Studdish behaviour

[bonesmom]

Alright, this is ridiculous. Bones is an 11-year-old gelding. He has encountered fillies and mares at the track. I don't think he's ever been turned out with mares. I don't know when for sure he was gelded, but it was sometime after a 2-year-old sale in June of 2001 (when he was 2).

At our current place he is out with geldings only, but he shares a fenceline with mares...with a strategically placed hotwire that is on at all times.

One of the mares goes into the most intense heat I have ever encountered. She squeals in her stall at nothing, squeals if I go in her stall to feed her and spins to kick. She has been trying to get in heat again right now, and again, squealing like a pig.
The other day when I brought her in from the field, Bones went psychotic, neighing (which he NEVER does, btw), and racing hell bent with his tale on fire around the field. Like, REALLY racing around. He was attacking the other geldings, and basically having the hugest temper tantrum known to man. He had himself sweating, steaming, and exhausted. When I went out to catch him, he gave me complete attitude (guilty as charged?!?!) and took off. The last time he went crazy for a mare he did that as well, ran away and acted evasive.

Bones has had some weird studdish behaviour in the 2+ years I've had him, therefore I have him on Chaste berries, which help with hormones (also can be used on horses with Cushings). It seems to help a little. I also have homeopathic calming medicine that helps to "suppress male urges" (it helps a little). I also have Vicks to stick in his nose, and the mare's nose too.

I do not want to be spending money on synthetic drugs, as I feel that his body had enough drugs when he raced for 7 years.

ANY suggestions as to what I can do. I don't have the option of him not sharing the fence line, unfortunately, the BO has only a couple fields to rotate and I don't really have a say. I am sick of my horse being sex-obsessed when he has not the ability to do anything about it. Thanks.

[jenarby]

Pull blood on him and have the vet check his hormones. It is possible he is proud cut....

[easychoice]

We have an arab gelding that we've decided he's 'gay' actually 'Bi' is more like it. But it's the other horses that go nuts for him:-)

[bonesmom]

Quick question on proud cut.

Does this just mean he is still producing testosterone? Please tell me he doesn't have a testicle still...

He's normally very gentle with the other horses, heck, he even loves the dogs at the farm. He just seems to get clingy/obsessive with the mares when they are in heat. And just act like a maniac for no reason.

[jenarby]

When he was originally gelded they may not have cut enough of the cord and he could be producing testosterone. It doesn't happen as much these days as it did because techniques have changed and the variety of drugs available to ensure the job is done properly are better. The only way to know for sure is to do the blood work and go from there. He may just be overly sensitive to mares when they are in heat. You vet may have other suggestions too that could help stop or at least lessen his bad behavior.

[Big Tee©]

All geldings produce testosterone to a greater or lesser degree. Some do produce enough that mares in heat will entice them and, um, well, arouse a LOT of interest, rather unseemly interest at that.

The removal of testicles will not remove all parts that produce the vile hormone, in fact females of all mammalian species produce testosterone as well and males produce progesterone as well. Gelding and spaying remove the major source of the hormones but not all sources. Just have him tested twice, once after mares go into anestrus and once when cycles resume - the first is baseline and will give normal, low or high levels, the second is to check how much more is produced with the smells of in heat mares. The vet will tell you what to use, and remember, some of this is still instinctual behaviour and gelding will not stop all male behaviour.

I have one of these guys and he stands and carefully sniffs the breezes from the west to check if the mares across the intervening section and a bit of land are in heat, then he hunts for a low spot to roll out of the fence to go visiting. He IS improving with age though, and less apt to knock over a fence, roll under or jump over to go see what havoc he can wreak with those girls. He was actually dangerous on the track and have seen some worse that were given regumate so they didn't kill themselves or someone.