Im so proud... and geld?

doublete · Postby **doublete** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:35 pm

I just have to tell someone. I bought a Grand Reward colt at the Fasig Tipton sale (as a yearling) last fall and spent a few months getting him slowly broke and ready to make the move to the racetrack. I'm not rushing him, and he's a HUGE colt. He stands about 16.1 right now, and is built like a mack truck. I took him into the track on Sunday, had his shoes put on, pulled his mane, and kissed him for the night. He settled right in. Monday morning he had his first trip to the racetrack (with some ace of course), with my pony horse as a very bored escort. He mostly jogged the entire time, but did pick up a canter for about a half mile. Both leads (not when he was supposed to.. left lead first turn, but by the time he wanted to switch it was the 2nd turn and we were on the wrong lead... but he's young, time to learn). Every day he has gone to the track, even today in the rainy drizzle. He has been SO GOOD!!! He's so sensible about everything. Never looks, never spooks, horses going by fast, or coming towards him or doing anything silly they don't bother him. Today he galloped most of the mile (well.. cantered).

I hope he learns to run, but stays like this. He's so wonderful to work around. He doesn't act like a baby, doesn't scream like most babies do at first (let out a few the first day, but now only once a day I'd say). I adore him. I hope he can run!!!!

Now, he's not really stallion material I guess, so would you geld now? He is perfectly put together, as solid as they come. Big bones, big joints. No spindly legs here!! I have it set up to geld him Monday. My groom is saying No! don't geld. Mostly because he is so well behaved. I think my groom thinks he won't run as well as a gelding. Being that he is so quiet and well mannered, is there any merit to that line of thought? I'm also worried about the bulk. He's huge, but his legs are built to carry the weight. I just don't want him getting too heavy. Obviously gelding is irreversable, so I don't want to make a mistake that I regret. Would you wait a bit? Or just do it and get it over with.
In case it matters his dam is Pass It.

ireneinwa · Postby **ireneinwa** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:50 pm

If he's a good boy, training good, I'd leave in intact. Sometimes they run better, sometimes they don't. My experience even if you don't have the intentions of standing him.

ASB · Postby **ASB** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:56 pm

If he's not giving any problem keep entire. On the off chance he becomes a good runner, his value will be exponentially more as a colt.

doublete · Postby **doublete** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:03 pm

I just don't think he's bred to be a stallion.. And the odds of him being a really good runner aren't great. (My fingers are crossed, but odds just aren't good)

He's definitely not giving any problems.. Doesn't even know he's a boy yet.

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:31 pm

Not bred to breed. I'd geld. Do it young rather than when he is five and you need to find him a new life. Big picture. Doesn't hurt to geld. Improves many!

majxmom · Postby **majxmom** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:39 pm

They should ALL be geldings.

And I've got three geldings at home that all won 8 races apiece. Geld him!

Roger · Postby **Roger** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:54 pm

I'm not going to cut anything until one proves I have to. I believe the testosterone gives one a real advantage. If he was mean that would be different.

Joltman · Postby **Joltman** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:57 pm

I say if the groom says keep him intact do it. He ought to know if he has to mess with him. Let his natural hormones do what they are supposed to without needing to do all. He may be very low on something and cutting him would reduce even what he does have. If he begins to act up do it then. There are many horses who have a 'change of equipment' midway in their careers...

jm

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:58 pm

I would say no to gelding at this point.

The extra hormones present will limit his height and help with further bone and muscle development. Cut him when you have to.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:22 am

Geld him. Leaving him entire will not improve potential performance. Getting him some company to gallop with will..

Vindicated · Postby **Vindicated** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:03 am

First of all-congrats on such a good job starting him.

Now here is my tirade for the day: I am of the opinion that the whole breeding based on pedigee alone is BS...Big time....

The world need more horses that are durable and can run, and fewer hot house flowers that break and perpetuate the problem.
I commend you first of all for wanting to geld him-but what if he is that hard knocking horse that starts 40+ times and retires sound...and finishes in the money a good percentage of the time...That's the horse I want to breed too. If he is that horse, are'nt you going to regret it down the road?

I loathe the people that breed because they can-but if you are going to show the responsiblity that it looks like you already have-you deserve to have a stallion.

merse · Postby **merse** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:27 am

Whenever anyone asks the "to geld or not to geld" question I always bring up Alfred Vanderbilt's saying that "if I had gelded every male horse I ever owned, I would have only made two mistakes."

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:02 am

Leaving a colt in tact has never made one brave. In all honesty, they balls can make them a little chicken hearted and distractible.

Lisann · Postby **Lisann** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:27 pm

I like this one:
A good stallion makes a great gelding.

Sorry, not enough first hand racehorse experience to advise on that front, but I plan to geld any colts I breed.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 1:03 pm

It's not whether you should geld him, by ALL MEANS YOU SHOULD. The question is WHEN? I think since he is barely two, it is a bit early. I like to wait until the Fall of the two year old year.