce, to continually improve a given ] of horse. | |||
| People sometimes have inaccurate beliefs about stallions, both positive and negative. Some beliefs are that stallions are always mean and vicious or uncontrollable, other beliefs are that misbehaving stallions should be allowed to misbehave because they are being "natural", "spirited" or "noble." In some cases, fed by movies and fictional depictions of horses in literature, some people believe a stallion can bond to a single human individual to the exclusion of all others. However, like many other misconceptions, there is only partial truth to these beliefs. Some, though not all stallions can be vicious or hard to handle, occasionally due to genetics, but usually due to improper training. Others are very well-trained and have excellent manners. Misbehaving stallions may look pretty or be exhibiting instinctive behavior, but it can still become dangerous if not corrected. Some stallions do behave better for some people than others, but that can be true of some mares and geldings, as well. | |||
| In some parts of ] and the ], the riding of stallions is widespread, especially among male riders. The gelding of stallions is unusual, viewed culturally as either unnecessary or unnatural. In areas where gelding is not widely practised, stallions are still not needed in numbers as great as mares, and so many will be culled, either sold for ] or simply sold to traders who will take them outside of the area. Of those that remain, many will not be used for breeding purposes. | |||
| In ], ], and the ], keeping stallions is less common, primarily confined to purebred animals that are usually trained and placed into competition to test their quality as future breeding stock. The majority of stallions are gelded at an early age and then trained for use as everyday working or riding animals. | |||
| ==Geldings== | |||
| {{main|Gelding}} | |||
| If a stallion is not to be used for breeding, gelding the male horse will allow it to live full-time in a herd with both males and females, reduce aggressive or disruptive behavior, and allow the horse to be around other animals without being seriously distracted.<ref name=Netvet>{{cite web|url=http://www.netvet.co.uk/equine/neutering/advantages-of-neutering-horses.htm|title=The Advantages of Spaying and Castrating Horses|publisher=Netvet UK|accessdate=2014-03-03}}</ref> If a horse is not to be used for breeding, it can be gelded prior to reaching sexual maturity. A horse gelded young may grow taller<ref name=Netvet/> and behave better if this is done.<ref name=Hill>{{cite web|url=http://www.horsekeeping.com/horse_health_care/gelding_and_aftercare.htm|author=Hill, Cherry|title= Gelding and Aftercare|year=2008|publisher=Cherry Hill|accessdate=2014-03-03}}</ref> Older stallions that are sterile or otherwise no longer used for breeding may also be gelded and will exhibit calmer behavior, even if previously used for breeding. However, they are more likely to continue stallion-like behaviors than horses gelded at a younger age, especially if they have been used as a breeding stallion. Modern surgical techniques allow ] to be performed on a horse of almost any age with relatively few risks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehorse.com/articles/10024/castration-in-the-horse|title=Castration in the Horse|author=Cable, Christina S.|date=April 1, 2001|publisher=The Horse|accessdate=2014-03-03}}</ref> | |||
| In most cases, particularly in modern industrialized cultures, a male horse that is not of sufficient quality to be used for breeding will have a happier life without having to deal with the instinctive, hormone-driven behaviors that come with being left intact. Geldings are safer to handle and present fewer management problems.<ref name=Hill/> They are also more widely accepted. Many ]s will refuse clients with stallions or charge considerably more money to keep them. Some types of ] activity, such as events involving children, or clubs that sponsor purely recreational events such as ], may not permit stallions to participate.{{cn|date=March 2014}} | |||
| However, just as some pet owners may have conflicting emotions about ] a male ] or ], some stallion owners may be unsure about gelding a stallion. One branch of the ] community maintains that castration is mutilation and damaging to the animal's psyche.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schmid| first=Mark|url=http://www.animaldignity.org/generaltopics/sexualityofanimals/soawhatiscastration/main_xx.php |title= What is Castration / Spaying / Neutering?|publisher=Organization for Animal Dignity |date=2010-02-20 |accessdate=2011-11-06}}</ref> | |||
| ===Ridglings=== | |||
| {{main|Ridgling}} | |||
| A ] or "rig" is a ], a stallion which has one or both testicles undescended. If both testicles are not descended, the horse may appear to be a gelding, but will still behave like a stallion. A gelding that displays stallion-like behaviors is sometimes called a "false rig".<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/57411.html |title=When is a gelding actually a rig? |journal=Horse & Hound |date=February 11, 2013 |accessdate=2014-03-03}}</ref> In many cases, ridglings are ], or have fertility levels that are significantly reduced. The condition is most easily corrected by gelding the horse. A more complex and costly surgical procedure can sometimes correct the condition and restore the animal's fertility, though it is only cost-effective for a horse that has very high potential as a breeding stallion. This surgery generally removes the non-descended testicle, leaving the descended testicle, and creating a horse known as a monorchid stallion. Keeping cryptorchids or surgically-created monorchids as breeding stallions is controversial, as the condition is at least partially genetic and some handlers claim that cryptorchids tend to have greater levels of behavioral problems than normal stallions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehorse.com/articles/11695/surgery-to-address-roman-rulers-ridgling-condition|title=Surgery to Address Roman Ruler's Ridgling Condition|publisher=The Horse|author=Paulick, Ray|date=November 5, 2004|accessdate=2014-03-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehorse.com/articles/11443/stallion-or-gelding|title=Stallion or Gelding?|publisher=The Horse|author=Smith Thomas, Heater|date=July 1, 2004|accessdate=2014-03-03}}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| <references/> | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 21:34, 29 April 2014
A anamil with a really long weiner