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Training a Stallion to a Phantom

A stallion's earning potential depends on his fertility. His reproductive career requires good management and positive training in breeding behavior. Training a stallion to mount a phantom and ejaculate in an AV is a matter of modifying a stallions natural sexual behavior. Like all training in horses, teaching the stallion to use a phantom and AV should be repetitions of rewarding events. Unlike training of other behaviors, the trainer cannot force the stallion to initiate the sex act if the horse is not willing to cooperate.

Training the stallion for collection requires patience, keen observation of the stallion's behavior and concious effort toward safety. Before attempting to train a stallion, the breeder should:

• Assess the stallion's maturity and libido: 2 yr olds may become too frustrated leading to aberrant and dangerous behavior. Season may effect libido.
• Have a veterinary exam for breeding soundness: Assess for lameness or back pain
• Have a plan on how to cue the stallion-sights, sounds, smells (estrous mare urine, tease mare)

Phantom & Collection Area

The collection area should be designed for the safety of the stallion, tease mare and handlers. This area should be dedicated to semen collection, free of distractions and with good footing. Phantoms are available commercially or can be constructed out of old water heaters. The phantom must be at the correct height for the stallion: if it is too high, the stallion's back feet will slip out behind; if it's too low, the stallion's back feet will slip under the phantom.

THINK SAFETY IN THE DESIGN AND USE OF COLLECTION AREA.

Stallion Handling Tips

• Handle the stallion consistently so he's cooperative and the handler knows any "quirks"
• Handle the stallion's penis so he accepts washing prior to trying to collect
• Don't correct behavior too much-within the limits of safety
• Establish cues and normal behavior pattern by repetition
• Use the correct amount of stimulation, some stallions require an estrual tease mare and others do not (may overstimulate some stallions)
• Adjust AV temperature and pressure to each stallion
• Try to make each collection attempt a positive experience

Procedure

Only attempt training when the stallion is at peak behavior time of the year, late spring to early summer. Be patient when training a stallion. Work a stallion for the maximum of 30 minutes and then put the stallion away and try later. When using a tease mare near the phantom, make sure that the mare will not intimidate or kick the stallion (Breeding hobbles should be used).

Tease the stallion to get erection
Wash penis. Make sure to get off all excess water. With a new stallion this may need to be done daily for up to 2 weeks until the stallion retains an erection through the washing procedure.
In several initial tries, after teasing the stallion see if the stallion will simply mount the phantom. Many stallions will do this even if they have never seen a phantom before. If you are not successful, then, put the stallion away and on another day, have a hobbled mare positioned next to phantom. Attempt to get the stallion to mount the phantom by approaching the left rear corner of the phantom (45 degree angle to mare and phantom). If he tries to jump on the mare, relead him to the phantom but facing directly perpendicular to the mare and middle of the phantom. Allow stallion to reach across and mount the phantom. Collect the stallion using an artificial vagina of at least 50°C.
On another day, move the mare (note hobbles) forward and approach the left rear corner of the phantom with the stallion (penis already washed and erect). Usually the stallion will mount now with no problem. If he will not mount then again aproach the phantom perpendicular to its middle and allow the stallion to mount the phantom at this point. As he is mounting you may be able to push the rear of the stallion into the correct position on the phantom.

In successive collections, move the mare further from the phantom and position the stallion to mount from the back of the phantom. Usually a mare is not needed next to the phantom after 2 to 3 collections. Some stallions may not even need a mare in the collection room to get an erection. Simply entering the collection area will be enough to trigger an erection for washing the penis. Some collection room designs include restraint for a tease mare in front of the phantom so that the stallion can view a mare during collection.

Using a Jump Mare Conditioning a shy stallion to the AV on a jump mare may be an introductory step before training the stallion to phantom. If you must collect the stallion with an AV using a jump mare, be sure to use breeding hobbles to protect the stallion and handlers (using a jump mare increase the personnel needed to collect the stallion and introduces one more risk).

Training a Stallion to a Phantom

Training tips

Common problems

Review Quiz