Should I geld my young prospect? Well, for most horse owners, the answer to the above question is YES. When Riley was judged to be top colt at his inspection in 2006, I idly considered the possibility he might be stallion-worthy. Looking back
What a goofy notion this was! Riley is a sweet horse, but a stallion prospect he isn't. A friend of mine was advised by another breeders that her young horse, only a few weeks older than Riley, might be a stallion prospect. He really wasn't one either, and as he became more aggressive and difficult, she was finally persuaded to geld him.
I'm no expert but... Even aside from the qualities of the actual animal, there are many reasons to geld a horse ...
- First and foremost, there are too darn many horses in the world already! Just read Fugly Horse of the Day to find out more about the sad state of horsel welfare and rescue.
- It's unlikely you'll make any money, if that is your goal. As costs of keeping a horse increase, fewer people can afford it. Read what Ingrid Andrews of Equinnovation Equine Marketing has to say about a statistic that the average number of horses per horse owner is on the rise:
"Observing that the average number of horses per owner has risen from 3.6 to 4.6, an increase of almost 28%. Over the last decade spent working with clients I have observed increases in the number of new breeding farms and in the number of unsold horses that breeders are maintaining. In many cases supply is exceeding demand. I believe that this a primary reason for the increase in the average number of horses per owner reflected in the study."
- Due to advances in breeding technology, mare owners have a bewildering number of stallion choices. Artificial insemination, shipped semen, embryo transfer, cryopreserved semen, and other techniques give breeders nearly unlimited options for what stallion to use -- meaning that competition for breeding dollars is intense.
"Any good stallion will make a great gelding" Like I said, I'm not an expert on this subject, but here are a few things to consider...
- John Lyons says that if you don't breed at least 4 mares/year, your stallion is probably better off as a gelding.
- Most boarding barns do not usually take stallions. Stallions may require different housing than geldings.
- Stallions generally do not lead a good life, measured by their freedom, decreased and more isolated pasture time, and other restrictions.
- Stallion dietary needs increase 25% during breeding season -- bigger feed bills! Vet bills will also be bigger.
- Gelding later in life is far more risky than in a young horse.
- Marketing a stallion is expensive.
- Handling a stallion is dangerous, and not just for you. You could be liable for any injury incurred by people who interact with your stallion.
- Breeding associations are fairly political animals, and new breeders are the odd man out.
If you still think you want to own a stallion, read what some of the experts DO say...
RESOURCES
To geld or not to geld from
Thoroughbred Times Stallions: Why Geld? From kimalotquarterhorses.com
Should you geld your colt? from LWF sporthorses
Should I keep my colt entire? from Paula Sainthouse
Stallion to gelding support organization (offers free gelding services)
Should I geld my stallion? Jessica Jahiel at horsesense.org
Should you geld your colt? From Lost World Farm warmbloods
Hormones and horse behavior from Horsechannel.com
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