Arguments for NOT gelding

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diluteherd

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Just wondering if you can give me a little support on this matter.

I have a gorgeous colt, standing at about 15.1/2hh and is 15months old.

I do not want to geld him till he is 3 - if at all as his bloodlines, movement and conformation all point towards a fantastic stud horse.

He is a complete softy through and through, he gets occasionally bouncy when lead in just a headcollar, but once bitted he behaves like a little angel! (i have done this earlier than I ever do as I do want to show him and for my safety and other show goers I feel it is my responsibilty to have him under complete control)

Anyway I am under orders from my dad to have his manhood chopped. He is not horsey in the slightest - though is a farmer so really says all!! Apparently he has a good source that is telling him that my colt should be gelded. Im guessing it would be my brothers 'very' horsey girlfriend who never has excepted my offer to go out on a hack, but brings the violins out about how she had to get rid of her horse due to college and how she cant have one due to working full time. Im at uni, I commute 3 hours a day and have 5 horses! :mad: Anyway she has a habit of dropping me in it - telling my family when I buy a new horse or even enquire about one on facebook which gets me into untold trouble!!

Anyway I need loads of arguments for a reason NOT to geld till he is at least 3.

I have said so far he is too young, you are better off doing it at 18 months, I have also said to my father-stupid-arrogant-farmer-man :mad: that being as he will make 17hh+ It is in my colts interest not to geld and allow him to fill out as much as possible, preventing him from looking like Mr.Tickle!


*Watch this space soon for a massive rant - I would not put it past my dad to arrange for him to be gelded behind my back - even though I bought him and I insure him and he is my horse!*
 
How old are you 8 or 18?

There are far too many horses being bred, have you got the next burghley winner on your hands? I think not.

You wait until he's three, and he's more than likely to think he's still got them and be a complete nuisance
 
Who ownes the land your colt is on? If the land owner says no entires over 18 months, then you have the choice of gelding or moving. I have to say I agree with your father, leaving a horse that is going to get to that size entire until he is almost fully mature is not a good idea. He may well be soft now, but is likely to get less so as time goes on.
 
I used to work for a guy who had race horses. He never gelded them til they were 3 and as you say they filled out and ultimately turned into very nice geldings. They could be a bit sharp as colts but once gelded they were ok.
 
wench said:
There are far too many horses being bred, have you got the next burghley winner on your hands? I think not.
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And how do YOU know? :confused:

Anyway, OP, the value argument might be one of some use - if your lovely colt goes through grading successfully, he will be a) worth more with his bits attached and b) have earning potential.
 
I would also use the value argument...a geldings value is only as a riding horse, if he were to have an injury he would have no use. A mare or stallion always has the opportunity of another job.
 
If you have the means [experience and facilities] to keep them entire, then why not? Doesn't necessarily mean you'll use them for stud right at this moment, or even use them for yourself at all, but at least, you have the option to should they amount to anything! Rather that, than chop them off and regret it later.
 
Get him licenced with a relevant stud book/society and if he doesn't then geld. He may well be nice and as I don't know him I cannot comment but to remain entire and be bred from he really needs to be exceptional.
 
wench said:
How old are you 8 or 18?

There are far too many horses being bred, have you got the next burghley winner on your hands? I think not.

You wait until he's three, and he's more than likely to think he's still got them and be a complete nuisance
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Hang on a cotton picking minute!!!!!

I did not ask for that kind of comment - for your info Im 25... This is not a thread for debating the ultimate breeding problems we have at the minute. If I were to stand him at stud I would look to only putting him with a possible 2 broodys per year! I too feel much anguish over the over breeding and if I didnt think he would cut the mustard then balls would be in my freezer - I like to keep them as momentums cos Im a bit weird :o

Its my dad's land that is unused. I maintain it, keep it tidy and work on the farm to pay towards costs of having my horses there.


Regarding the handling of him, Ive worked on yards and handled lots of stallions, so Im not overly worried about handling and his size does not scare me - he isnt out to get me, unlike some mares Ive worked with in the past!

FfionWinnie - That point is my biggest arguement, I want him to fill out and make his potential - Ive seen geldings gelded at 18months and they have no shape. I have a gelding who was geldig a 3 1/2years, admittedly there is space that needs filling with muscle but he has kept that beautiful stallion top line.
 
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burge said:
Get him licenced with a relevant stud book/society and if he doesn't then geld. He may well be nice and as I don't know him I cannot comment but to remain entire and be bred from he really needs to be exceptional.
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This is also true and something Im trying to get sorted - if it doesnt get sorted then he WILL be gelded, but I am adamant I do not want to do it till he has hit 3 - one of the top newmarket vets (who is now retired so not still wet behind the ears from vet school!) advised me to keep him entire till he was 3.
 
I like to run mine on a bit before gelding if their temperament and manners allow for it. I do believe they mature better. Having said that I also believe that the only reason to keep them entire as adults is if they are of excellent breeding and superb quality, and I mean superb, not very good.
They lead a far happier relaxed life as a gelding, so unless a horse were to be used as a stallion regularly, attracting a good number of mares per year, I would say cut him, for his own sake once he was 2 or 3.
 
Thank you - please note he doesnt usually run across my garden but I was gardening and he follows me around and we keep each other company as gardening is just RUBBISH!
 
Posted my comment before I saw pics. He does look lovely, but I wouldn't like to give an opinion on whether he is stallion material based on a photo. I still feel that it would be better to wait before gelding if possible, as I said I believe they mature better and also you will have a better idea of stallion potential as a 3 year old.
 
Stallions are normally judged on their necks and conformation. A stallion who is superb quality should have a nice round cresty neck. The rounder/bigger/crestier the neck is, the better the stallion. IM not sure, and im sorry if this is rude but im being honestm i think this horse should be castrated.
He is lovely though:)
 
xxlindeyxx said:
Stallions are normally judged on their necks and conformation. A stallion who is superb quality should have a nice round cresty neck. The rounder/bigger/crestier the neck is, the better the stallion. IM not sure, and im sorry if this is rude but im being honestm i think this horse should be castrated.
He is lovely though:)
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eh?
the horse is 15 months old... it would be kind of weird if it had a cresty neck. And I would imagine, no, I actually am sure that the grading of stallions takes a bit more into consideration than just the horse's neck.
 
martlin said:
eh?
the horse is 15 months old... it would be kind of weird if it had a cresty neck. And I would imagine, no, I actually am sure that the grading of stallions takes a bit more into consideration than just the horse's neck.
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I said Neck and Conformation, along with everything else. Obviously they take more into consideraton, i know that. Im was just saying that the horse is not stallion material regardless of age. :rolleyes:
 
I'm fascinated... I really am! The great ability to judge a youngster's stallion potential from a couple of photos, at 15 months old.
Not to mention that the OP wasn't asking if she should geld him, she asked for arguments against gelding, or for gelding later in life.
 
Please don't take this as rude...how well bred is he?
Its all very well saying he has lines but I've seen many a horse who if you dig deep enough you will come across a name...usually Saddlers Wells ;p

On the looks front he certainly has got something about him. If he had a good record in a discipline I'd certainly be tempted to put my mare to him.

What do you intend to do with him?
If you do keep him entire start getting him out and about and seen as a youngster. Lots of people to show him off to.
 
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