the decision to geld - when?

[Hampton Bay]

I have a yearling stallion (two in June). I am starting to realize that having him as a stud is just not something I really want to commit to. Mainly for turnout reasons. He needs a buddy, and on a farm with limited pasture and mostly mares (two other stallions)... The solitary life just isn't for him.

So, as much as I adore his personality just how it is right now, and I pray that he does not lose any of the spark that makes him so endearing to me, the decision is making itself clear.

When is the best time of year to do this? I live in FL, so the bugs are pretty much always around.

I hope I don't regret this. Geldings have never had much hold over me.

[RiddleMeThis]

Well this my or may not work for you but what if you got him a pasture buddy? Many horses are going for really cheap if not free that would probably make a great pasture buddy for him. Now it my not work for the same reason because of the hay prices. But if you think he is stallion quality and you love his personality the way it is why take the risk if you don't have to?

[Silly Mommy]

I am choosing to geld because we will both be happier for it. The solitary life of a stallion can be dismal. I kept mine turned out with other geldings until he was four - he got beat up pretty badly by a gelding that had just had enough of being a chew toy. Once he stated breeding, I had to move his turnout so that he doesn't share a fenceline with anyone.

[showjumpers66]

I would do it before it gets hot, i.e. over the winter.

[Hunter_Rider]

My yearling is getting gelded next month. We want to get it done before he gets too studish. (Definately before it gets too hot)

[Ladybug Hill]

I geld in the first fall/winter and with a very late foal before weaning. It would be an extremely rare individual colt that would be spectacular enough to be kept intact. Having said that, I did raise a colt to 3 who was sold at that age. He was always with another horse in turnout. I actually prefer mares for this preferable a bossy but not too bossy mare that is in foal.

I feel that the earlier the gelding the easier on the horse. They seem to swell less and heal faster. Also easier for laying them down (if you geld laying down).

[okggo]

Why can't you keep a buddy with him? What would you do when he was gelded, put him with the open mares?

My guy will be 3 y/o next month and was out with 10+ geldings and they all get along great. The other geldings love him, and he has an 18 hand clydesdale as a "stepdad." Every time my guys lays down, Clyde is laying over him standing guard.

Now, I just had to change turnout a bit, sadly, b/c he strained his hock rough-housing in the hellaciously slippery deep mud. The only way I could get him in a smaller area and not playing so much was to put him in with my preggo mare. It went fine, sort of. They are basically ignoring eachother and he is sulking over the fenceline at his boy-pals and playing "halter games" with them (carefully) under the electric fence. He clearly wants his boys as his new buddy doesn't want anything to do with him.

Anyway, I would never keep him isolated, and if that was my only choice he would have been gelded already. Mainly b/c he is so much a herd animal. This year will be the keep or cut decision maker for me (how he does at inspection), but I am comfortable that he can be a horse until I decide either way.

[Home Again Farm]

In Florida, do it now. IMO 90% of nice stallions will make wonderful geldings. :yes:

[BeastieSlave]

I just had my 10 month old gelded. I'm pretty far south in GA and this is about the only time the weather is cool enough for the flies to not be a problem. Even now, there's no guarantee it won't be 80 degrees with bugs everywhere next week!

[Hampton Bay]

After he is gelded, obviously he will have a period where he is not "safe" to turn out with open mares. But that should last a month or two. My mare is in foal now, so if I were to go ahead and do it, he wouldn't have to miss any time being turned out with her, until she foals. By then he would be fine to go out with the other mares until baby is old enough.

Getting a buddy isn't an option because I board, and I cannot stretch my budget enough to have another.

I honestly don't really think this guy has the pedigree behind him to make him marketable as a stud. When I bought him, I kept him intact because he is VERY nice, and I wanted time to make that decision. But without the pedigree, I know I will have a harder road to make him marketable. With health issues, I really don't think I have the energy (and money) to market him as a breeding stallion. He was intended to be a stallion, but after doing a lot of research I don't think the market is there without putting him into training with a BNT. He was gifted to me because of situations beyond his breeder's control, and I can give him a wonderful life, but not that of a breeding stallion.

So do it now is what I am hearing? Will I lose his wonderful personality? He is just 20 months, so no real studdy behavior yet, just very much a little ham, happy-go-lucky, comes to meet me in the pasture, willing but still has an opinion. I don't want him to lose his opinion, as he is in no way uncooperative or dangerous, but I like him being able to tell me when he is not happy. I think its a very important quality in a riding horse.

[EqTrainer]

Having had plenty of sparky geldings, I make the decision to geld the moment I see that they have testicles :lol:

I do it as soon as possible, in the winter to avoid bugs.

[juliab]

So do it now is what I am hearing? Will I lose his wonderful personality? He is just 20 months, so no real studdy behavior yet, just very much a little ham, happy-go-lucky, comes to meet me in the pasture, willing but still has an opinion. I don't want him to lose his opinion, as he is in no way uncooperative or dangerous, but I like him being able to tell me when he is not happy. I think its a very important quality in a riding horse.

I gelded a long yearling who sounds very similar, personality-wise, to your guy. I always intended to geld him, but he got kicked in the stifle as a youngster, so we had to put it off, then it was summer and then he was finally gelded in the fall when the weather cooler. My reasons for gelding are similar to your's - already have a stallion and don't want the expense, etc. of keeping and marketing another one. Anyway, I didn't notice any difference at all in his personality - he's the same sweet, funny, playful boy he was as a colt.

[Home Again Farm]

So do it now is what I am hearing? Will I lose his wonderful personality? He is just 20 months, so no real studdy behavior yet, just very much a little ham, happy-go-lucky, comes to meet me in the pasture, willing but still has an opinion. I don't want him to lose his opinion, as he is in no way uncooperative or dangerous, but I like him being able to tell me when he is not happy. I think its a very important quality in a riding horse.

You should still have the same sweet boy. My 20 month old Florencio colt is sweet, funny, friendly, but has personality. He was gelded when he was 9 months old. :winkgrin:

[Hampton Bay]

Thanks for the reassurance on the personality. I adore him the way he is, and I haven't met too many geldings I've liked a lot, aside for the ones who made great lesson horses. I certainly have the ability to handle a stallion, but he is way too social to condemn him to the solitary life since a gelding buddy is not an option at the moment.