Should I castrate my horse?

Question

I have a late 2 year old APHA registered Stallion. He was born at the end of July in 2005. He's a massive boy already at the age of two. Both of his parents are freight trains and we went to TESKEY'S and got a saddle for him, and after trying several on him, came to the conclusion only a saddle with full quarter horse bars would fit him. If you have no clue what that means, in short term- he's a broad boy.
I'm going to show him in reining, cutting, and reined cowhorse work, but still have pondered the idea of gelding him. He has great bloodlines(He's a Peppy!) and is a great stallion with hardly any flaws in conformation. As a stallion my children ride him with no problems and he minds his manners around mares.
If I do geld him however with him being two and all and still having a few years to grow still, should he still broaden out like he would if I kept him a stallion. Both his parents are broad.

Okay all you sad ignorant *******! None of you answered my question. I asked if he would still broaden out. Castration is not as cruel as you think. Stallions often develope ulcers and colic more due to the stress of traveling, competing, and breeding, more often than mares or geldings. I own several stallions, I've shown them and they are now breeding.
A gelding lives a happier life than a stallion, stallions often develope rude and aggravating behaviors which will deteriorate their health- such as wall kicking, star gazing, fence and stall pacing, cribbing, and wind sucking.

Get over y'all selves and grow up. He is a great stallion. I wasn't saying I AM going to castrate...I simply heard a myth that if you do castrate they won't broaden out. Read before you post you bastards.

For the girl who tried to answer the question....NO horse is perfect...meaning all have some flaw in their conformation. Conformation defines bone structure, body, soundness, and temperment.
His bone structure and body is flawless with no blimish. His vet check was at 98% with only a little tendon sheath fluid in his hocks and stifles...which is normal for cutting and reined work horses.

Once again- the question is---would he still broaden out?

PS...he has bred 2 horses. Temperment is not a worry as my 2 year old rides him and my 11 year old neice have ridden him in town parades- with mares all about him.

Answer 1

He will not broaden out like a stallion will, but the real choice is if you want to stud him or not. If you don't, then gelding him would be the choice I would choose, just because when he reaches six or seven years old, he may turn a little cranky and he will, as you said, be lees likely to develop health problems. In my opinion, as a gelding, he will be more focused on competitions, and would be a better overall horse. Good luck on your decision.

Answer 2

Only a vet can use sedation. Therefore, anyone who gelds a horse without a vet will do it with the horse awake and only restrained. Gelding a horse is very painful, they don't just have their testicles cut quickly off the way a bull is gelded - instead they must have their scrotum cut open, the testicle removed and then it must be pinched shut for several minutes so they don't bleed to death. That is why vets use sedation and have the horse unconcious and lying down. There are local people who are not vet who will geld horses. The cost will be less. They will not have your horse unconcious. Not only will your horse suffer pain, but it will be a frightening and long-lasting memory to him. Perhaps it doesn't matter if your steer likes people, or not, but if you wish to ride and handle your horse, it certainly does help if they aren't terrified of people and certain activities. If your horse is awake for the proceedure he will have fear following. As for why a horse would need to be away for two weeks - that is ridiculous. When I have my horses gelded they ALWAYS are done by a vet - I feel that if I can't afford proper animal care then I shouldn't have the animal. They get to their feet about 1/2 hour after the proceedure and do not have to be taken away from home. The vet wants them to remain active following castration to help reduce swelling. Think carefully before you choose to put an animal you care about through this. It is legal to casterate your own animals, I do not think it is legal in most locations to casterate someone else's animals, this is practicing vet medicine. And it probably won't be worth the few dollars you save.

Answer 3

Apparently, I am the only horse person that has yet to answer the question. In my mind, I would only breed to a stallion that has NO conformation flaws. A stallion should be a shining example of the breed. He should have perfect conformation, an amazing temperament (sounds like yours does, but he has not been bred yet, his temp. will change once he finds out what sex is), and should be a proven show winner. If you are still not sure, then I suggest putting him in training with a show trainer, enter him in a few competitions and go from there. Good luck with your decision.

Edit Because he is two years old, he will still broaden out if you have him gelded. Not as much as if you were to keep him a stallion.

Answer 4

If his dam is a broad bodied horse, as well as his sire, he is going to fill out no matter if you geld him or not.

The thing to consider in keeping a stallion:

1. Do you have a pen that will hold him if mares nearby are in season? They can have a powerful will to exit the premises when they reach sexual maturity, to pursue their love interests.

2. Do the types of events in which you participate allow stallions?
A. Will your children ride him in events? Most events
don't allow minors on stallions.

3. At two, many stallions are gentle (I had one I kept until he was 5 then had him cut). Events and restrictions on stallions is why I had mine gelded.

4. Do you plan to use him at stud? It may be worth keeping him intact if he throws really nice colts.

All things to consider. Some stallions have really good personalities, others start to turn nasty, and gelding greatly improves their attitude.

I give you only food for thought, because ultimately, you will determine how he best fits into your family.

Answer 5

From looking at the answers you've received, I'd say you should check with people who know horses. I assume you have concerns about aggression as he matures. Your vet might be able to tell you what you can expect if he isn't gelded.

Answer 6

I have a horse and if your horse is as gentle as you say he is,by no means geld. him.sounds like excellent blood line,stud him,make some mares happy.Make you some money.If he gets uncontrollable then geld. him.

Answer 7

You've just spent an hour telling us how great your nag is and you want to cut the poor beasts family jewels off!
You're a woman are'nt you, always on about castrating the male species, I think you've got a problem, I certainly wouldn't want to be your boy friend!!
Go to hell you sad ****!

Answer 8

if he's as good as you say, it may not be a good idea to throw away he's valuable man gravy

Answer 9

So your horse is a horny creature o.O and you don't want to expose the kids around that kinda stuff? Dude you cannot keep him from getting excited around chick horses lol it may calm him but he will still get horny without his balls. I used to have a dog we got him fixed and he was still humping things.

Answer 10

Well do unto others as you want done to you. If you don't want your balls cut off why cut off the horses balls? I don't think you should castrate it, let the animal be! I mean no disrespect with the balls off thing, but I just don't think it is right to cut off animal's balls, I don't know, just me! Starlie for the good question!