09/12/2026
I firmly believe every stallion should have the opportunity to grow up with a gelding friend. Natty's friend is Jackson, owned by Ivy Starnes and they've been companions since Natty was 6 months old. He is now 5.
Why? Because the Three F’s are important for every horse, regardless of gender:
Friends. Forage. Freedom.
Horses are social animals. A stallion is still a horse first, and having a trusted equine companion gives him the opportunity to learn how to communicate, establish boundaries, play appropriately, respect personal space, and simply exist as part of a herd dynamic.
A good gelding can teach a young stallion lessons that humans never could. When to back off. How to read another horse. How to share space. How to play without being obnoxious. How to accept correction without turning every interaction into a battle.
And perhaps most importantly, he learns that his entire world does not revolve around mares.
Then there is forage. Horses are designed to spend a significant portion of their day eating small amounts and moving between forage sources. And of course, food means appropriate nutrition, clean water, and having their basic needs consistently met.
Friends. Forage. Freedom.
Three simple things that help make a horse feel secure and mentally balanced.
A stallion doesn't need to be isolated simply because he is a stallion. With responsible management, appropriate fencing, and the right companion, he can have a life that actually allows him to be a horse.
Every stallion deserves the chance to learn friendship before he learns breeding.
Because a well-raised stallion isn't just a breeding animal.
He's a horse.
