 |
Re: [RC] [RC] Animal Control - Bette LamoreHi DeannaI feel the same way about horses--- should be gelded if you have no intention of breeding-- because, although you may have the wherewithal to house a stallion, if through some unfortunate turn of events you are forced to sell your horses, it is far harder to find a home for a stallion-- unless he has a track record of great babies. I inherited a few stallions that way who were older but not what I would call stallion quality-- (one had been purchased by Gil Van Camp for $100,000 and I got him through a herd dispersal sale at Gil's death). Although he produced beautiful babies, his neck looked like a Belgian and he was not of the type that would be marketable in that period, although his pedigree was fabulous-- an Algomej son. He was not so old that it would endanger his health to geld him, thank goodness --- my friend lost her 22 year old stallion that way when the owner at the farm she was boarding at said she needed the extra paddock next to him and that Sue would have to geld her well behaved stallion or find another place-- very sad. So, I gelded the Algomej son and several other colts that year. My son rode Borax for many years and they enjoyed each other on trail. When my son became a computer nerd, it was easy to find a wonderful home for him (the horse--- not my son :-). The tragic situation is looking to find a home for a stallion who is older, no show or record of great babies, and it is actually dangerous to geld them at an older age-- more chance of complications. One never knows where life will take them; I feel gelding is best for stallions in most cases unless the owner plans to breed/market/prove them. I only breed my mares now when someone has leased them and the foal is sold before birth--- usually that person is familiar with Halynov and is specifically looking for an endurance or sporthorse/dressage mount-- and sometimes size as a bonus. Other than that, there are far too many good horses on the market already. My mares may not all get bred every year, but I read Black Beauty as a child and my mares will always have a home as long as I do. Of course, I would give my eye teeth if Jim Cossey had not gelded Bunny-- originally his horse. This son of Hal's has so much heart, is so correct with wonderful size, I would have had beau coup breedings to him had he been a stallion-- what a temperament, too! Oh well, you cannot always predict either way, but if I am going to err, I'll air on the side of population control. Bette, who has far too many horses :-) PS It is USUALLY the men who flame me for advocating gelding--- guess it strikes a nerve? ...and then there are my usual critics :-) Deanna German wrote: I just wanted to say that the Animal Control officers are usually not the bad guys. It's the idiots who won't take responsibility for their animals and allow indiscriminate breeding or dump their animals so they end up someone else's problem. -- Bette Lamore Whispering Oaks Arabians Home of 16.2h TLA Halynov who lives on through his legacy Hal's Riverdance! http://www.arabiansporthorse.com Always remember: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." (George Carlin) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|