Not gelding a horse that you have no intention of breeding

I am trying to explain to my boyfriend the importance of gelding a horse if you don't plan on breeding him. I know why, but I'm not doing a good job of explaining it. I will have him read this thread as it grows.

We have no intentions of breeding horses. We just want a ridable horse. A stallion usually can't be ridden in a group, or be manageable in a show full of mares. Basically, they are destined to live a lonely life. If they are gelded, they can be with other horses just fine. In my opinion, a stallion (who is not breeding quality) will have a better life if he is gelded.

Sure, down the road, either of us may be able to handle a stallion just fine. But since neither of us plan on breeding, being able to handle a stallion doesn't mean its a good idea to own one, correct? A stallion may be trained to be respectful of his human, but that doesn't mean he will be the safest mount, right?

He doesn't like the idea of gelding a stallion because you can't handle it. If you can't handle it, sell it to someone who can. That makes perfect sense to me, but there is also the issue of the stallion being a monster, hurting its rider or himself during everyday handling. Can someone please help me explain this (also so I can explain this better to people in the future).

Bump please :)

I told my boyfriend that there was only room in my life for one stud, so it was going to be him or the horse that got gelded.

IMO a big part of gelding is for the horse's own welfare. Stallions in general live a very lonely life where they are isolated from other horses and many facilities don't have enough turnout for them to be in a large enough area to run and play and eat grass. Often a stallions life consists of being kept in a 12x12' box and an equally tiny turnout, breeding and getting ridden - not a nice life!!
Geldings can be kept in a herd environment meaning often that facilities have enough room for a herd of horses to be in a large area where they can run and play and eat grass.
I am personally all for gelding unless you are a facility/business owner and can ensure the best life for a stallion, and have a good rider for him and market him well.

Lmao that's one way to do it. Not an option for me though. I found a guy that is horse smart AND will let me keep a horse for myself. Among other things, this guy is too perfect to give that ultimatum.

Your in a battle of wits with an unarmed man. Just get the horse gelded.

If you board, 99% of facilities have a "no stallions" rule, so finding a place to keep a stallion is more difficult.

You need stronger fencing for a stallion (additional cost).

Geldings are, as a rule, more healthy than stallions and tend to live longer lives.

Forget showing, at least at local levels, as most small time/schooling shows have "no stallions" rules.
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Sorry to say, but I think a guy that is horse smart would have no problem gelding a horse.

The risk of accidental breedings. A stallion can easily get out of most pleasure horse pastures. Then you have to cover either mare/foal care of the mare he covers or the cost of aborting the fetus. Many boarding stables don't want stallions, particularly if there are children that ride there.

In the end its the horses testicles that are being removed not his. I am willing to bet that none of my geldings stand around everyday thinking "gee I miss my balls". I am pretty sure they think "Gee I wish I had more food, or why won't this other horse play with me". I have never seen a newly gelded horse look between his back legs like "where did they go?".

I once heard a respected horse person say. A stallion wonders around all day looking for a mare and food and is not content without those two things. A mare walks around and once every few weeks is cranky and wants a stallion. A gelding walks around looking for food and friends.

He's actually very horse-smart. He just doesn't think chopping off a horses nuts is fair when he didn't do anything wrong. It's not the horse's fault that he had bad breeding or faulty trainers. I see what he means, but fair or not, its something that needs to be done.