when its time to geld...

Does rearing up and lunging at you deliberately, Lining you up while they are lunging at you and TRYING to get you,spinning round and trying to kick at you and running at you with teeth bared warrant a horse to be two stone lighter?

He can be as sweet as anything but try and make him do something he doesnt want to and that is what we get....I have never been scared of a horse...And today I really was,the look in his eye he was dead set lining me up and wanting to hurt me,All because i was making him lunge the way he didnt want to go,so I flicked the whip behind him to get him to pick up pace and thats when it happened.

I didnt wanna geld him...but...If this is what is going to happen I want his bits gone.

God I would have belt the crap out of him. Imagine if he was a normal size horse you would not be around to type your comment. You need to pull him in to line quick smart or nut the little mongrel.

Sharleen

He's not respecting you...he is showing you who's boss! Firstly make sure it isn't due to injury or other health issue that he is reacting badly or gear that is irritating him. If all is clear you need to start from scratch and teach him you are the boss. Honestly I don't believe that you need to beat or whip them badly but you do need to be firm. Don't try lunging him at full length till you have the respect you are looking for.

I whole heartedly agree with everything in Yarreh Lanes reply. You dont want to break any spirit he has by beating him up but a VERY firm hand is whats needed.
The fact that you really want to keep him entire (& if you cant get anywhere with him) it would be worth sending him to a mini trainer to break any bad habits......so long as its a good reputable trainer. There are some very good ones around.

I find the more I hit him with the whip...the more agressive he becomes.
I ended up lying him down (I was told this makes the horse respect you...I was willing to give anything a try)
Once he was down he stayed there till I allowed him up,he didnt try to get up once he was down when I got up off the ground and just stood there holding the lead he didnt move,not till I asked him to get up.

I have made the decision I will nut him,after the nationals (already sent entries in as a colt).I wont have that behaviour around me and i asked my nan what she would do (been round horses 50 years) and she said if it were her horse he would be two stone lighter...So looks like the path I will be taking. Not that I mind,once he has his manners back I think he would make a nice little performance gelding.

Don't act on gelding too quickly if he is a quality boy I would try the training first. You can't expect overnight results if he is that bad, you really need to patient and just keep working with him. You may regret a hasty decision later on!

I dunno he is nice but is he really stallion quality...I dont know.
I dont really plan on breeding with him...at the moment I have one filly and two colts... the filly is by the same sire as this colt in question hence why I wont be breeding him..I mean I MAY get another filly soon but you just never know.
Horse in question... (stole the photos off kayleen...Cause my photographer sucks at taking photos of this horse.

Since Kay has seen your horse I would ask her advice as you can see a horse better in person than in a photo...but if you have no intention of breeding with him and your only intention is to show him then there is no reason why you shouldn't geld him anyway. But ultimately the choice is yours...however you still need to work on his manners as gelding him isn't going to stop him thinking he is boss!

He would make a nice stallion, or he would make an amazing gelding. Ultimately the decision is yours, but I am a big supporter of geldings. There are a lot of incentives these days as far as bonus prize money and trophies for gelding classes, whereas in stallion classes you will be competing with the best of the best.

Please be mindful that gelding a horse is not a fix-everything solution, as some others have said, it comes down to training and respect for his handlers. You can spend $600+ on having him gelded and his behaviour might not change at all unless you re-establish the ground rules.

$600 to get them gelded, thats crazy, your getting ripped off big time. I only pay $200 at the most. I would be shopping around to get a better price thats for sure. Gelding them makes a big difference in attitude but manners will still have to be worked on as everone else has said. At the end of the day its your horse, your decision. Good luck

Sharleen

I was thinking the same thing Sharleen....$600 is very steep. We pay $180 (Agnus Banks even quoted $180. I had surgery done down there on a Filly last year so thought I would have a boy gelded whilst there).
Last year we had a group done so it was $150 each.

Sorry I am sick .. meant to say $400!!!! That was with HEVC, but Agnes Banks did quote me almost $600 - it was the mileage that was gonna be a killer.

Just checked my invoice and it was $335 to have Duke gelded and vaccinated at my property approx 12 months ago with HEVC.

was that pay up front or get the bill later on?

I have a credit account and get the bill later.

Depending on your location and if he will travel that far check with David Hope @ Box hill vet clinic (Nelson Rd Box Hill NSW) he only charged my $130 for my guy to be gelded.
He is a great vet and very gentle with the horse.

That's a good price, and Box Hill is probably closer to me than HEVC anyway. I'll keep that in mind for future... thanks.

Its a much better price lol.
Just make sure when/if you ring up you ask for David Hope as they dont do horses as such anymore but he will normally come out and geld etc no probs.