Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Maybe a vet or breeder can comment on the health, not racing, 
consequences of cryptorchidism (retained testicle).  I'd imagine there 
would be problems as the horse gets older.
	I rode for years with a friend on his stallion.  Eventually the horse 
was gelded.  After a year of being a real wimp as he discovered the 
world without his testosterone shield, he became a really nice riding 
animal with much better recoveries.  And much happier too!
Laney

heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > whether or not your horse was the offending animal in this melee, I
> > don't follow the logic that being intact helps him stay in better shape
> > and race better.
>
>
> I have to second Chris's observation.  Although it is true that I've had
> some stallions that would "self-condition" to some degree, the
> testosterone is a definite DIS-advantage to endurance performance.  There
> have been a few stallions that have "raced" well--but I would bet
> breakfast that every one of them would have "raced" better as a gelding. 
> This isn't like the track, where they can just bust out the gate and run
> their brains out for a few minutes on a testosterone high.  They may get
> "race brain" early in a ride, but when you get to doing any distance, they
> get to be real pansies.  And if you hurt their feelings, they're done.
>
> The people who have successfully campaigned stallions are very special
> people who know how to deal with their rather fragile psyches.  They know
> how to contain their egos in the beginning without bruising their
> feelings, and how to sweet-talk them through the "third-quarter doldrums."
>  I've seen a lot more stallions soured on the sport than successful, over
> the years.
>
> Heidi
>
>
>
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