Pedigree Query

What age do you guys geld colts.. ?
We have one that needs to be done.. he isn't studdish or anything, but he is turned out with fillies and is the only colt.
I am thinking he is a May foal and he has growth issues and is growing too fast... wouldn't gelding him help him out some?
He is on a special diet and has the vet monitoring him very closely.. but we never asked the vet the gelding question...

We always waited until two when they were in training. It just gives them time to develop male characteristics and fill out. I did one last year that was around 11 months for the person who bought him and my vet was sort of not happy feeling the colt was too young and physically immature. He felt 18 to 30 months was a good range.

I'm actually in the same boat with one that's growing too quickly so I'd be interested to see what others have to say on the matter.

I think two is best, 1-1/2 yrs is sort of a minumum, generally speaking. However, there have been instances where behavior demanded we cut earlier -- yearling or even 8 mos. However, gelding young can result in the horse growing taller than he would have if he was left intact, and I believe bone density can be sacrificed so I prefer to wait until at least two. I don't believe gelding a colt will retard his growth. The additional hormones relate more to the muscularity of the horse and his bone and hoof density. If you take away the hormones, the horse will be taller, less muscled and lighter-boned. Or so it appears.

This colt is gorwing "too fast" I don't own him and am not sure for the technical name for it.. but right now he is (per the vet) on a very strict diet, no grain 1st cutting grass hay.. and so on.. he is really ribby and the vet wants him this way.
his one leg is a little contracted still and they are trying to slow down his growth...
So that is why we thought that if he was gelded sooner rather than later that it might help slow down the growth rate...

we talked to the vet and he said he wants to geld him as soon as they are both down.. so far only one is..
- K

Technically you can geld them as soon as they drop. A local breeding program cuts theres at 4-6 months because they sell as weanlings and don't sell stallion prospects. Mine have averaged 1.5 to 3yrs depending on their temperment.

I cut last years QH colt at 4 months because he was bold, not aggressive, just bold. He was protector of the mares from an early age, whether it was a dog in the field or me entering the field. The vet agreed with me after he had to double dose him to get him down for the castration. I think castrating early just takes away from the development of studly features i.e. jaws, neck, attitude etc. I read where a gelding will have more long bone growth than a stallion...
Cheryl

Just to repeat what others have already said, a study showed that geldings will become taller than stallions. I don't remember at what age they gelded, tho. But the point is that gelding won't slow the growth of his bones. It will cut down on muscle mass. If he is contracted, are you limiting his exercise? Exercise can cause pain in a contracted horse which makes the contraction worse, its a vicious cycle.

the vet wants him out 24/7... but he is out 4-5 hours a day..
He has had surgery and is doing better, but still has issues.

We were just hoping that gelding him would help his issues a little.
Sounds like it really doesn't matter, but he still needs to be cut- since he is turned out with fillies..

We geld ours as soon as fly season is over which is right about now.. I have read many articles and everyone has different ideas about growth after gelding but nothing is proven.. I can tell you that if we dont geld early we do not put them with fillies.. We only race and dont sell which can make a difference.

ask your vet if there is a calcium supplement that would help slow down his growth. This is common practice for large breed dogs, but I have no idea if it applies to horses

he is already on the supplement...

he wil be gelded as soon as testicle #2 drops down.. #1 just dropped last week... I think they might both be down but I am not about to grab and feel!! Owner claims she cant feel the 2nd one..

I did mine when he was two . At that age he was starting to get Studdish. I could only see one at the time , but the vet found two. You know I wonder about the the bone development thing. In humans when woman stop estrogen production at menopause they are more likely to develop osteoporosis if you don't take viatamin D to help absorb the calcium( porous bone), and men at 65 when testosterone slows done. Wonder if this would translate to horses? Just a thought.

The reason geldings are taller is their growth plates close later. This might indicate serious training should be delayed.

griff

we cut the hog last year at the time. 1 year 9 months old. He was a ridgling and had other problems (I killed me to cut him but really had no choice). He gonna be a fast one.

I'm in the same boat as when to geld my colt. He's in a field with 2 fillies and hasn't shown any bad behavoir towards them yet, but don't know when that day will come. Thing is I've heard about the geldings being bigger than stallions too and at the moment my guy is 15hands at 9months and keeps getting bigger. Luckily, I have no joint issues or growth problems, but I don't want him to get bigger. He's aiming for 17hands plus now! I think I'm going to try and wait as long as possible.
teb