The 'perfect' age to geld?

I have two geldings. One gelded at one year of age the other at two years of age. I was wondering if there is a 'perfect' time to geld?
I was always taught to wait at least a year before gelding, and if they weren't filled out enough, you let them keep them another year. But never let them keep them over 3 years.
I understand all about the studdy behavior. And I know gelding as soon as possible is usually the best.
I was just curious to know if there is a 'perfect' time to geld.
Thanks!! (sorry if it seems to be a stupid question)

As soon as possible.

I know some people let them keep their balls for a couple years to "fill out", but I always heard that if gelded early, the horse will actually grow taller than if they weren't.

According to AQHA, gelding a horse early has fewer medical complications, reduces the chance of having studdy behavior, the typical "cresty neck", and "Colts gelded prior to puberty often grow taller than if they were left intact until after puberty. The testosterone surge at puberty (18-24 months) triggers closure of the growth (epiphyseal) plates in the long bones of the legs, and the horse stops growing taller. The theory is that colts gelded at less than 1 year of age do not experience the pubertal testosterone surge and that allows more long bone growth and extra height."

That's not a stupid question. :) I don't really know the perfect age but my neighbor told me the best time to geld them is 6-7 months old.

As soon as both testicles have dropped. There's no real reason to let them keep the boys any longer than that.

They may also seem to have more attitude the later you cut them. Both my geldings where studs until 5 or 6 and they both have the same highly opinionated attitudes.

Casper wasn't gelded until he was five, and right before I bought him. Studdy little bugger, and he WILL mount and penetrate mares if they let him.

JJ was obviously gelded young because he has no clue what girls are for, other than to chase away from his hay pile!

I MUCH prefer JJ's attitude to Casper's!

My friends used to laugh at me when my mare had colts .. because as soon as they drop and the first time they get attitude with me ... out comes the knife..

I don't think any of them made it too a year .. hehe

My current boys were both gelded 4 weeks before I bought them. One was two .. the other was three.

I know that geldings are often taller than stallions because they are gelded before their growth plates close, which sounds sketchy to me, but I can't say I've ever heard of or witnessed any negative side effects to the growth plates never closing! (: No input on the age, just curious as well, and subbing.

I've known studs that were cut later in life and after about 6 months or so (once the testosterone levels out), behaved as if they'd been geldings their whole life. I've also know geldings that were cut before 6 months that behaved studly. It just depends on the horse's personality and handling.

It's always a good time to turn a cruddy stud into a wonderful gelding. [although many people prefer not to do the procedure during warm weather, so they don't have to contend with flies bothering the incision]

My vet won't geld super small colts. We had him out to geld our Shetland ponies (yearling, weanling) this past fall. He said he felt the weanling was too small and recommended that we wait until spring.
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