Well I've Jumped on the Gelding Bandwagon!

[Little Wolf Ranch]

With an upcoming move to Virginia with my fiance who is being stationed at Little Creek Amphibious Naval Base and some other major lifestyle changes, I have decided it's time to quit the breeding side of the Miniature Horse world. So I am happy to announce that my two boys, Sampson (my AMHR bay tobiano 31.75" proven breeding stallion) and Lovit (my AMHA and soon to be AMHR bay-based grey tobiano/splash and possible frame overo 26.50" yearling stallion) are going to be gelded next month! This means I will have two geldings and two mares!

Both my mares are exposed to 2012 to Sampson so maybe he will give me a "farewell to breeding" suprise. I am thrilled with my decision - no more having to worry about Sampson and Lovit living alone - now everyone can be pastured together and enjoy the company. They all enjoy each other already so this decision will make life much easier. Plus, I would like to be able to just enjoy my boys and get to show them in local performance shows.

With the prices minis are going for and how many breeders there are out there already, I decided to change my focus along with my lifestyle. MUCH easier to just "enjoy" them without the hassle and heartbreak of breeding. I'm going to leave it to the bigger farms, and just buy exactly what I want.

I would like to know if someone on the forum knows of any reputable farms around the Norfolk/VA Beach/Richmond or surrounding areas that do low/reasonable cost boarding? I'm on a military budget so it must be reasonable, as I would like to bring all four minis with me. If anyone knows of some farms I could get in touch with please let me know!

Who else has decided to jump on the gelding bandwagon and just enjoy and show their minis?

 

[disneyhorse]

Yay! Sounds like everyone will be happier! Can you share pictures?

 

[Little Wolf Ranch]

I have included two pictures of Sampson and one of my boy Loveit.....both are my little sweeties.

I have given it alot of thought and I mean, honestly.....I wonder how many foals are born every year, thus contributing to the problem of "not enough homes" and "low sale market".....I thoroughly believe we have got to give these little guys some JOBS besides just being breeding machines. Heck in the big horse world everyone loves a gelding - and you just can't beat a trained gelding!

How many of you guys on here have decided to cut back and start gelding your boys?

Luckily, the one colt my stallion has sired has been gelded as well so nope, he won't be contributing to the population either!

 

[targetsmom]

Sounds like a well-thought out decision. Good for you. Good stallions make great geldings! I am actually looking forward to the day when we geld Buckshot (just don't tell him) so that we can use him in our 4-H club. In our state, stallions can't be handled by 4-Hers so he feels a bit left out these days. Since he already is green broke to drive, jumps and does halter obstacle, once gelded he will be perfect for a 4-H project.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

I love geldings! I never had any interest in breeding so for my driving and adventure goals geldings are perfect; both my studs got snipped shortly after coming home and they were bought not as stallions but as "geldings to be." As far as I'm concerned those pesky balls can just go. They're not going to be allowed to use them anyway and it messes with where we can camp and how much fun we can have! LOL.

Leia

 

[LindaL]

Even tho it took me a long time to decide to geld Khan and even as it was happening I was like "what the heck am I DOING?"...3 weeks post surgery and I am SOOOO happy I had him gelded!!! He is so much happier being able to interact with 2 other geldings in a pasture instead of being cooped up by himself...and he is MUCH more pleasant to be around (not that he was ever that bad, but his whole attitude is better).

Kind of weird that this is one of the few times since I got into Minis that I have not had at least one stallion! I LOVE geldings!!

 

[Little Wolf Ranch]

I am absolutely thrilled to be able to say that all the hormones will be chilling out around here! Sampson - the 7 year old - has let the testosterone get to the best of him with busting through fences and picking fights with the alpha mare so I will be very happy to have him mellow out.

How long does it usually take for a stallion to calm down? I'd love to get him pulling the cart by springtime so will begin his ground driving shortly after he recovers from the gelding procedure.

Just out of curiosity - how much do vets charge in your area? Mine is doing each boy for $100 flat including everything except the $60 farm call fee.....which I think is pretty reasonable but I don't know what the going rate in other places is?

As far as AMHR hardship is concerned.......is there a minimum age? I would like to know because I would like to take advantage of their half-price hardship for 2012 on my yearling soon-to-be gelding. He's already AMHA and would love to have him AMHR as well, plus save 50%.....

Also, can someone tell me about the gelding program that AMHR offers? I think I would like to know some more about it as it may be fun to get into, but would like more information from people who have experience in it before I make a decision.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

How long does it usually take for a stallion to calm down? I'd love to get him pulling the cart by springtime so will begin his ground driving shortly after he recovers from the gelding procedure.

The old rule of thumb is a month for every year they've been a stallion. My three year old was never studdy to begin with so I didn't see an immediate change but I noticed he stopped rough-housing within a few months. My other boy got gelded in August (I got him in July) and wasn't around mares again until spring so I don't know how long it took his hormones to go away. He STILL thinks he's a stallion in every other regard! LOL.

Just out of curiosity - how much do vets charge in your area? Mine is doing each boy for $100 flat including everything except the $60 farm call fee.....which I think is pretty reasonable but I don't know what the going rate in other places is?

Oh, you are so lucky! Around here it's at least $400 for horses two and under and $500 for three and older, and that's NOT counting the call charge.

I got so fed up with it I drove the colt two hours south to have him gelded at a small rural clinic for around $200. Even with the gas money it was worth it!

Leia

 

[Little Wolf Ranch]

Wow $400-500 for a castration? Phew makes me glad to have my vet!

What about others? How much have you been paying to geld your boys?

 

[chandab]

Last horse I had gelded was last summer and it was just over $100, but I did drive 3 hours for that $100 fee (local vets wanted like $175); I also chose the drive as my gelding is sensitive to sedative, so I wanted it done at a fully equipped clinic (the local clinics have less equipment and staff available if an emergency arises).