how old before you geld?

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neeny5

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going to look at a 2yo colt, and owner says he will geld for me as i would needed him gelded (i have a mare) but he said he usually waits until they are over 3 as it stunts growth? any truth in this.
 
No, it doesnt stunt growth. I have them gelded at around 1 year or more. As long as they have "two" underneath, they are ready.

You could also add that if you wait much longer the horse will develop coltish behaviour which will be a nuisance to you, and your mare. Some late gelded colts develop a bit of extra muscle which might make them look pretty in the show ring as youngsters.

If you are interested why not have a chat with your vet, as it might depend on how you want to keep him?
 
I want him gelded, if i get him. apparently he is really quiet now and also is in a mixed heard and doesn't know how to do it apparently, sorry couldn't think of a better way to put that.
 
Sorry cross posted if he is in a mixed herd he will most likely have a few foals on the way!! - even if he supposedly doesn't know what to do - they do it after dark you know!!;)
Actually it's the opposite - testosterone inhibits growth height wise and tends to make them chunkier and stockier, the earlier you geld the taller they tend to be. Gelding now is absolutely fine - we've gelded at the youngest 5 and a half months old while still on the mare - randy little bugger!!:D But on average depending on their temperament and what space I have available I usually geld at around 1 - 2yrs old. The later you geld can also have an influence on behavior - if they learn to be bolshy randy things that can be an ingrained learnt behavior that will continue for life - so if you have no intention of breeding the earlier you geld is usually the better!:D
Just remember you need to keep him away from mares for 6 weeks after gelding as he can still have swimmers!!:D
 
neeny5 said:
he said he usually waits until they are over 3 as it stunts growth? any truth in this.
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Thank heavens for that, mine had to be gelded as a very young foal for medical reasons and he is now 18 hh. I hate to think how tall he would have got if he had been done at 2 years !!!
 
Some say you can do it around 6-7 months. My youngster didn't get gelded until 2 years old though only because the owner didn't really know what she wanted to do with him but the hormones proved too much for him so off they went :P
 
Alexart said:
Sorry cross posted if he is in a mixed herd he will most likely have a few foals on the way!! - even if he supposedly doesn't know what to do - they do it after dark you know!!;)
Actually it's the opposite - testosterone inhibits growth height wise and tends to make them chunkier and stockier, the earlier you geld the taller they tend to be. Gelding now is absolutely fine - we've gelded at the youngest 5 and a half months old while still on the mare - randy little bugger!!:D But on average depending on their temperament and what space I have available I usually geld at around 1 - 2yrs old. The later you geld can also have an influence on behavior - if they learn to be bolshy randy things that can be an ingrained learnt behavior that will continue for life - so if you have no intention of breeding the earlier you geld is usually the better!:D
Just remember you need to keep him away from mares for 6 weeks after gelding as he can still have swimmers!!:D
Click to expand...

Agree with this.
My boy was done at 14 months and he's stayed muscly which is what I'd hoped but he's reached 16.1 ish and still seems to be growing so not so sure on the height thing as the maximum he was to make was 16.1hh. However he's still very coltish in behaviour and is rising 4 now and its not as if i let him walk all over me- its just the way he is :\ he tries to be bolshy but this is under control its the nippy colt thing that hasn't stopped!

However my boy was only done because he was moved next to mares- just to be safe!!
 
I think its actually the opposite - i.e. gelding late stunts their growth, because testosterone causes early closure of the growth plates in the limbs
 
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