Geldings

[tifflunn]

And he definetly had 'tude'. Just ask his owners now!! He thinks he is quite the man haha.

Yep he has tude LOL- the geldings we have are worth there weight in Gold

 

[Taylor Jo]

I just bought my almost new one on a gelding contract. That's cool with me. He's beautiful to me no matter which way. I want his pretty face and body to show not his man parts....TJ

 

[Denise]

Some people think that everything they own must be bred and there is no changing their minds. I personally try to match the horse's attitude to the person. What can they handle? What are their future plans? How experienced are they really? I try to sell newbies a laid back gelding for their first horse. My geldings are so easy to deal with and they do not have the mood swings like some of my mares.

I love geldings, and my colt from this year well be getting gelded very soon.

 

[bingo]

I really think there is a misconception that gelding equals a dead head horse. That they are for those with little experience or are new to horses. This seems to put a stigma on people who do not want it to appear they are not good enough to handle a stallion.

I have seen plenty of geldings with tons of fire and show left in them. A stallion should be very well mannered and easy to handle so I do not equate owning a stallion with experienced horsemanship.

 

[lyn_j]

I know of several geldings that sold for more than mares or stallions.....especially to new people or kids. Two of my best horses were geldings and I paid more for 1 of them than many people are willing to pay for stallions now or even mares.

I think it is ignorant people that suggest not to buy geldings and the same ignorant people are loaded with reproducing horses that are not good ambassadors for the breed.

Lyn

 

[susanne]

I really think there is a misconception that gelding equals a dead head horse. That they are for those with little experience or are new to horses. This seems to put a stigma on people who do not want it to appear they are not good enough to handle a stallion.

You beat me to it, Bingo.

Some people act as if geldings are horses with training wheels.

The reason for loving geldings is not an inability to handle a boisterous horse -- it's because however lively the horse may be, his energies are FOCUSED on you and the job at hand.

For example: My soon-to-be-gelded stallion, Flash, is as sweet and gentle as they come. Even with a filly in heat nearby, he is well-behaved and respectful. BUT, as lovable and pliable as he is, his mind is still not 100% on me; his behavior may be perfect, but he is still thinking about that filly next door. He has other agendas. (But wait until he is gelded -- he will redefine the term puppydog.)

Mingus, on the other hand, is a gelding with enough fire and spark for 3 or 4 stallions. He has ATTITUDE and can be a handful for anyone, but sharp as his mind may be, I know it is always on the job at hand. He may look me in the eye and ask "why?," but put him in harness and he is the perfectly-behaved driving horse all the way. He is not a horse for newbies or most youth, but ask him to turn it on at halter, and there's no hand foot-setting or backing -- he does it all on his own.

I love both of these boys with all of my heart for reasons that have nothing to do with what they have or have not.

Three other well-known forum geldings have more attitude and high spirits than most stallions -- Nootka's Mouse and Pyro and Leia's Kody. Not one is in any way a deadhead and none are horses for beginners. Each has a mind working overtime, with personality by the ton.

I am a huge gelding advocate, but I want to promote them for the right reasons. Some are gentle and kidsafe, but so are some stallions, some are perpetual challenges for their handlers, but whatever their personalities, they benefit from the removal of one overwhelming distraction. Their mind is on the job -- especially when that job is being with YOU.

 

[Sanny]

I didn't take the time to read all the posts, but IMO our geldings are worth their weight in gold. We have a barnful of all-round, family friendly, kid-safe geldings and some of them were not gelded until they were 9 or 10 years old and had been successful show horses and excellent producing herd sires elsewhere. A good stallion will always make an outstanding gelding. We've gotten a few interesting reactions from people that think we were "wrong" to geld this or or that horse.

We had 12 horses on our show string last year and they consisted of 11 geldings and ONE mare.

In the big horse world geldings are generally preferred for showing or even just pleasure and trail riding and I still can't understand the mentality of many miniature horse owners that prefer stallions and mares and all the breeding that goes on. The only breeding that should be done when you have a stallion and a mare that you feel would compliment each other and produce "show-quality" correct off-spring. As it is, there are plenty of foals that turn out to be "pet-quality" that are born each year to outstanding parents.

 

[Amy]

Perhaps we are missing part of the answer here -- or maybe part of the question WHY do people tell people not to buy geldings??

Maybe it is because of what they are wanting to do.

We geld very hard here at our barn -- we have gelding & we have shown geldings -- one of our National Champions is a gelding.

BUT -- if someone is gettiing into the mini horse business -- and they want to start a "show quality " herd AND only have "X" number of dollars to do it with -- you just cannot reach that goal with geldings LOL.

I always suggest they have one good show quality gelding for showing when the mares are needed for brood mares as they get older & a really, really good (GREAT) stallion along with 2 or 3 excellent show quality mares. I try to suggest less is more -- buy the best quality you can afford -- if that means one horse instead of 2 -- so be it. Quality is everything when starting a herd. One horse at a time is way I prefer to go.

AND it is NOT for me (or you ) to tell someone else they cannot have their dream of having a good herd of horses for their goal -- just because some of us think there are enough horses out there-- everyone has their right to their own dream & goals.

I hear of people who go to buy one horse & come home with 2 or 3 -- " because they dropped the price so much I couldn't resist". I would rather have ONE very good show horse -- for the same amount of money I could spend on 2 more I didn't really want but got as a "bargain". Just my way of thinking of course.

Just wanted to say -- one cannot accomplish all goals with a gelding.Perhaps we are not listening to what their goals really are.

I know -- at times I have said -- a gelding is not going to accomplish what I hear you saying you want to do.

Just my take on this question. !!

 

[Suzie]

We are a breeding farm and we LOVE our geldings. I strongly support the gelding incentive and try and steer first time buyers into a gelding. Breeding minis can be a disaster for a lot of people. Our first mini was a gelding and a super one. I love my broodmares but mares can be moody at times. A gelding is usually rock solid every time.

 

[user 488]

I hear of people who go to buy one horse & come home with 2 or 3 -- " because they dropped the price so much I couldn't resist". I would rather have ONE very good show horse -- for the same amount of money I could spend on 2 more I didn't really want but got as a "bargain". Just my way of thinking of course.

That has always been my way of thinking. Would rather have one or two great ones then a herd of mediocre stuff whether it be a stallion, mare or gelding. I personally don't get it but that is just my opinion. Everyone has different goals I guess.