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A late neutered horse will still aim for the mares in the field, and the gelding retains its "stallion look". These are just a few of the statements you can hear from horse people when it comes to the pros and cons on late castration. But what is the truth? We have teamed up with veterinarian Lars Bak to find some answers to the most common "assumptions" about late and early castration.
You may also like to read: Injuries in the field: How does the mix of mares and geldings play in?
When do you recommend that a stallion be neutered, if it is not going to be used for breeding?
It is an individual assessment of the horse, its stable environment, its ability to get along with other stallions and its temperament.
What is the benefit of neutering a stallion early?
It is clear that there will be a lot less "hassle". By that is ment in relation to the fact that an early neutered horse can walk with both geldings and mares and thereby get a greater opportunity for socialization.
What is the benefit of neutering a stallion late?
Some stallions develop distinct gender characteristics, which may be a preference for some horse owners. Testosterone also provides some behavior as well as character, which may be preferable in training as well as at competitions.
What challenges can a horse owner experience with a late castration? (the operation itself)
In the case of surgery of older stallions (over 3 years of age), there is generally no increased risk of complications if you choose a castration under general anesthesia.
You may also like to read: Most characteristic: 5 things any owner of a gelding knows about
Is it correct that when the stallion is about three years old, vets recommend castration lying down? Until then, it can basically take place standing up in the owner´s own stable?
Basically, it is correct. The veterinarian should at least have a dialogue with the horse owner about the possibility of whether to perform the castration lying down in a hospital or standing up at home. As well as the risks that may be associated with the two options.
What about the speculations that a lying castration will most often be somewhat more expensive in veterinarian bill?
Yes, a lying castration in a hospital is basically more expensive than a standing one in the stable.
Is it true that a lying castration results in fewer infections?
Yes, there is a significantly lower risk of infection with a lying castration in a hospital than one standing or lying at home in the field or the stable.
Is a late castration the cause of some geldings covering mares?
I think it can be attributed to the behavior that a late neutered horse has learned through life up to the actual castration. If the horse has mated a lot of times before castration, then there is a "learned behavior" that it not just forgotten. It is therefore clear that a young horse that has not tried anything yet, quite naturally, has not developed the “covering” behavior either.
Can there be problems with late neutered geldings being more "aggressive" towards other geldings?
Yes, it is a real problem that geldings that are late neutered have a different behavior than early neutered horses.
Is it correct that stallions that have been neutered late retain the "stallion look" for the rest of their lives. Or does the "look" fade over the years?
It is very individual from horse to horse. Some stallions do not look like stallions and some geldings will look like stallions for the rest of their lives. I think there are many factors that affect the "look" of horses. This includes hormones (gelding, mare, stallion), training, feeding and genes.
