Inadequate sexual behaviour in stallions

Inadequate sexual behaviour in stallions includes a variety of general libido as well as specific arousal and response problems. One of the most common and most challenging types of problem, especially for novice breeders, is sexual interest and response that varies widely from day-to-day or session-to-session, from extremely quick and efficient one day to little or no interest the next. A large portion of the stallions with such variable interest and response are best understood as representing a naturally occurring alternate breeding strategy seen among submissive bachelor stallions known as ‘sneak breeding’. Understanding of this alternate breeding strategy under natural sociosexual conditions can greatly help in efficiently recognising as well as accommodating the needs of domestically managed stallions with such tendencies.

The sneak breeder strategy

Horses are primarily polygynous or ‘harem’ breeders with longterm attachments of one or more females to each harem male. An alternate, and often quite successful, mating strategy seen in such polygynous social systems is opportunistic or ‘sneak’ breeding by a non-harem male to a female that is under the long-term care of another male. Behavioural disguises, including characteristic submissive, juvenile, and even female postures and responses, while quietly ‘biding their time’ acting uninterested until just the right moment to most safely slip in, appear to be a key feature affording momentary access to otherwise closely guarded females. In contrast to the frequent covers throughout a mare’s receptive oestrus typical of the harem stallion, the sneak breeding strategy is to breed only once near ovulation. Colts often begin breeding as sneak breeders before acquiring a harem of their own and maturing into harem behaviour. However, males may still employ and achieve considerable breeding success as sneak breeders.  […]