To Geld or not?

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louisewarner

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I have a 7 year old stallion who apart from the occasional 'nip' is exceptionally well mannered and no behaviours that cause a problem.

He has never been used and I have no intention to do so;

Unfortunately I have to move from home to a livery yard and there are very few yards that can accomodate - or at least are willing to have an entire.
I am also potentially having to consider selling him at some point and this also crosses my mind that he will be more difficult to sell - only because he is a stallion........the combined future probs do push me to thinking that gelding may be the way to go.

I have only ever had experience of castrating a young colt a few years ago and have little idea as to what may be involved in cutting a 16 hand 7 year old.

Any advice please.
 
Why not have a chat with your vet about what's involved, the risks/benefits etc. I can't advise further than this because it's not something I have experience of,

Paula
 
I'm certainly not an expert on this but I believe he would require a full anaesthetic, so it would be more expensive. A friend had the same issue, when after a serious accident he had to move all his horses to livery for a while. He had his stallion cut, and to be honest he's a happier boy although still has top dog status in the herd. It certainly increased his options. If you don't intend to breed him then it's probably a good idea.
 
Having watch numerous castrations i can't imagine it being high risk beyond the anesthetic. I would imagine that few vets would want to attempt a standing castration on a mature stallion but anesthetics have improved so much in recent decades that I still wouldn't imagine it to be a great risk.

The benefits have the potential to be huge in terms of quality of life, companionship and attracting a good new home.

I agree with having a frank conversation with your vet, however I would err towards castration, especially if you're considering selling.
 
Nudibranch said:
I'm certainly not an expert on this but I believe he would require a full anaesthetic, so it would be more expensive. A friend had the same issue, when after a serious accident he had to move all his horses to livery for a while. He had his stallion cut, and to be honest he's a happier boy although still has top dog status in the herd. It certainly increased his options. If you don't intend to breed him then it's probably a good idea.
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My stallion was gelded here he just had a local. Was very easy and no glich.

With the current market I don't see the point of keeping him entire if your not going to breed. And even if you do sell him as an entire the chance are he will be gelded down the line.

You cave to be so careful with stallions you can give sedaline so it will be a vet every time . Turn out will be limited risk of injury to him or others when mares come into season.

My advice geld him now :) and speak to your vet
 
He should be able to be done standing, but it should be done at the vet hosp/surgery as there is an increased risk with a horse of that age. The inguinal canal is larger than a young colt's, therefore safer not to do it at home/yard.
 
I would have a full and frank discussion with your vet regarding the options open to you re having him gelded. It will make your life so much easier if you are moving to a livery yard. Many of the New Forest stallions are cut late, having been used for breeding purposes and go on to lead successful and happy lives as geldings without incident. Also I don't know which procedure they go for, but I would imagine it would be standing castration at the vets, I guess it depends if your vet is prepared to do it. With New Forest ponies, I can't see it being economically viable to do it any other way.
 
my stallion had to go to the vets and have a full anaesthtic, but then he was a pig!
I believe the is an increased risk of haemorrage so my vet wanted him asleep!
 
Obviously you need to discuss the implications of the operation with your vet.

However, whilst he sounds lovely, if you are looking at keeping him on a livery yard, and possibly having to sell him in the future, then geld him. For his sake.

Entires are not for amateurs, (I'm not suggesting you are), and most people have no idea about what keeping an entire involves.

On a livery yard, however well intentioned and knowledgeable you are, you cannot be responsible for other people's numpty actions - putting their in season mare in the paddock next door, helping you out by bringing him in one evening and he spooks, escapes into the livery field...

The risks are enormous for an entire on livery unless it is a specialist yard or stud.

And if you have to sell him (which let's face it is a possibily for all horse owners), how can you guarantee he is not going to end up with an unscrupulous breeder? Those people will not care about his welfare, just where the next foal is coming from. He will be used and abused.

There is nothing wrong with moving him on to another home, and I'm sorry if I sound a bit short about it, but if you cannot guarantee him a future as an entire, you have to take responsibility for giving him a future as a gelding.
 
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Thank you for your advice - with which I understand.

My next step is to discuss with Vet, to be honest I do wish I had cut him before now, but as he was/is such an easy and lovely horse who lives happily with others and never a moments problem, I could never justify actually robbing him of his back wheels!

I hope it wont change his attitude or make him depressed - the equine equivalent of the 50 year old guy rushing out to get a sports car and a 19 year old babe!!!

Seriously, many thanks for your advice and if you have had experience of post gelding behaviours please do post.

Thanks everyone
 
I bred my boy so know him before he was out in this world :)

he was a git before biting etc. Once gelded he was a much happy horse still a cheeky git but happy to be turned out with the others instead of isolated on his own.
 
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