An old wives tale?

ownerof2mfts · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:16 am

Does gelding your stud colt like at 10 to 11 months old stunt their growth any? Or is that just an old wives tale???

Just wanted to get your thoughts...

DaisyKJ · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:57 am

It's a fact. Growth plates close slower in the absence of testosterone. Testosterone--the hormone that makes them act like stallions--also causes the growth plates in their cannon bones and other long bones to close earlier than they would in a gelding. Once these plates close, they seal, halting further growth. Therefore, colts gelded before puberty (in most cases, before they're yearlings) will grow about 1/2-inch taller than if they were left intact.

I have heard that gelding early produces height and gelding later produces bulk. Stallions exhibit thicker necks, jowls, and wider frames than geldings.

It's a good idea to geld when flies are not hatched yet, and make sure the colt gets adequate exercise after the procedure.

ownerof2mfts · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:59 pm

DaisyKJ wrote:

It's a fact. Growth plates close slower in the absence of testosterone. Testosterone--the hormone that makes them act like stallions--also causes the growth plates in their cannon bones and other long bones to close earlier than they would in a gelding. Once these plates close, they seal, halting further growth. Therefore, colts gelded before puberty (in most cases, before they're yearlings) will grow about 1/2-inch taller than if they were left intact.

I have heard that gelding early produces height and gelding later produces bulk. Stallions exhibit thicker necks, jowls, and wider frames than geldings.

It's a good idea to geld when flies are not hatched yet, and make sure the colt gets adequate exercise after the procedure.

Interesting so let me see if I understand this - if I geld him now (I checked the Farmers Alamanac and March 12,13 and 14th - the sign/sun will be in the feet

) then it will take longer for the growth plates to close and he'll grow taller, but if I wait until he's a yearling (which will be in late April) he'll bulk out...right :?:

DaisyKJ · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:58 pm

No, waiting a month isn't going to make much difference either way. These comparisons are between gelding a 10 month old and gelding a 2 year old or 3 year old. Let me see if I can explain it a little more clearly:

A colt gelded when he is 10 months old will most likely be a little taller and have a more streamlined "gelding" look. The testosterone does not kick in until a year or so of age.

A colt that is not gelded until 2 years old will have had time to develop a thicker neck and bigger jowls and probably a wider frame that is not so tall as it could have been if he were gelded earlier. The testosterone has had a year or so to affect his build (as well as his attitude).

A colt that is not gelded until 5 years old is going to look like an all-out stallion and will most likely retain a lot of the mindset and habits of being a stud.

An old wives tale?

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