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"I agree with you very strongly on the fact that at -least- 95% or so of
colts should be gelded, in most breeds. (In Arabs I think it should
probably be closer to 99.5% just because there are so many of them) But
I am mostly looking at Shagyas and Akhal Tekes, and with both of those
breeds, but particularly Tekes, maintaining genetic diversity and
bloodlines becomes an issue of whether or not to geld. For example, the
colt is a good functional animal -and- there are less than 5 other
breedable representatives of his bloodline, then I would probably not
geld him. If there were 500+ examples of his bloodline then I definately
would. The problem of rarity, to me at least, also implies a
responsibility
to not make an even better gelding out of a good stallion."
Three years ago, my husband and I began a straight Crabbet, Old
English-General Stud Book eligible Arabian preservation breeding
program. There are, to my knowledge, only 6 straight Crabbet stallions
in the United States and Canada, which greatly limits the possiblities.
There are only about 200 of these horses on this continent, and some are
geldings, many are too old to breed.
When you are facing a position like this, Ann's assessment is totally
accurate. One might not make a great gelding out of a good stallion.
With our non-preservation Arabians, we are pretty ruthless--most will
be gelded before their first winter. We have a 9-month old colt now,
still entire, big, excellent legs, disposition, and gorgeous, but if we
don't sell him soon, we will geld him. He will make a very good
stallion, but an absolutely top notch gelding for dressage or endurance.
There are too many stallions, and we don't want to add to the problem.
But with the preservation horses, a similar quality colt would more
likely be test-bred at 3, and then the decision would be made.
Susan Felker
Black Ridge Arabians
http://www.swva.net/blackridge
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