transition from stallion to gelding

I didn't know what topic to put this under... lol I guess it fits into horse health as its about horse mental and emotional health!

Anyway, I am currently breaking-in a 5 yo gelding who was gelded only about 5 weeks ago. Understandably, he displays a LOT of stallion behavoiurs. He has a really nice temperament when he's alone, but when he's around other horses, he is a monster and wants to chase and mount every horse in sight. He is uncontrollable around other horses, the only reason I can control him at all is because he's only 11 hands. However, when alone, he has really nice manners (thanks to my input!!!).

My mare didn't help at all because she was in season when we introduced them and so she kinda encouraged his stallion like behaviour! Lol How can I settle this pony down and get him to act more like a gelding??? I know he'll be a great kids pony if he can ever settle down around other horses! It truly is his only fault.

When they are gelded, that doesn't take effect immediately. For some horses it can take some time until they do settle down. Treat him as a stud for a couple more months. Keep him away from the mares and other geldings.

Five weeks is very little time after gelding to notice changes in some horses.

Thanks solon, its good to have some reassurance that he just needs some time. How should I go about socialising him? I have put him in with my sisters gelding and my sisters gelding soon showed him who's boss, and I think that's what he needs! Any ideas for socialising him?

Sounds like you are on the right track. Just watch the horses. Some horses are really bad with each other. You don't want him picked on and you don't want him picking on the others too much.

Sometimes it takes them time to establish the pecking order, but if you notice that it's taking too long, then the horses might not be able to be with one another.

We do a lot of 'musical horses' where I board, trying to find the right combinations when they aren't working out.

We had our stallion gelded last July (the horse in my avatar) & I agree 100% with solon. After about 4 months you should see some major changes in your horse.(he will still show some stallion tendencys(sp?) but should behave much better) It just takes a while for those nasty stallion hormones to leave the body...

Has he ever bred before being gelded? Most geldings that have never had the chance to breed don't always realize how much they really had and tend to be on the quieter end of the spectrum. The few that have bred or been with the girls as stud have had the chance to really grow into themselves and grow into those stallion behaviors.
Be patient with him and give him some time. Regardless of what he had access to before he was gelded, it's going to take some time before he settles down and gets used to his new routine. His body is also going to take some time to adjust to hormonal changes.

Riding him away from where you know he normally gets roused up may be a good option for you guys. Will help him focus on you.

Thanks guys - he wasn't bred with horse mares because his owner wanted to try and breed hinnies (donkey mare & horse stallion). It didn't work out so he was gelded. He tried to mount my mare last week tho he's 11 hands and my mare is 14.1!!! I think i'll keep them really far away from each other for the next few months... lol

A horse that's gelded so late, especially one who was bred - to horses or otherwise - will be running on learned behaviour. Even when the hormones are out of the question, they may still always behave like a stud.

Sounds like he's very lacking in social graces, which a lot of studs are, because they're not allowed to live naturally. I would be inclined to put him with other horses, if that's a safe option, so that he can learn how to be a polite horse, stud or not. This should improve his behaviour around other horses - he'll likely still be keen, but hopefully will not be rude about it. Giving him a chance to be a horse will also relieve the pressure & frustration he feels generally too, so will hopefully tone him down a bit all round.

Aside from that, make sure you establish a respectFUL leadership over him so that you can keep control when you're with him. I'd be very cautious of other people handling him in the presence of other horses too.