What is a gelding horse?

When you want to get a horse, you often have difficulty choosing between types, gender and breed. This reflection is necessary because there are criteria that must be taken into account when we want to buy a horse.

Then you just have to choose from these types of horses, but how? We will help you choose better. This time we are going to talk about the gelding horse. What is a gelding?

In general, what is a gelding?

We call Gelding, the animals on which we apply the castration. This name is used only for equines such as horses, donkeys and mules. This practice is often used on animals that are not intended to reproduce, but to work on a daily basis. The male's sexual hormones will thus be eliminated and he will be more docile and more suitable for the work that the breeder will assign to him.

The definition of a gelding

A gelding is a male horse that has had its testicles removed. Removal of this sperm-producing organ between one's legs will cause infertility. But we did not choose this practice for this reason. Rather, it serves to make the horse more tameable, for less complicated training. By removing the hormone that makes him behave like a stallion, he will be adapted to become a leisure, competition or companion horse.

The characteristics of a gelding

We often ask ourselves what is the use of a gelding, what are its characteristics? For what purpose do we castrate this equine? Most people think that sterility is the main characteristic of a gelding. But this is not the case, a gelding is mainly characterized by these few assets:

The best companions

This characteristic differentiates geldings from mares or stallions. Of course, not all horses are the same, they vary, but overall, geldings make the best companions. This category is easier to handle, to learn, to guide. It grants you relative consistency in your interactions and receives your intentions more easily.

The expression “Talk to a gelding, ask a stallion, ask a mare” is not cited for nothing. In general, this confirms that the gelding is kinder, more compassionate and more attentive than other types of horses.

If you are new to the world of riding, the gelding is the most suitable for you, since it has an unbeatable tolerance for beginners' mistakes. Even experienced riders and the equine community as well as many stables prefer geldings thanks to their tolerant and calmer temperament.

In addition to being very pleasant as a mount, they are horse-riding and are the ideal companion for going to work. They can also be a good mount for going shopping in the countryside or just for fun. You can simply enjoy their company during a cavalry ride with your family members.

Perfect for doing a job correctly

Breeders, farmers and stables cannot do without geldings, due to their great capacity of concentration. Indeed, they are used in agriculture and in production sectors thanks to their calm temperament. Also, they have good physical characteristics. For riding clubs, a gelding is less dangerous to accommodate a beginner rider. Which attributes to him the role of the most competent horse to carry out daily tasks. Furthermore, they are easy to train to practice any equestrian sport. They accept the saddle better and do not show too much rebellious movement.

Everything you need to know about horse castration

The veterinarian can choose between performing the procedure on a horse standing and tranquilized or on a horse lying down, under general anesthesia.

Intervention with breakers

This method is performed on a standing horse. Casseaux are pieces of wood that are used very hard on the skin and the cord of the testicle. The goal of this practice is to knock down everything that is below the breakers. It is an old method that is used for special cases, such as those of a horse which is at risk of disembowelment.

Intervention with metal pliers

This is a safe and widely used method. This is also practiced on a standing horse. When the skin of the testicle is incised, the metal clamps are inserted onto the testicular cord. These will completely crush the cord. Once the testicles are removed, the clamps are removed and the skin is allowed to heal without stitches. These two procedures can also be performed on a lying horse. The ideal for an anesthetized horse is to opt for the surgical method which is also the most used at the moment.

Care after the operation

In general, there should be no subsequent complications. You just need to pay close attention to the operated area, maintain its cleanliness and administer the recommended antibiotics. If the operation was performed in a clinic, the incision should be sutured. Which is reassuring since there should be fewer complications. The procedure may be expensive, but it presents the least risk possible. The new gelding's stallion hormones should disappear a few weeks after the procedure.

The ideal age for horse castration

There is no specific age for horses to be selected for the procedure. This practice can be carried out on foals less than one year old. Provided that the testicles are well descended into the scrotum. Many breeders believe that the earlier the foals are gelded, the better. A practice that prevents the production of testosterone. Since once the foal produces this hormone, he will begin to experience the cravings of a stallion. The longer the cavalry takes to gel, the more the stallion will form. To know that he has developed this hormone, the horse should have a peaked neck and aggressive behavior. He becomes dominant in relation to the herd, which can constitute a danger for foals and mares. However, others prefer that the horse develops a beautiful and more showy physique before gelding it.