Is it necessary to geld a lone stallion?

Question

My stallion Lightfoot is 3 and 1/2. I kinda figured it's too late to geld him, I was just wondering if it's necessary. He's the only one I have, and he hasn't shown any kind of testosteroney behavior and he hasn't mounted anything. Actually he acts more like a gelding than some that I've seen. He's always calm, unless he misses me. Plus I always thought he was a beautiful horse, and i've always wanted to breed when i got older, he would be the perfect stud.

Answer 1

well if going  to breed him it wont, but things start to get out of hand it probably the best solution

Answer 2

I had a 3yr old TB stallion and he was the EXACT same way. You couldn't tell he was a stallion unless you checked. Later on down the road i had him gelded(when he was 5)because i got a mare, but I regretted doing it, because he was a BIG beautiful ex-race horse and I had a lot of offers to breed him. If you think there is a possibily that you may want to breed him down the road and he isn't acting out then i wouldn't suggest fixing him. Good luck!

Answer 3

ITS NEVER TOO LATE TO GELD! I personally believe in no breeding but if you buy a horse from a breeder for the most part it is not good breeding and if you are going to breed make sure to breed propper comformation correct horses. there are too many horses in the world now and I hate to see people breeding crappy horses for backyard horses. ITS REDICULOuS! Leave breeding up to professionals! if you want a baby adopt a PMU foal, I hate to see any horses slaughtered!

Please geld!

thanks and good luck!

Answer 4

If you feel that he would be the perfect stud, maybe you should take up showing!

He is a young age and would be a good show prospect if what you're saying about him is true.

Western/english pleasure is a good option.

Or you could do reining, there is a lot of money involoved in that, especially if the bloodlines are good on the horse.

What breed is he? you could show him in halter classes according to breed/color. I think that is my biggest recommendation, as that would be the easiest thing to do... but you'd have to have a GOOD looking stud for that!

i personally think that 3 & 1/2 is too old to be gelded, you might as well just keep him a stud!

Good Luck!  

Answer 5

One of the most laid back and even horses I've ever had was a stud - Lucky Strike Bar. When I was a kid, we would walk up to him in the pasture and lay over his back, not even sit on him but just lay over him, and he'd walk us up to the barn. He roped well, and threw beautiful and even tempered babies. His son from my western pleasure mare was an amazing cutting horse, and left a stud as well.

However, I completely agree with the comment that you are responsible for that horse and what he does. And believe me, an out of control stud is a horrible thing. I have seen them nearly completely undress a gelding or tear up everything around them to fight or get to a mare. They are powerful and single minded. Responsible breeding is also an absolute MUST. If you think you may have trouble controlling your horse, or if you don't want to take on the responsibility of checking out brood mares before you let him breed them, then cut him.

I am not of the mind that every male horse should be gelded. I have even had conversations recently with some horse folks who say they keep studs together in a paddock and have for years. I think that as with most things a case by case basis is best and never think that there is one box that every horse situation should fit into. 3-1/2 is not too old to geld him if that's what you choose to do. If he's even tempered as you say, then being proud cut shouldn't be an issue. Good luck with him.

Answer 6

it is not too late to geld him you can pretty much geld a horse at any age the only diff it makes is that the longer you leave it the more likley are to not settle down once they are gelded and you dont need to geld him if he is no hassel for you if he is good natured and you dont mind him being a stallion you can keep him as one the choice is all up to you the only time you woud have to geld a horse is eithor if they get to top heavy which means neck and back and rump get to fat or is when there balls get to big and rub together which pinches then but usually only race horse need to be gelded for that reason and its no that commom i hope i was ahelp to you from leah

Answer 7

well i've heard of horses being gelding at the age of 9ish and up sometimes, they're alittle old ect.

i'd geld the horse because know what? when you own a stallion You are the one responsible for that horse. . . and yes it may be alone now, but for the rest of it's life will it be? will you always be able to afford to keep him alone?

next: wanting to breed horses is great and fine, once you learn about how to do it and WHY to do it.  too many backyard breeders just HAVE to breed their pretty horses. . . slaughter houses just love them btw.  if you want to breed because you want to improve and add to the breed, then that's a good reason.  but just because he's a pretty horse isnt.

breeding costs money, keeping a stud isnt easy, and do you really wantta to pay any damanges he might do if he ever got out?

but, people are going to do what they want to do, so give me thumbs down and send the hate mail. . . i'm used to it at this point.  i strongly dislike backyard breeders, so please just dont become one. READ READ READ and READ sum more, at least learn about it before you do it.(yes i've given up on telling people not to breed their horses. . . sad but true)

edit: i really dont like to give up the fight against back yard breeders who breed for the wrong reasons, but why answer with a good answer when they're just going to get mad at you and then turn around and say "oh i'm just going to do it anyway!" it gets old trying to help people and give them info that you know is better then just agreeing with them.

Answer 8

If he is a good horse and good enough to breed, you can probably keep him as a stallion. As long as he behaves like he has. Just remember that you can never trust a stallion. I have learned that lesson. I have the calmest 3 year old stallion I have ever seen and still I don't let my guard down. It isn't too late to geld him. I gelded a 5 year old and a six year old. They were pretty aggressive stallions and now 2 1/2 years later they are as calm as could be. If he stays the way you describe, you should be able to keep him that way. Just keep in mind that he is only 3 1/2 and hasn't fully matured. He could change, especially if he gets around any mares. Be careful.

I can also show you a bent up metal gate a former stallion of mine ruined trying to get at mares.

Answer 9

Unless you are really set on breeding him, you may as well geld. He isn't too late, and it will stop him with any stallion related behaviour issues in the future. There is always a chance he may come across a mare, or one may have to stay in his paddock urgently or something, and since mares are very rarely fixed it's up to the stallion owners to do so unless they plan to breed.

However, if you really do want to compete and breed him, don't. But if not it's better safe than sorry. But don't get the wrong idea, I'm not lecturing you on how you have to get him done, but unless there's a reason for not doing it, you may as well.

Good luck with him, he does sound lovely.

Answer 10

If you want to be a responsible breeder, keep him a stud. A common believe is that there is no point to gelding a stallion late. This is untrue. I have had 10 year old stallions come and be gelded. The disposition of the horse will change. Usually for the better, but occassional when the procedure is not done correctly it can change him for the worse. Gelding is fine and perfectly healthy.  Make sure the vet completely knocks him out for a gelding operation, and does not 'kinda put him out' where he is still weakly moving.

Sometimes if you move, boarding places will not except a stallion. Also be aware, the mellowest stallion can occasionally decide he want to breed. If he gets to the wrong mare, it can cost you big. My breeding farms mare are insured, but one breeding to a stallion of a different breed means the owner's stallion is out 300k. Be careful who you house him with! sometimes its not the stallion doing the damage, it is the mare in heat! to accomadate the vast amount of mare owners and boarders the stallion is often forced out even if he is the sweetest most obident thing.

Just be aware of whos around you, gelding is perfectly healthy if done by a quality vet, and his demenor will change, but usually for the better. Also consider if there is a demand for your stallion and his progeny. If he is nothing special, nor the mare, then the demand for the progeny is low. These are the horses that unfortunately get poor homes(someone who paid 40k for a horse is less likely to sell it at an auction then a horse bought for $500). If he does have good bloodlines then there will be a demand. If he is registered even better. If his lines are not great show him and put a good record on him to build a demand for his coverage. If he is a good stallion and your are a responsible breeder then thats great and there is a reason to keep him as a stallion!

But again, he can show his heart out without a registration he is not likely to attract the best mare owners.

If the stallion does stay on your property and does not boarder a vaulable mare's home pastures, then you may keep him a stud if you wish. If he will be housed with others in a public boarding setting, where other boarders exist, it would be much easier and less expensive int he long run to geld.

Answer 11

well, if your not going to breed him i would, and that's because if he's around any mares, and he covers one - and believe me, ive seen stallions jump paddock fences to get to mares - you could get sued.

it sounds stupid, but my friend sued an owner because his stallion covered her mare by kicking down his stall door, and ive heard of suings like this before. it is a bit late to geld him, but he will atleast have gained the stallions musculature and personality before you gelded him.

also, he's only 3 1/2 now. when he gets to 5 or so, its gonna be hard to control him

Answer 12

it is fine unless he is going to be around mares.

Answer 13

It is never too late to geld a horse.

I understand your desire to breed, but the only way I would ever choose to not geld is if the horse has excellent training on him, is shown successfully, has perfect conformation, no history (including family history) of any defects (think HYPP in Quarter-horses and other genetic defects), is registered, has desireable blood-lines, and then if (and only if) I had a barn full of other people's mares waiting to breed to him - meaning that there is high demand for a stud of his quality.

There are a lot of back-yard horse people (myself included) who think their current horse is the best on earth, and would love to breed it.  The reality is, the horse market is horrible right now.  there are thousands of great horses that need good homes, and by breeding for emotional reasons instead of for the betterment of the breed, we just add to that problem.

Gelded horses are happier, generally healthier, and have less outbursts that their non-gelded counterparts.  Think of it this way, Good stallions make great gledings.  he won't even miss his nuts.

Your stud may be fine now when its just the two of you hanging out in the pasture, but if you were around other horses, especially a mare in heat, I guarantee you won't recognize your sweet stud.  Stallions are unpredicatable and dangerous, even in qualified hands.  They are slaves to their hormones.  

I'd go ahead in geld him.  You won't be sorry, and after he heals up, neither will he. I promise.