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Made a decision, taking lots of flak from friends, family, clients...

2K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  MHFoundation Quarters 
#1 ·
Sorry, a bit long but wanted to give good background info.

Woodstock, my avatar is my youngest stallion. His sire is a 5 time AQHA All-Around Champion, Champion halter stallion, pts in WP, HUS, Reining, Barrels, Trail, Showmanship. His dam was a snaffle bit futurity winner as a 2 yo & has 100+ AQHA pts in WP, both foundation/working lines. He was born here and sold as a weanling to a home that was going to be putting him in the cutting pen. He ended up getting put on the backburner due to their personal life, pretty much spent 3 years in solitary. Never really left his stall except for farrier & vet. Hadn't seen a pasture, never interacted with another horse. I called to inquire how he was doing at that point as he should have been being started under saddle, found out the situation & bought him back over the phone.

I got back a wreck. Very territorial, aggressive unhandled stallion. I spent a good year just gaining respect, developing our working relationship and letting him learn to be a horse again.

We were finally to the point that I was confident he could handle being started under saddle and boy was I right! He is smart, willing and never questions my direction. Last fall he had a major tendon injury in his right front knee. It's been a long recovery. Finally got the go ahead from the vet to put him back into work & he could go on the big pasture & stretch his legs. He made a mad dash and went for the pond, lots of rain, mucky edges. He's never gotten in it before, so it was a big surprise. He re-injured his knee, not nearly as bad but back to light duty again. I feel extremely guilty about it, so please no grief over that.

So now he is 5, not finished, never bred. I am absolutely insistent on not breeding him until he has proven himself as a riding horse & in the show pen. Kinda puts him past prime show career promotable age. With the time/training setbacks the injuries have caused, I have decided to geld him, give him some serious time off & re-start his saddle training at a later point.

I am taking lots of flak about my decision from friends, my grandpa (lots here. He is the last stud colt from his old stud) & a few clients that really want babies from him.

Am I making a bad call or smart decision????? :?
 
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#2 ·
You're making a smart decision.

What's so special or rare about his bloodlines that a thousand other stallions don't have?

Keeping him intact because your grandfather had a sentimental attachment to his sire is simply not a good enough reason.

The horse isn't proven, and you don't know if he ever will be. Gelding him will be the kindest and best thing for him in the long run.
 
#3 ·
Sounds to me like an excellent decision.

No matter how good looking he is, and how good his bloodlines, you're still talking about unfinished, unproven studcolt who's unfortunately not likely to ever have a good performance record.

Lots of other people would leave him a stud and would breed him, but that doesn't make it the right decision.
 
#4 ·
Thanks, SR & Maura. That's exactly what I've been telling them. Who knows, he may end up being a great gelding for my hubby or daughter a few years and lots of miles down the road, if not he's already got me hooked so he can just be my trail buddy and never have to see a show pen for all I care :)
 
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