Franklin Levinson's
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Prospects for a late gelding.
Hello Franklin,
I've read the responses on your site enough to have gained an appreciation for your
compassion and alternative to force when dealing with equines. Because of your views
and insight I feel like you're the one to approach with my question.
This summer I was given an Arabian stallion (Magic) who had been shown and bred up
until he was about 5 and is now 17. My comfort level was good with this as I grew up
with horses and was the main caretaker/rider/handler for a very handsome and well
mannered Arabian stallion for nearly 15 years. He passed two years ago at the age of
27, and Magic has brought me back to wanting to be with horses again. He's a nice guy
with a big trot and a big heart and we look forward to being together every
day.
The real question has to do with his potential as a gelding. He was castrated about 6
weeks ago. The operation went great and he's not having any veterinary problems or
anything. I know you're a big proponent of gelding horses not used for breeding and
have a lot of experience in this area. When I try to chat up other people about their
experiences on this matter and ask if they have any tips on helping him become the
most social and fulfilled gelding he can be, replies are generally along the lines of
: 1. He's an Ay-rab, why waste your time with that. (I live in south western MT) 2.
Stallion behavior is learned and since he's been bred he'll always have to live alone
and never be taken out in public.
The reason I gelded him has mostly to do with his quality of life, as he is not
difficult to handle or dangerous. I feel that without so much of a natural hormonal
drive, he will not be constantly frustrated by lovely ladies. While I realize that
every stallion responds differently to being castrated, and accept that he may retain
"studly" behaviors, I hope that becoming a gelding will let Magic enjoy a better
life, perhaps not a solitary one. We will see what time will bring to us, but is
there anything that I can do with him/for him to help him understand his new gelding-
ness? Most of the input I get consists of "turn him out with a couple of sturdy
geldings or a bossy mare to teach him the ropes". At some point I would like to see
if he will be happy with pasture mates, but I feel like that's and end rather than a
means. Do you have any methods or suggestions for preparing him mentally/emotionally
to live with others?
Thank you for any input,
Catherine
Hi Catherine,
Some of the feedback you got from other has validity. Stallion behavior does become
habitual over time. Gelding a horse of his age may not change any stallion like
behavior. But, then again, it might. You will have to wait and see about that. The
only suggestion I have around getting him socialized as a gelding is this; do a lot
of ground play with him and get really good and comfortable with it. Then have other
horses, mares and geldings alike, move around him and be in close proximity to him
while you are playing with him (you can do this in the saddle as well). Get so that
it is no big deal if any horses are around while you are with him. This may help him
do well when he is with other horses and you are not around. The suggestion to put
him in with other 'select' horses and let them work it out, is a very commmon way to
deal with this. If you can really keep an eye on them for a while, it is valid. If
you cannot watch them a lot, consider turning them out together only when you can
observe the interaction for problems. Lots of action and movement with other horses
around is a good thing to do. Also, simply handling him with other horses around is
good as well as just tieing him in the vacinity of other horses moving about with
handlers and riders and watching what happens will help. Good Luck and please keep me
posted.
Best regards, Franklin