I have a stallion. He is not a nightmare. He's a horse. I treat him like a horse. He has a companion (18mo "colt" that is studdy already) that he is penned with. We expect him to work just like the rest of the horses (in this case that would practicing halter and SHIH right now and start on ground work). We expect him to behave. He knowns the expectations and usually meets (or exceeds them). He is getting ready to be shown by a youth (he's arabian, so it's allowed, except in 4H ofcourse).
The colt he is penned with is obnoxious. But he's learning. He's a QH, and is a little too "food" oriented. He gets very food aggressive around people. He has 1 more month to outgrow this or his dangly bits will no longer be attached.
There is also a 12yo gelding recently brought to the barn. The barn owner said "No" to anymore stallions currently (unless they are Arabian.. lol.. and he raises QHs). The owner of new gelding failed to mention he was not gelded until last month. So he can't be in with mares (vet recommended 2 months to make sure nothing is left, and he's completely not able to breed), but it hasn't helped to make him more likable with other male horses. He is very aggressive when a mare is near. He probably won't be around for very long. He can't be handled by children (barn owner has 3 teenagers), or most people. He was never around horses unless breeding until recently. I think that screwed up his mind.
It's hard to own a stallion. There are a lot of things that you have to take into account. They can't just be turned out with a herd, but they need other horses for interaction (horses like other horses..lol..). You have to be very alert when working them, in case hormones take over (happens when mares are around usually). You have have them impeccably trained. There is no room for error when dealing with horses, but especially with stallions.
If you want to breed your stallion, there are lots of things to consider as well. One of them is how squeamish are you. They need to be cleaned in certain areas. It isn't pleasant, but needs to be done all the same. They need excellent handling so no one is injured. They need excellent training to know when they are expected to work, and when they aren't going to be.
And that's just handling/care. To sell foals or breedings, your stallion has to have something to offer to a specific market. Lets say you have a Hollywood Dun It son that is Dunskin Oldest progeny are 2, so not shown. Let's call him IBN Dunit (yes I know I'm using an Arabian term on a QH.. it amuses me). IBN has a good pedigree (Hollywood was a popular stallion, and people do use many of his sons frequently) that is one used a lot in one of the fastest growing Equine areas (reining). IBN is a pretty color (never hurts to have that). We'll go with IBN having no bad faults, just a few minors (as no horse is perfect). Okay, so what needs to happen? Well, people need to see that IBN lives up to his pedigree, so he probably needs to be shown or at the very least, his first babies need to be looking promising in training (and it still won't be easy to get a lot of breedings til they are performing). IBN needs to be at a place where it will be easy for people to get breedings, whether A.I. or live cover. (meaning where you live either needs to have mare care/ or be able to ship semen, or where you stand him needs to have this). Before anyone can buy one of IBN's breedings.. they need to know about him. In this day and age, an internet site is almost required. You need fantastic pictures and video (a bad photo is worse than no photo). You probably want to put him in a publication or two (working horse, etc.). Nominations for the futurities/sire payback programs. Packets of info for when people request info. Ads on the online sites to get people to look at your website. Flyers, etc. for the local area. marketing isn't easy (even if you have a degree in it
).
Most people I think, don't really need a stallion. And when they really find out how much work it is, especially if you want to promote one correctly, I really don't think most people would want one. But I would talk to many breeders (both with and w/o stallions on site) and find out the benefits. I would not ask someone trying to sell you a stallion ofcourse
.
Thankfully, a good stallion prospect, almost always is a GREAT gelding.