From: michelle@xxxxxxxxxxx Subject:
[RC] geldiing an an older stallion-question for Angie and
others
I've heard that a stallion that is gelded later in life still
acts stallionish? Is this true? Does it matter if he's bred a mare before
or not?
I know I read on ridecamp that Angie got a stallion, 7 years
old I think, and then I think she said she just had it gelded. Can you keep
us up to date on how he behaves in his training?
Just courious.
Something else to think about besides
Tevis.
My main ride is a 10yo gelding that was not gelded
until he was five yo. He ran up in the Canadian bush with forty other young
studs until he was gelded and I asked to purchase him. He is not mouthy, he
never bred a mare, but I can tell you his mind still thinks like a stallion in a
very positive way as far as I am concerned.
He is so smart, he *thinks* you can see and feel the
cogs turning in his head. He is savvy, cunning and this is the kind of horse I
so covet and trust on the type of terrain and trails that I ride here in
Southern Oregon. He still does have some stallion ways about him like when he
goes to play and run out in the field, instead of just taking off at a gallop,
he first arches his neck and head, then strikes out with his front leg like a
stallion would do then he runs off with tail up flying so proud.
At a ride last year Dr. Lydon asked me in vet check if
this horse was gelded late in life. I found that of interest and asked him how
he knew. He then told me of a vet research at his school on early vs late
gelding. Changes up to age four physically, then after that the males showed no
physical differences in growth. But the mental differences were there. The minds
of the late geldings were more like what I experience with my late gelding.
Keen, sharp, thinking more of what is going on in surroundings.
I have long been a proponent of later gelding and try
to keep my youngsters in tact as close to 18months as possible if I still own
them by that age.
I am going to geld my number one standing stallion next
year, he has been breeding since he was 19 months old, he will be six when I
geld him. I will follow up on how he behaves after the deed is done. He was a
bit mouthy up until last year and I sent him off for graduate training and told
the trainer to cure him of this mouthy stuff. He did. He is a very well
behaved stallion and I take him around the mares all the time to remind him of
his manners, so I am not overly worried, but always with studs on the
alert.
To me there is nothing like the mind of a good
stallion, so if you can have a gelding with half that great savvy mind you have
one good horse for the trails.
