how do you decide to geld or not?

[Allie5]

So Tommys brother Bradley is coming to live with us next week and.is booked in to have his doodahs off. The financial force is rearing its head again(after the discussion about using Gillies to transport him!) and as he was bought as an investment the consideration is now keeping him entire. He is nearly two, well bred by Groomsbridge May out of a Fleetwater Opposition mare and scored a first premium 8.86 at futurity . I have had stallions before and I am confident with some guidance I can handle him. I have also found a stud nearby that he could live at. I like the way they keep their stallions. They have regular turnout, socialise with other horses (they keep some geldings and donkeys specifically as company for the boys) and they are not allowed to be *****s just "because he's a stallion"! However I know keeping him entire will restrict options in the future for either selling him or finding a pro set up for stallions to ride him. So how do we make the decision? If its going to be done it needs to be now so he can settle here before the flies etc. Any advice?

 

[be positive]

As an investment you need to do your sums now, if he is gelded he will cost less to get to a point where he is saleable and if he is showing real promise should be worth just as much on the market as a potential 4 star horse, which is what I assume you are hoping he may be.

If you keep him entire he will be more expensive to keep/produce correctly and the stud will not be cheap when you use them if he goes to stud. Stud fees are hardly going to cover the costs for the stud season unless he proves to be exceptionally good as a competition horse but this takes years to establish.

I would say if you intend to sell to recoup your investment that the figures will look better for gelding him.

 

[Maesfen]

There are enough stallions out there chasing too few mares, why add to that? Get 'em off.

 

[showjumpingfilly]

We look at whether ours as showjumpers will grade. But ultimately unless they are exceptional it's not always worth the time and effort! They have a better quality of life being gelded.
But if it's talented it will be more valuable as a stallion.

 

[Ionadiamond]

I'm putting my well bred KWPN colt through AES grading next month, if he doesn't grade he'll have them cut. Maybe you could keep him entire until he's 3 and see if he grades?

The way I see it, once he's got the potential to cover mares then he's worth the extra time and effort. However if the professionals at the grading don't see him fit to breed then I will geld because they know a hell of a lot better than I do.

Maybe you could ask the stud owner's opinion on whether your stallion has what it takes to grade? Because without passing a grading there is no point breeding and they're not really worth anything for breeding.