Re: To geld or not to geld

Tina Hicks (hickst@puzzler.nichols.com)
Fri, 1 Nov 1996 08:11:18 -0600

I'm not sure this is the forum for this discussion but I'll try to make it
endurance related :-> I think there needs to be a reason a horse is kept a
stallion like being promoted as an endurance (or whatever) sire - so, if
he's exhibiting less than ideal, IMO, traits for the sport (nervousness,
tying up, inconsistent recoveries, etc) then by all means geld. Perhaps in
your area (I think you were not in the U.S., right?) gelding is not as
common as it is over here? I couldn't tell from your post if you were
planning on using him as a breeding stallion or not. If you are not, then
by all means geld :->

I am currently riding a stallion who, prior to my purchasing him, was used
as such. However, I have no plans to breed and intend on gelding in the
spring - he's a very, very good stallion but still a stallion none-the-less
and if I'm not interested in promoting him and covering mares why not make
life a little easier on us all?

I also agree from my limited experience that stallions tend not to give
100% like a mare or gelding would. They, by design, have an extremely
strong sense of self-preservation and tend to save a little bit for
themselves. Doesn't mean they can't make good competitors - just takes a
little more effort to get it out of them.

So...the long and short of it is, IMO, geld :-> BTW, Embers will be 10 when
he's gelded and 3 vets I have spoken with don't see any problem with
gelding him at that age tho it won't be quite as easy as a 2 year old. His
fitness will help, they tell me.

Tina and one gelding and one Mr. Gelding-To-Be
hickst@nichols.com