Geld or not? Vet booked. I am having 2nd, and 3rd thoughts. Help

Enfys

Enfys

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Perhaps I should have put this in breeding, but more people will see it here.

The Vet called (7am, they wake up early here) to arrange the alteration of Zeus on Wednesday so I need to make my mind up PDQ.

Do I geld him now or wait to see what his foals turn out like in May/June? He is not a Fugly horse.

I had thought long and hard and decided that, as he is primarily for riding he would be better off gelded, my daughter could then ride him too (I wouldn't let a child ride a stallion in public - just in case) I have no intentions of standing him to outside mares, just my own, so it isn't a financial thing. If I decided to sell him it would be easier if he was cut. He is a poppet to handle, no-one ever guesses that he is an entire, so that doesn't comeinto the equation. Keeping him entire isn't a problem, I have the facilities.

But now I am having doubts. Even to my own mind the pros of castration far outweigh the cons.

Need to talk it through with people, so talk to me please.

Hubby is no use, he just says that it is my call - not helpful. One minute I decide it is best, the next I feel I will truly regret it, I have until this evening to decide one way or another.
 
I would wait, what is he?

There are plenty of pony stallions that get ridden by kids? And on the continent you get many more stallions.
 
Once there gone there gone!
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Wait to see what his foals are like especially if he is so good to be around.
 
I was in exactly the same situation as you earlier this year. There was no real reason to geld my stallion either. He had bred two of my mares and the foals have turned out delightful.

So many people said to me that I should not geld him. He has very rare bloodlines so they felt it was wrong to even consider gelding him.....however, I have a business to run and what I found was that I had to consider which fields he could go in - I couldn't have him share a fenceline with any boarding fillies/mares, which then immediately ruled out 2 fields; well at the time I only had 4 fields so this was a bit of an issue to me.

The other issue for me was that he could not run with my geldings so he always had to live with the mares and every time they came into season it was always a pain in the butt having to move out the mares not being bred.

I also wanted to give my 11 year old daughter the opportunity to do whatever she likes with him, which she has always done on our property but she wouldn't be allowed to show him as an entire for a number of years.

Anyway, I went through having him gelded this Spring much to the disgust of others particularly after they saw the foals he threw. In my mind though, I have a filly out of him now who has even better bloodlines than he has - lines of amazing horses on both her top line AND her bottom line. This is the main reason I decided not to sell her in the end as I still have the rare bloodline but not the hassle of having a stallion here.

It's your decision and I don't think anyone can make it for you. I am sure your guy is very similar to my guy and will be exactly the same as a gelding as he was as a stallion. I did wonder whether I had done the right thing for a while and although I wouldn't say I ever regretted it, I did have misgivings.......right up to the moment this palomino foal was born a couple of months ago. Now I have absolutely no misgivings and I believe it was the right thing to do.
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I would wait, what is he?

There are plenty of pony stallions that get ridden by kids? And on the continent you get many more stallions.

[/ QUOTE ]

He's a QH, well bred, but not amazingly so. A really compact, 14.3h now, 3 y.o.

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Just one other thought which has crossed my mind. If you are to wait to see his resulting foals, don't forget you will have to wait a full year to have another opportunity to geld, unless your foals are due in April. (Flies and all)
 
Yes Tia, that had crossed my mind too.
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The flies are still bugging them now, it just hasn't been cold enough to kill the blighters yet.

I just feel as if I am so going to regret it if I have him done now, I guess I have until April-ish to really decide.

I am getting a headache with all this, I am going to pull him into the barn now and have a chat to him about it now. Lovely sunny day, beautiful colours, warm, I think I'll take him for a walk in the woods with the dogs.
 
Unfortunately it is illegal for children under the age of 18 to show, compete or ride out on public land with any stallion over here.
 
I'd opt for gelding every time. Had to make the choice on a full leopard spot appaloosa by Carnival Drum - who made 17 eventually - when he was a youngest. It is hard but I think in your heart you know what needs to be done. You have gone as far as the consultation and I truly think you are right re the pros outweighing the cons.
Good luck.
 
I didn't have to phone the Vet, he phoned me!

Turns out that he wanted to know why I wanted him cut, he said that if it was a temperament issue then he was fine with that. We have discussed it and decided that unless Zeus grows horns and a forked tail by next summer we will wait to see what these foals are like........ it seems he likes my little horse very much.
 
I think you went the right way, Enfys, although I'm usually of the "cut 'em off" school. You have your own place and the experience to keep an eye on the situation if it changes so no need to rush into anything.

Btw, there are situations where Juniors can show stallions in Canada. They can ride stallions in FEI dressage and many of the breed associations allow Youth competitors to show stallions. I see there are many AQHA and APHA with Youth points - someone must have put them on.
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It is true that recognised h/j and similar provincial and national shows do not allow children to show stallions in any classes.
 
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