Gelding... what age do you snip the poor little mites?

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Foxfolly

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Just wondered what ege everyone does it?

Our Colt was mounting an in season mare at 6 weeks (Handy for us as she doesn't show obviously if just with mares!) and he is a little monkey, very nippy and occassionaly tries mounting us!! So sooner rather than later for him....

His half brother was left until about 9 months.
 
I think 9 months is about the earliest, i think they try and leave them till a year old if possible. There are lots of debates about leaving as long as poss and cutting them as soon as poss. Its your decisionand depends what you want to use him for i guess
 
I know there are lots of people who recommend gelding later but after talking to my Vet i had my colt gelded early.
He was doing the same thing and was bordering on dangerous to handle. He was gelded before he was weaned with no problems, he recovered almost immediately and i'm so pleased i had it done, he's mellowed right out. It hasn't stunted his growth -he's about 16hh at 12months, so i think he'll be a Brick wotsit like your lovely youngster FF!!.
 
I've got one that I had cut at 11 months. He wasn't colty at all but he was bought to be a companion for my home-bred filly and I didn't want him getting any ideas . . . . I'm getting another weanling colt later this year and will probably get him cut at about the same age.
 
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I know there are lots of people who recommend gelding later but after talking to my Vet i had my colt gelded early.


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I always geld early if I can (as long as everything is in place!!) Gelding while they're still on the mare makes for a better recovery - and then I can wean them into groups of similar aged fillies without any trouble.

Not all ARE ready to geld at 5 months - but if you can do it - I would every time!
 
Generally either before weaning or at the end of their first winter.

Though I've know stallions that have been used for breeding in their teens successfully gelded.
 
I have had them cut while with the mare and some left until they are 2 years. It depends on the colt and his behaviour. I have bought older horses and had them cut and I know of some that were cut in their teens when they were no longer used as stallions. I do keep the boys seperate from the mares & fillies though.
 
Anytime from the day they are both there and they are a pain with the mares. Had one done two years ago at 12 weeks because he wouldnt leave the other mares alone. We having two cut today both about 4-5 months. Both will then be weaned in about 3-4 weeks depending on the weather. Much less stressful if they are still on on the mum.
 
Mine was 18 months old when he was gelded we were advised to leave him until then as one of his b@lls hadnt dropped, we gave him until then to see if it would develop which it didnt so he was snipped anyway. He had no complications from being older and recovered very well. I would have liked to have done him earlier as he was very bolshy, but held off as advised. IMO I think he was probably ready for doing LONG before.
 
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