Recently Gelded Horse-Advice Please

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Stephanotis

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Dear All, I've been looking for a horse for a friend who because of a breakdown in confidence with her current horse (long story but neither of their faults) has decided it is time to move on to a new partnership. She learnt to ride as an adult but is a capable rider and is confident around horses.
Anyway I have seen an advert for a 12 year old gelding that on paper ticks all the boxes including apparently being good to handle. The horse's name was in the advert so of course I had a noodle on line and it would appear that it was entire when it was 10.
I've not had any experience of a horse that has been gelded so late, so before I reply to the advert I'd like to know what implications this may or may not have, does it depend on the individual, what to look out for and any advice other advice you may have would be very gratefully received!
Thanks for looking.....:)
 
As no one more knowledgeable has responded I'll share what little I know. I've only known two late-gelded horses and I didn't own either of them. One was an absolute 4rse, but then his sire tended to pass that on; the other turned into quite a sweetie eventually, but he was a proper handful for months and months after he'd been cut. Neither were cut as late as 10.

If the stallion was used for breeding I would be very wary, if not he might be worth a look. If your friend lacks confidence this might not be a match made in heaven. 'Good to handle' is a relative term!
 
I'd say go and take a look - what harm can it do?
Maybe ask why he was gelded late - but even entire, not all stallions are deserving of the bad rep they have.
 
Where abouts is this horse? I know a horse for sale that was gelded when he was 10...

The horse I know is lovely. He has great manners (he did even before he was gelded) and is fine to ride as far as I know. I've ridden him twice in the school and he was no bother. My friend has ridden him on a hack a couple of times and he was fine. He whinnied a few times and was pretty alert but he didn't put a foot wrong. I'm hoping to ride him some more now that my horse is out of action.
 
Go and see him. When I was 13 I lost my confidence very badly on a pony that used to bronc like he was at the rodeo then take off in a true bolt. Hideous! The pony my parents bought to replace him was a 16 year old, who was advertised as a schoolmaster, but also a successful ex-BSJA ride and an ex-stud stallion! He was gelded around 10/11. He turned out to be one of the nicest, safest, most well-mannered, and all around great fun horses I've ever had. I lost him this last autumn, at 32, and I miss the daft old man like crazy. I wouldn't still be riding without him, so late-cut boys aren't all bad news!

(But, as an aside, though I could hack him with mares, travel him with mares, tie up in the yard with them, ride and lead with them, etc, I never could turn him out with them!).
 
I have one who was cut at 9. We understand that he was left entire so long because he's a sweetie. He has a sense of humour which is not always a good thing. He's turned out with a mixed herd including breeding mares and other late-cut boys. He can be a bit of a bully to people but that's more due to his sense of humour than anything nasty. As soon as you let him know that you're aware he's being naughty he gives up.

I love him to pieces.

I'd go and see this horse. Just ask all the questions like how does he react around mares, and if you can see him with mares that would be useful too.
 
The 2 of our young stallions we had to gels were complete opposites. One was gelded due to the fact he just couldn't cope having his b*lls whilst being at shows - he was gelded as a 6 year old after breeding and now as a 9 year old he still acts like a stallion, the other who had the exact same breeding was gelded at 5 as we had too many Colts that year, but you'd never guess it, he's calm as ever gets turned out with the girls a d wouldn't bat an eyelid despite the fact he had covered a few mares.

I think it depends on the stallion personally. Go and see him, see what he's like.
 
My mum loaned a big 17.1 stallion years ago. He was gelded at 12 as owner decided to sell and was struggling to sell him as a stallion. He was a total gem... Then again he was as a stallion too.
 
Magnetic Sparrow said:
As no one more knowledgeable has responded I'll share what little I know. I've only known two late-gelded horses and I didn't own either of them. One was an absolute 4rse, but then his sire tended to pass that on; the other turned into quite a sweetie eventually, but he was a proper handful for months and months after he'd been cut. Neither were cut as late as 10.

If the stallion was used for breeding I would be very wary, if not he might be worth a look. If your friend lacks confidence this might not be a match made in heaven. 'Good to handle' is a relative term!
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If he wasn't used for breeding why keep him entire that long???
 
Thanks everybody. The horse is specifically described at suitable for 'child or small adult' and ' lovely in stable and easy to do', I agree good to handle is relative lol :). He is in Cornwall. Your answers reflect what I suspected, namely there is no hard and fast rule and he is probably worth a look. I can hopefully find out a bit of info on his dad which is a good point. I also have an acquaintance who has a livery at the yard so hopefully can get some unbiased background info there.
Thanks again for the input, all very useful.
 
I gelded one of my stallions at 11 as he was going to be sold and I wanted better options for him (not everyone wants a riding stallion). He never covered but was a bit of a handful as a stallion, certainly not for a novice to handle. After gelding he was a real sweetie, and was turned out with my mare with no problems at all - in fact he was nicer to the mare than my other gelding.
 
It all depends on the individual and how he has been handled.

I know a stallion who is taken out from his mares, tarted up, then taken straight to a show -- where he is thought to be a gelding as he behaves impeccably. He is also a Ridden Champion at county level and the father of several foals.

Go and see him. If you don't, you might miss out on the horse of a lifetime. The hormones over those years may have added ingredients you won't find in a mare or a gelding and they could all be positive.
 
Some stallions are gelded simply because they are not in any demand at stud, or maybe the stud had younger stallions coming along, had enough semen stored and decided to geld so they could re-home him.

Depending on the horse sometimes they are OK, sometimes they still think they are stallions.
 
I have three all late gelded, all used as stallions, my youngest boy is my oldest's son Lol, they are all from the same breeder, and were cut at 8,7 & 4, All mine are impeccably behaved and Its def down to how they are managed when they are entire, they all look like stallions but certainly wouldn't dream of doing anything naughty!
Its certainly not something I would discount, but ask all the questions, can he be turned out/travel with other horses etc.?
 
jakkibag said:
I have three all late gelded, all used as stallions, my youngest boy is my oldest's son Lol, they are all from the same breeder, and were cut at 8,7 & 4, All mine are impeccably behaved and Its def down to how they are managed when they are entire, they all look like stallions but certainly wouldn't dream of doing anything naughty!
Its certainly not something I would discount, but ask all the questions, can he be turned out/travel with other horses etc.?
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Slightly OT (sorry OP!) but interested that you say "They all look like stallions".

Years ago I had a rather nice colt and got the vet out to geld him as a yearling. The vet refused saying I ought to run him on another year so he would develop more shape. I did so and he did look great. But I've since been told it makes no difference, which I find hard to believe. I have two yearling colts here waiting for the vet now and I am very tempted to leave them as there is no coltish bad behaviour. My question is, will it make a difference to their shape? I do keep mares but could manage them separately with a stallion to maintain order in a mini bachelor herd. What do you think?
 
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