what behaviour tells you it is time to geld a colt?

S

snowstormII

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 December 2007
Messages
233
Visit site
My 8 month colt has just started nibbling my sleeve when I lead him out. Making chicken wings with my arms makes him stop and back up then he's fine for 5 mins and tries again! He is usually v calm and placid but has been trying to leap around more recently out on walks and tried to strike out yesterday.

Someone told me I'd know the right time. What do you think?
 
snowstormII said:
My 8 month colt has just started nibbling my sleeve when I lead him out. Making chicken wings with my arms makes him stop and back up then he's fine for 5 mins and tries again! He is usually v calm and placid but has been trying to leap around more recently out on walks and tried to strike out yesterday.
Click to expand...

TBH this is all fairly usual behaviour for many youngsters, for both fillies and colts. They have to learn not to strike out, they have to learn not to nibble people and there will always be some days that they want to leap around. They just need guidance that this isn't acceptable when being handled by a human.

As to castration, so long as there are two down, it can be done at any time. Most of mine are castrated at around 12 months of age, although I have had the odd one done earlier and a few done later.
 
snowstormII said:
I can definitely feel one is in the scrotum but other one is just above and can be felt.
Click to expand...

With a bit of luck, the 2nd will be 'down' by the spring. But they do NEED to be 'down' because one effect of sedation is to make them pop up out of the way! :D

Chicken wings are a good start for nipping youngsters followed by an elbow applied just above the mouth (where a large bit ring would be.) They don't associate it with your hand - so it doesn't make them head shy. But they quickly learn there is a nasty consequence to nipping!
 
I'm in the same boat as you, mines 9 months old (big strapping 13.3 warmblood chappy).. he's extremely well behaved, he doesn't bite/nibble, kick/strike out and you can do anything with him - ie; wash feet/legs with hose pipe, lead out up the lane in hand, muck out around him etc etc and he never seems to slip up behaviour wise.

The only change i've noticed in him recently is that he has been very clingy with his friend mate (18 month tb x).. and will call and get upset when they were split up (one goes into a stable, the other stays in the field to be fed).. but apart from that, there is no other behavior!

I wanted him cut really at 6-8 months but the mud is to wet/deep to have it done, i'm sure he'd get infected, so we are waiting for it to dry up before we have him cut.. that could be may time and he'll be 1 by then. If however he starts to show naughtiness, i will take him down to the local livery yard and have him cut there - where he can roam in a barn whilst it heals!

STB :)
 
Are you planning to keep him entire? If not get him gelded now - much easier on the colt when he is young and they recover so much quicker.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top