gelding the adult stallion

[2tempe]

Beginning to think about horse shopping. My breed interest is such that many of the ones I like are stallions, (looking in the 8 - 14 yr old range)
Current boarding facility has two stallions, but thinking longer term I’m not sure I want to deal with owning one forever, and worrying about IF I can find a decent place to board.

Talk to me about the gelding process for an older horse: How risky, done differently, cost, etc???
Also to those who have done it, did the horse change - ie less spark in its movement, different work ethic, anything?

[Highflyer]

It is a little riskier as the horse gets older because there is so much greater blood supply to the testicles. Many vets will not geld a horse on the farm for this reason, and doing it at the clinic can be a little more expensive (but not ridiculously so). I wouldn’t hesitate to have one gelded.

[NancyM]

Sure, it can be done successfully. A bit higher risk, as noted above. Because of the higher blood flow, higher risk of clot formation and infection afterwards, so not only a surgical risk, but aftercare has to be more acute.

The change in attitude or personality is not like having a gelding from an early age. With less testosterone, not as intense as a stallion, but the memory of being a mature stallion does not go away with gelding. Many stallion like behaviours will remain, because they have become a part of the horse’s personality and character. But yes, as a gelding he will qualify to be more welcome at many boarding facilities.

[Scratch_N_Dent]

Sounds like you are hoping that gelding him won’t change his attitude (i.e., spark) where most people hope it will reduce how rank or unpredictable they can be. Not sure your discipline or breed of choice but I would suggest always telling the boarding barn up front that your guys was gelded late. I have know a few stallions gelded after 5 that were still prone to attack geldings and be very friendly with the mares.

[Marla_100]

The ones I’ve known were never able to do shared turnout in a group or even over the fence shared fenceline. They still maintained many of their studly behaviors and were a PITA to deal with at boarding barns. I recall one who became difficult to manage when even one mare came into heat in the barn. Another wanted to kill the geldings in the adjoining pasture. So be prepared in case the BO’s do not welcome you with open arms. they may have had bad experiences in the past.

[sid]

Actually, I considered this about a year ago for my home bred stallion, King’s Camelot, who is now 23 years old. Not because of the reasons you cite, but out of my concern that if something happened to me, what happens to him?

He’s a gem of a horse, totally non-aggressive, puppy dog, super obedient and still sound, a wonderful ride as well…but then. Who would want an elderly stallion, as pasturing can be an issue, etc.?

Like others have said, it’s more risky to geld late. My vets have said they would not do it “in the field” as it is more of a major operation than for a weanling or yearling.

So I opted out. So I’ve already made arrangements with a super reputable rescue I’ve known for 20+ years he can go to, to let him live out his life, with my Will providing the money for his care.

Boarding barns often freak out about housing a stallion. They’re all different. Some are gems others can be terrors depending upon they way they were brought up – and of course whether they’ve ever been used for breeding.

I would not expect there to be any change in their performance under saddle, and if you want to show, I would expect it to improve. Less girlie distractions and testosterone moments.

Perhaps you could ask the sellers to lower their price to cover the cost of gelding him. I don’t know if insurance would cover gelding him. You might explore that.

[joiedevie99]

My horse was gelded at 7 (to avoid the stallion import process). It was done at a large vet hospital. He trailers and shares fence lines with mares - but I am told that he was just as easy-going during his stallion days.

If I had a stallion already here, I would not geld over boarding concerns (but I imagine that is location and discipline specific).

[csaper58]

As said above, there may be a little more after care. If I were going to geld a stallion I would wait for cold weather, and no bugs.

Gelding won’t make a stud into a sweetheart. Be aware that a boarding barn that is expecting to deal with a gelding, and not experienced with stallions, may be an accident waiting to happen. Your guy may still need individual turn out, and careful handling esp. around mares and Alpha geldings.

[2tempe]

All good and useful comments. The one I would like to buy is currently at barn and I wouldn’t consider it for him, as he is a known and very well behaved horse. With a new one, I’m thinking it makes sense to look for one that is already gelded. Interested in Iberian breeds, and upper level dressage, so it is a challenge in that respect.

[csaper58]

Morgans are very much like Iberians. A friend was in the same fix. She bought a Lusitano yearling.

[BadKarma]

My guy was gelded at 7, he was bred several times. He was shown heavily thus around, in close quarters with, other horses frequently. He was the kindest horse, loved dogs and children. My heart horse. Anyway! I never met him while he was a stud, but I suspect he was a gentleman then too.

As a gelding he was always the top horse in the pecking order. He was great with geldings and would try to breed mares in heat. I never heard of the mouting being much of a problem. My answer is: I guess it depends on the horse.

[2tempe]

[QUOTE=csaper58;8261913]
Morgans are very much like Iberians. A friend was in the same fix. She bought a Lusitano yearling.[/QUOTE]

Ha! one good solution. But I’m way too old to buy a yearling.

[suzyq]

I gelded an older stallion when I bought him. He was 13 or 14. I didn’t know his temperament except test rides, I was told he was not studdy. The vet I used had gelded older stallions before he did have to go to the clinic and it involved stitches. I couldn’t get insurance on him until a period after the gelding, I think a week or so? I haven’t tried to turn him out in a group yet, but he is fine around mares but I think he always was.

[thatmoody]

Mine was 11. He’d bred quite extensively before, and I was never able to turn him out among mares, but he was fine with other geldings. He was much better behaved at shows, too - could get a little looky/cally but behaved himself fine. You could never tell now that he was gelded so late other than his looks :).

He was gelded at a well-known vet hospital, and the aftercare was more extensive. We had another Andalusian done at the same time, and while he got better, he wasn’t quite as reliable in turnout. He was more of a jerk before anyway, though.

The Andy, btw, had some gelding complications, but I wasn’t caring for him, and I don’t think his aftercare was aggressive enough - I rode mine at least 2-3 x a day, and hosed him religiously, and had NO complications.

[2tempe]

As noted above I had an interest in a stallion currently at our barn. Know him well, and owner and I have made a deal. He is coming 14, I will not geld him and will hope for the best as he ages.
Oh so much fun to ride, Lusitano, extensive dressage training.

[cloudyandcallie]

My horse was (supposedly) gelded when he was 5 yoa before coming to America. Surprise! He jumped the wooden fence and the hot wire to get to a mare when I bought him. For years he mounted mares and was hounded by mares to have sex with him. At shows, outside of the ring, he’d wave his wand at mares. People thought he was a stud. For the last 7 yrs he’s had sex only with one mare. Which caused me to acquire her over 4 yrs ago.

He’s always ignored geldings. Although the herd leader at one barn wanted to be his best friend, my horse was not interested in anything but mares. And studs ignore him which is interesting. Studs will turn away from him. He’s the 2nd “studdy” gelding I’ve owned in my lifetime. My other one could be ridden in the company of a QH stallion who lived down the road when I was a kid. Mares were attracted to that gelding also.

I don’t think I’d buy a stud and geld him unless he already had the gentle and calm temperament that others have talked about on this thread.

[Watermark_Farm]

I work for an equine non-profit and we have taken on several senior (20s) stallions that we have ultimately gelded. I have also served as a volunteer at several low-cost gelding clinics (straight and cryptorchid) we’ve helped put on, observing dozens of straight and crypt procedures done in the field (literally). Many of the horses were older stallions.

Our go-to person for older stallion castration advice is Dr. Eric Davis, a surgeon and professor at UC Davis in California. I suggest you call him, he’s incredibly experienced in castration issues, can geld crypts all day long, and has done a ton of older stallions and knows the range of what to expect post-castration. You can reach him through the UC Davis large animal teaching hospital. He’s very nice and was very generous giving me his time to discuss older stallion castration.

Another good resource if National Equine Resource Network, which puts on many low cost gelding clinics each year. The organizer there would likely have some helpful anecdotal advice as she has helped hundreds of stallions get castrated through NERN’s clinics on the west coast.

One thing Dr. Davis impressed on me is that with an older stallion, you are not likely going to change their behavior significantly with gelding. You should really like the stallion you are thinking about buying and turning into a gelding.

[yourcolorfuladdictio]

[QUOTE=2tempe;8264076]
As noted above I had an interest in a stallion currently at our barn. Know him well, and owner and I have made a deal. He is coming 14, I will not geld him and will hope for the best as he ages.
Oh so much fun to ride, Lusitano, extensive dressage training.[/QUOTE]

From what I’ve heard, they are a blast to ride. The one’s that aren’t gelded “don’t need to be”, from what I’ve been told, for the same reasons you are experiencing. They tend to be fairly docile, even around mares in heat. I probably wouldn’t go throwing him out in a herd of geldings sharing a fence-line with mares, but it doesn’t sound like you are hoping to.

In all honesty, the worst horses I’ve had to deal with have been rank geldings that are “hormone sensitive” despite being gelded early (we have one at the clinic used as a teaser because mares will “respond” to him when they are in heat despite him lacking the proper equipment).

I think any barn capable of handling a stallion (facility wise) will be more likely to be able to handle a stallion (experience wise). I would just get myself a heavy leather halter and a 20" brass stud chain, in case he does need it.

You might even be capable of leasing him for a month and seeing what he is like at shows, if that puts your mind more at east.

I will say, at 14, if he is easy going and easy to handle, he probably won’t change. I would be mindful of workload though, if he doesn’t work enough he may become more “frustrated” otherwise.

Good luck in your endeavor with your new horse!

[2tempe]

[QUOTE=yourcolorfuladdiction;8264543]

You might even be capable of leasing him for a month and seeing what he is like at shows, if that puts your mind more at east.

Good luck in your endeavor with your new horse![/QUOTE]

Lucky for me I have 1/2 leased this horse for a year. Wasn’t interested in buying for a while but the longer I was around him, the more I was willing to deal with the stallion thing. Did some window shopping to see what else was around as I wasn’t sure owner would actually sell him.
My trainer is doing a happy dance…

[JackieBlue]

[QUOTE=cloudyandcallie;8264094]
My horse was (supposedly) gelded when he was 5 yoa before coming to America. Surprise! He jumped the wooden fence and the hot wire to get to a mare when I bought him. For years he mounted mares and was hounded by mares to have sex with him. At shows, outside of the ring, he’d wave his wand at mares. People thought he was a stud. For the last 7 yrs he’s had sex only with one mare. Which caused me to acquire her over 4 yrs ago.

He’s always ignored geldings. Although the herd leader at one barn wanted to be his best friend, my horse was not interested in anything but mares. And studs ignore him which is interesting. Studs will turn away from him. He’s the 2nd “studdy” gelding I’ve owned in my lifetime. My other one could be ridden in the company of a QH stallion who lived down the road when I was a kid. Mares were attracted to that gelding also.

I don’t think I’d buy a stud and geld him unless he already had the gentle and calm temperament that others have talked about on this thread.[/QUOTE]

Why did that “cause you to acquire” the mare??