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To geld or not to geld (2)
I have been raising two colts together since they were each 8 & 10 mos old, respectively.
6mos on, they are still doing well. It was my original intention to geld one, use the other for breeding (both are beautiful AHPA paints). But they have both turned out so well, I am hard-pressed to decide whom to geld or if one should be sold instead, given that both have excellent conformation / colouring.
If it is at all possible, I would like to keep both as stallions. If I chose to do this, would I need to prepare to separate them, at least during the breeding season? I have heard of stallions who were raised together getting along well after maturity but this has only been via third-parties. And I have not been able to find out much about it in my reference materials, or the web.
Thanks v much, Lesley
Hi Lesley,
Thanks for your question. It is my experience and is evidenced by the natural way horses develop in the wild that mature stallions, even brothers, will battle when they reach sexual maturity at about two years of age. I know only of one gal in Greece who keeps brothers that are both stallions. One is three and one is four. The three year old is beginning to get very aggressive with the older more mellow one now.
I would not suggest keeping both as stallions. In fact, unless you are serious about breeding, there is no real reason to keep either as stallions. You can let them mature a bit so they develop nice chests and some of the other physical stallion characteristics that are attractive. But, I promise you, it will be some sort of problem in the long run by keeping a stallion around. It will limit your use of the horse no matter what. They will always require some sort of special handling and attention. If they 'go off' only once, it will set up a pattern that is hard to break. They are nice now and you have done well. But unless you are a serious breeder, please geld these horses. You won't be sorry, I can promise that. You will have great and loyal companions in these horses as geldings. They do not need to be kept as stallions. They are babies yet and won't mature until they are about two years old. You may not have much problem until they are sexually mature.
I promise they will be just as attractive as geldings, easier to sell, easier to maintain and handle. That is my most sincere and heartfelt advice on that.
Sincerely, Franklin