At the most basic level, a stallion is a male horse that has not been castrated, but as anyone who has worked with them will tell you, there is quite a lot more to it than just that simple fact. While a stallion will conform to the points and configurations of his breed, he will also tend to be stronger and more muscular than the mares or the geldings. Stallions will also evidence a thicker neck with a higher crest, though this will vary between animals and from breed to breed.



While some people will say that male horses that have not been gelded end up foul-tempered and difficult to control, a little bit of experience will show you that this is definitely not the case. A stallion's temperament, like a mare's or a gelding's, will be determined by genetics and by the amount of training and care that they have received. It is important to note though, that horses are herd animals and it is important to note that stallions themselves have a role to play in the herd, and this can sometimes result in behaviors that are difficult to deal with.

Horses are herd animals, and each herd is defended by a stallion. The stallion's role in the herd is to protect the herd's mares and foals from threats, while the mares lead the herd to forage. This can sometimes make a stallion, even one that has been born on a farm and never run with a wild herd, very protective and temperamental when he feels that there is a threat present.

Similarly, stallions can be combative with each other. The herd system is generally considered a harem, with each stallion defending the mares that he can in order to breed with them. When stallions are brought within close proximity of each other, they can become territorial and need to be handled by experienced trainers.

Stallions should always be worked by people who have handled stallions before, and ideally by handlers who have had some experience with the individual animal. They are highly individualistic and it is always important to watch out for the times when their natural instincts kick in over their own training. Instances where other stallions have been brought into the vicinity or when mares in heat typically requires that cautioned should be exercised.

For the most part, stallions are managed in isolation or in a herd environment. While a herd environment, where the stallion presides over a group of mares, is more natural, it can result in the lead stallion becoming more temperamental or aggressive as well as losing considerable weight. Other people choose to manage their stallion individually by keeping them away from other horses, whether it is in a small pen with a tall fence or small field. This opportunity produces less risk of injury to the stallion and other horses and a more controlled breeding environment.

Stallions are beautiful animals and some people believe that these horses act more individualistically and more intelligently than mares or geldings. It can easily be said though, that when it comes to spirit and strength, stallions are nearly impossible to match!

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