OT... this is just so cool... UPDATE Pedigree added

[Frizzledhen]

To geld or not to geld thats the question.

Do you really want an answer to that question?

Gayle
Chi lady in Michigan

 

[Arklady]

Actually the owner of Herbie is considering it. I think its a waste... but thats just me. My boys are going to probably be gelded only because they have no pedigree on the mothers side that I know of. Sooooo

lol

Arklady

 

[Judymae]

I always geld. It makes for a gentler horse around everyone. We have small kids and I don't want any probs. Plus it keeps ours in the fence. My neighbors studs keep jumping the fence to be with my mare. I don't blame the studs---she is a beaut!

 

[CarriBrown]

IMO, it's best to geld if you don't know the lines... especially if you want a horse that you can ride and be safe on.

 

[Arklady]

I am sure it is best to geld if you don't know the pedigree. But since the lady selling us the horses does have the pedigree and it is quite impressive it seems a shame to geld a horse with such a great line. Not only in throughbreds but quarter horses all the way to man-o-war.

Arklady

 

[verthandi]

Nothing like a good gelding to reduce your liability insurance.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

IMHO there are so many horses out there that need good homes that's there's really no need to keep a stud... or even breed. Studs are also harder to resell (unless they have some major accomplishment) and if you should ever have to sell them for any reason (I mean who really knows what their situation is going to be for the next 20+ years when they buy a foal) you don't want him ending up on the meat market... Geld them and you will have an easier time of training and a buddy for life.

Sure some studs can be sweet, but I haven't met one yet that I'd turn my back on. Hormones are a powerful thing and packed in a 1000+lb body are very dangerous. Many trainers won't even touch a stud, and if you find you need help while training, (which you very will might) you may be out of luck and be stuck with an unruly horse that you can't do anything with. My Mini was terrible before he was gelded! When hit a year and half old he became a nut case. there was no rhyme and reason to his behavior, just pure hormones. He wanted to be the boss and I wanted to be the boss, it was a daily power struggle and I was sooo glad when he was finally gelded. He would have been sooner but he didn't drop until he was nearly 2yrs old!! He was not the first horse I trained...he was just the worst and some are like that.

Good Luck any how you have a long road ahead of you!!!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

My friend has a four or five year old friesian stallion. He is a sweet heart though. I know he nips butts on trail rides, which can be a pain sometimes, but the guy keeps his horse under control for the most part. Other than that there is not a mean bone in his body. HOWEVER, if you have two studs together and a mare in the area, you could have quite a few fights breaking out. They don't even have to see the mare, just be able to ta catch her scent on the wind.

Also, my friend recently had a problem with his stallion mounting a gelding he was keeping on his property. Luckily the gelding had no serious injuries, but he had lots of scratches and was pretty unsightly. Just another thing to think about.

If you feel confident with training a stallion and you have the areas to potentially separate them if need be, then go for it. Just because you keep a horse a stud, doesn't mean it has to be bred, so I don't think that's too much of an issue. Personally, I love the way stallions look, but I don't think I would ever want to keep one.

 

[mamabird]

Just had my 1 yr. old Qtr/TW colt gelded. Had shots for him and my other gelding. Total cost - $140. Total cost for a dog neuter in my area $100+. Why the difference???? My unsolicited advice - start saving now and by the time they are a year old, have them cut. We have laws here that state a stud horse must be kept within a 6' fenced area. fencing requirements, insurance, and simply the hassle of a stud is so much more involved than gelding. Besides - unless you have a papered stud with an excellent pedigree, what's the point of breeding?

 

[FamilyOfChickens]

Hey there! Just saw this and wanted to say good luck. The first colt looks good, and Herbie's got QUITE a pedigree! Too bad their dams don't, huh?

Everybody's given you excellent advice (BTW, if I had two colts like that, I'd geld them) but I just wanted to say one thing- Have fun with these guys!