Gelding a three year old?

A

Ahrena

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 June 2007
Messages
1,882
Visit site
Hi,I was just wondering about what effect it would have on a horse's temperment if gelded this late?

I've found a horse I like the look of only its still entire. I would be gelding it, but I was wondering if it is likely to be fairly riggish?

Also how expensive is it to geld and what does the recovery period involve?

Thanks
 
I have just had a 2yr old gelded. Some of his behaviour has stopped almost immediately, he has stopped fighting with my gelding (they were not just playing) and he has calmed down and become more placid, but my vet said it can take up to 6 months for their behaviour to change, so I am expecting more gradual change (like trying to nip) to happen over a longer period.

My boy had a retained testicle so he had to be knocked out, he had to stay in for a couple of days, be in a small paddock for a further 3-4 days and then return to normal. As mine had a GA his bill was about £500 but it would be a lot cheaper if it can be done standing. Your vets can give you a quote but best to check they have both dropped as this can impact cost considerably.
 
I know a horse who was used to cover mares until he was gelded at 4 or 5 - he is the sweetest horse you could hope to meet. No riggish behaviour and an angel to handle. Maybe they just stuck out in the luck stakes and I am sure it is not always the case, but I would imagine if he is decent to handle entire then behaviour can only improve when gelded. No idea about cost/recovery, sorry.
 
We had one gelded at 3, Connemara x Thoroughbred before we sold him. He was a very clever, even-tempered chap anyway so his temperament didn't change that much except of course he lost interest in mares. It's better if they are out and moving and we wouldn't have done it at this time of year because of flies.
 
I've also just had a two year old gelded, he was pretty strong and stallion-like and was making a nuisance of himself

He settled down surprisingly quickly but did lose some of his stallion shape and got a bit flabby so went on a diet!

The cost was paid with a larger bill so I cant be exactly sure but I think it was £180 plus meds etc and ended up around the £250 mark

I was shocked at how the wounds are left open - I know its normal to do but if you havent seen it before its scary looking. Pony stood in overnight then was turned out as per the vets instructions, he dripped blood for about a day then a few clots came away and he dripped a cloudy liquid. he was quite stiff walking and looked a bit sorry for himself but was eating, drinking, rolling and annoying the other pony so he cant have felt too bad! this all lasted about ten days then he was fine
 
Ive gelded 4 & 5yos with no problem and they quietened down very quickly afterwards. A friend gelded an 8yo welsh a that had covered since he was 3yo. The following year the pony went to hoys in both lead rein and first ridden . Its perfectly doable and if done properly will not cause future problems.
 
My Arab was gelded at 4 he had never covered and was a very well behaved stallion with a good temprement apart from rearing on his way to the field, after he was cut he never reared again and was just a calmer horse all round really, his still the same horse has the same funny ways but now a gelding, he can be dominant in the field he is always the boss but I think that is just the way he is, the vet gelded him in a stable standing up took about half an hour and was out in the field the next day I think it was about £200.

I think if they have a good temprement as an entire you cant go wrong really they will only be easier once cut.
 
Last edited:
I've had a few gelded late and they have all been awesome - I think a lot depends on how people actually handle them - a horse gelded as a yearling can be a pain in the butt if not handled correctly
 
I know a stud who was gelded at the age of 8. He had covered mares previously, but now, after a year or so, he is among the calmest, well-mannered geldings you'll ever see.
 
My new boy was gelded last year, aged 3. He does still enjoy admiring the girls over the fence (it doesn't help that they seem to love him!), but he's a lamb to handle.
 
Thanks all.

Unfortunately just googled the name of the yard selling him and very mixed reviews came up from on here a few years back so not sure now!
 
Ahrena said:
Thanks all.

Unfortunately just googled the name of the yard selling him and very mixed reviews came up from on here a few years back so not sure now!
Click to expand...

I would actually just bear that in mind but still go and vew. you could be missing a good horse all because of hearsay.

Just go in with an open mind and judge what you see infront of you on the day.

As for gelding 3 year olds, no worries, it is done all the time. Sometimes learned behaviour takes a while to be unlearned, and I have known a couple of geldings (that had bred) that could never run with mares, I know a lot more that were perfectly fine though.

I have the Vet here today to decide which way would be best for my 8 year old to be castrated.

Re wound sites:

My Vet, who is my God in all things horse, is the only one I have ever come across that does this - he leaves a dressing in and clamps the operation site for 24 hours and then returns the next day to remove and check wound. Helps to prevent hernia and blood loss, he must have done upwards of a dozen castrations for me and never, once, have I had any excess bleeding, infection or problems. At first I thought "Whaaaaaaaaat? :eek:" but then, he was practising when I was born and is one of the most respected Equine Practitioners in Ontario.
 
Agree with all of the above! If you like the horse, go and see it, just be aware of what you've read. If there're mixed reviews, at least it's not all negative!

My daft yellow horse wasn't gelded until he was 10 and worked as a stud stallion. He couldn't be turned out with mares or in a mixed herd, because he would try to cover them and fight. But in all other respects, he was an utter saint. I used to use him as the ride horse to do a ride and lead with my first youngster (mare). He travelled with her, was stabled next to her, and tied up next to her without batting an eyelid. Actually, his worst habit around her was to drag his feed bucket along the bars between their boxes, I think because he liked watching her freak out and try to hide in a corner!
 
I have had 9 year old and 11 year old covering stallions castrated recently (in order to be sold on as riding horses to people who did not feel able to keep stallions), and they were as completely lovely gentlemen geldings as they were mannerly stallions. Gelding will probably tone down the more outré macho characteristics, but a 3 year old is only just starting to realise he is a stallion anyway so you most likely won't have to worry about anything.
 
We are about to have a 5 year old gelded. My friend sold a stallion about a month or so ago and the people have had him gelded, he was 14.
 
Thank you.

I think i will see him as I'm going to the area anyway to look at some other horses so worth a trip. I think my concerns are if the bad reviews are true there might be a possibility they tried to back him and he was a lunatic?

Guy on the phone seemed honest enough. He said he's good in all respects and has a lovely sweet temperament but can get a bit 'lairy' (I should of probably asked him to expand :o) when he comes out of his box, but then he's currently mostly stabled and just gets turned out in the school an hour or so a day ATM so I kind of feel that is to be expected.

I'm hugely tempted as he's related to Squirrel haha.

Glad to know gelding at this stage isn't really a huge issue :)
 
Go and have a look. I wouldn't be worried about having him cut at that age - check he has both nuts down though. Do be wary of iffy dealers selling an unbacked 3yo though, why wouldn't they just get him started at the very least?
 
My welsh D was gelded feb this year as a 3yr old. Last summer he was really into the mares :rolleyes: he actually straddled over a 4ft hedge with a 7ft drop to get to them :eek: he did cover my other mare too. (escaped)
He had only 1 testicle down so had to be operated on to remove the other from his abdomen.
The day after he was gelded he came home and wasn't interested at all.
He lives with my mare now and even when shes really full on in season he doesn't care!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top