The term gelding is a term that refers to a stallion that has been castrated. Once successfully gelded the stallion is no longer able to breed, but what other benefits are there to gelding your stallion?
Personality and Temperament
Stallions are heavily affected by testosterone and natural instincts to breed which can result in aggressive outbursts, undesirable actions and behaviours which can leave owners overwhelmed. However, once gelded, the chances of these incidents greatly decreases as the horse no longer has to contend with the testosterone production from their testicles. The removal of this hormone production typically leads to the horse that is less stressed, calmer, and easier to handle and train.
Health and Longevity
Many in the industry contribute the practice of gelding male horses to the horse’s better chance at a longer and healthier life. In addition to an overall better quality and quantity of life, geldings are at a lower risk for certain cancers, and are less likely to suffer injury from risky behaviours resulting from their hormonal impulsivity, desire to breed, and are likely to have a reduced fight response.
Recreation and Sport
When considering your horse’s career it is important to consider your goals. Not only will a stallion require a more experienced handler, rider, or driver; but many sports and events have strict protocols or even restrictions on stallions participating. A gelding however will typically be easier to train, and develop to satisfy your sporting interest, and geldings are welcome almost anywhere.
Quality of Life
A stallion’s life can be extremely lonely. Most stallions will be forced to live a life of solitude away from other horses at risk of injury, fights, or unwanted breedings. As horses are a herd animal this solitude is far from ideal, and can be avoided by choosing to geld your horse. Most geldings are able to share communal spaces with other mares and geldings without issue, and allow them the opportunity to have a sense of community where they can build bonds and relationships with others in the herd without the risks of producing an unwanted foal.
Rehoming and Selling
Although there are stallions that are incredibly desirable and sought after due to their breeding, pedigree, confirmation, or list of achievements, these horses are typically the exception to the rule. Instead most stallions are only contributing to the back yard overpopulation of horses that are not desired by the market resulting in the risk of being discarded or neglected. This, added to the stallion’s need for an experienced handler and a facility set up for their individual needs, makes them a much more difficult candidate to rehome. Once gelded, the opportunities for the male horse’s new home and future owners greatly increases, and is far more likely to interest a larger audience of individuals capable of taking on their care needs and providing them a good quality of life.