Gelding???

[angelsdream]

Since this is my first BOY...could people please share there experiences and knowledge on gelding. What age, etc? I would love to keep him in tact as long as I could so he could fill out more, but sure don't want the stallion tendacies to start and stay once gelded. I have heard that the Lusitano boys are more bold. I'm not very familiar with all this, and will have to read up on it. I know many people down here geld as soon as they drop or sometimes 6 months....advice is needed

Thanks!!

[Michelle Clarke]

I have an article here:

www.ranchobayo.com/castration.html

Just keep an eye on him and notice when his behavior changes toward being more flirtatious with the girls. Colts naturally want to mount other horses, first in play. Bella should take care of that with no problem. You may want to seperate Bella when she is in heat so those tendancies don't start.

Colts get highs and lows in testosterone as they develop. You may see him acting randy one day and get worried, but in a few days he'll be himself again. Hawk (lustiano x) jumped into the 75 acre pasture when he was three weeks old and tried to breed Amada. I was worried, but that was the only time he acted like that and settled down afterwards. He was kept with the fillies and yearling fillies until he was 10 months old with no other issues.

We usually have to seperate the colts and fillies when they are about 9-10 months old. Is it also better to geld them when the weather gets colder, as the flies are dying down (or gone) and they are more adapt to play and move around.

Socialization is most important, so if you see that he can't be with auntie Bella without harrasing her all the time, then it's time to geld so the herd stays together. Some people put colts with older geldings, but I honestly have not seen that work out well - and everyone has their own idea of what "well" is. Either the colt irritates the gelding too much or the gelding is too pushy and bossy with the colt and makes them unsure and shy in new situations. Each colt is different and they need different social groups as they go...

[fantasykiger]

I gelded all my colts young between 4-8 mths old never had an issue with filling out or growth. They all filled out great are big, both in height and girth. They seem to do better if they are gelded before they are weaned so they can have the comfort of mom after gelding. I never do it right after weaning it just compounds the stress factor. Both Super and Scout were gelded at 5mths.

[DianneC]

I like to wait for after the flies and before the mud. I don't usually wean my foals and I leave them in with their moms, the moms wean when they are ready and the extra nutrition really helps them over the winter. By that time its comfort nursing or snacking between breakfast and dinner and at night. Little stomachs don't do so well on empty is my thought. So they have that comfort when they are gelded too. Bella's not going to put up with much, moms are usually more tolerant. So this fall or winter sometime depending on your weather and when he has dropped.

[angelsdream]

The flies go away about November and he'll be 7 months by then, so should be a good time. We'll see how Ms Bella is with him, hopefully it will make her grow up some She's going thru the terrible 2's now!!

Thanks Michelle. Will read your article today. I do believe in as much socialization as possible but with good horses! I have seen Bella pick up some issues very quickly from others around her.

I have seen one gelding before OUCH!!! I guess that's one time Im glad Im not a boy!!! or at least a boy horse!

[Michelle Clarke]

Yes, a herd is one thing, but does no good if it's not balanced!

I've worked on alot of geldings that have been short strided on the left leg. I have found that this can happen at gelding time because the left cord will attach and heal to the left inner thigh. This happens because usually the vets lay the horse down on the right side with the left leg up so the left cord gets cut shorter. I have to stick my arm halfway up the sheath to get to the scar tissue and break it up at that point.

I remember on Lusitano that JP was riding and the horse has trouble with the right lead because he did not want to stretch that left leg forward. I was able to get up there (while JP was still on him!) and break up that scar tissue. The horse went right off and did lead changes and pirouettes with no problems...it was really cool to see the result that fast!

So, once it's all healed up and no so sore, I work on those little guys right away to make sure it does not attach up there. Once your at that point, I can tell you how to work that out if you like...start getting him used to being handled there while he is young so you can treat him after the castration. I use essential oils on the incisions to keep them clean and assist with swelling and pain.