Adventures in Horse Breeding

[Pal-O-Mine]

I'm going to try to clean up the language for this forum but, given the topic, it might read like a dirty joke!

Our stallion, Alex, has been getting some action this summer. We bred two Haflinger mares to him last month. Well, the really nice mare took, her herd buddy didn't. ( Probably because we sent her home too soon! I told hubby not to do that but oh well! ) So she's back to re-breed. ( Okay that's gonna be a really late baby! Glad the owner is okay with it! ) Both mare and stud were happy to see each other again. I mean REALLY HAPPY! But we've had some issues with, ahem! getting the job done. Alex seems to have trouble "hitting the bullseye". The mare is about the same size as him so its not a height issue. He just gets to excited to think about aiming. Which means he needs manuel assistance from the humans. EEEEWWWWW! ( Is it wrong that my stallion gets excited when he sees the purple gloves go on??? ) This has happened whether we pasture breed or hand breed. He keeps trying no matter what and then she gets frustrated and starts kicking! Well we had three tries in 2 days and no love connection. The funny thing was how they related to each other during this time. They were only together to breed. The other times they were separated. Usually Alex and Lily talk back and forth to each other when they're apart. The times they were having trouble, their dialogue was like this,
"I'm not talking to you."
"Well, FINE! I'm not talking to YOU!"
"Fine."
"Fine!"
"FINE!"
Well, over the past 24 hours, we've had 2 successful covers. Now their conversation has been like,
"Hey babe! Are you there? I'm thinking about you."
"Goody! 'Cause I'm thinking about you too."
"Are they dirty thoughts?"
"Oh yeah! Real dirty!"
Giggle! Tee hee!

Now every time a human shows up, they get to calling back and forth to each other.

All I can say is that I'm glad Alex is as good a stallion as he is. I've seen stallions get really aggressive and try to hurt the humans working with them. Alex will back off at a shout from either of us. ( He HATES getting yelled at! Turns him into a shivering idiot! Must have been that Amish training! )

And all the time we've been trying to get them bred, its been raining, I mean a hard downpour for DAYS! Thank you tropical storm Lee!

If Lily gets pregnant this time, I think the baby should be named "Raindrop"!

Please tell me breeding snakes is easier!

Devon

 

[Bethanne]

He he he..Devon....what a crack up. I've no experience breeding snakes, but I do relate to the trials of horses! This pennsylvania rain is turning me into a mushroom too.

 

[Pal-O-Mine]

Yeah, never a dull moment in breeding season! When Alex finally got her, in the dark, in the pouring rain this morning, Drey was narrating for the stud. I told him to stop. I don't really NEED to know what horses are saying to each other RIGHT THEN. I think I can figure it out. Let's just leave that part a mystery.

GEEZ! Men!

Devon

 

[kathylove]

Cool story!

I had some horses many years ago, and do miss them (but don't miss the cost - and all of the work, lol!). I was never involved in horse breeding. Thank goodness snakes are SO much smaller!

There have been a few times over the years when the male corns just couldn't seem to "aim" properly, either. Or the females just weren't being cooperative. Early on, I tried to "help" the poor guys by lifting her tail or turning him around when he was pointed in the wrong direction. But with corns, I learned that they will do it on their own (eventually) or not at all. My "help" never seemed to really help at all!

I think you will find breeding snakes less of an "adventure" than breeding horses!

 

[pridecity]

Love your story writing skills! I've worked with horses, but nothing too exciting. I keep telling myself that if I ever have the money, I will get land for several animals: mini donkeys, a few sheep, a few goats, lots of cattle (mostly springers), a few horses, alpacas, and a herd of Galapagos or Aldabra torts.

 

[dionythicus]

It might be worth considering training him collect and doing IA. That's what my friend did with her Andalusian stud. He's such a well mannered stallion that she didn't want to risk him getting uppity over live cover. She says as long as he keeps his head he can keep his nads.