4 November, 1962
Indiana Friend Asks Our Advice On Whether To Have Colt Gelded
Brand New Gelding Pleases Jim Reed
Here ' s a letter the Voice Editor appreciates— but put yourself in his place. He is just a newspaperman, and this faithful reader asks our advice on gelding a colt. Naturally we checked with our panel of experts and passed along the advice that will he included in this article.
The letter is a happy one, and we want to share it with you. Here goes; from Mrs. Howard M. Utter, Box 247, Akron, Indiana:
" Dear Mr. Green;
" You have indeed been a most happy inspiration to my daughter, Lynne, and to me. We so eagerly look forward to each issue of our magazine as we live and breathe Walking Horses, to the extent that the purchase of our horses, after having dreamed of them for so long, was the result of an airplane crash— after which we rode TW horses as physical therapy for recovery.
“ Now, our young colt is a new advent each day we go to the barn, but were work out meticulously each detail in his handling from articles you have published. In fact, Mr. Robert Locke of the Town and Country ' Stables at Ft. Wayne tells us he has had no bad traits established and he has very good prospects.
“ We are enclosing a copy of the colt’ s registration papers and from it can or will you take the time to look it over and see if you think he should be gelded or not? It’ s so hard to decide what to do since every horseman has his own idea and no two are alike. With our Biography, our Voice and our anticipated new Training Book, I feel your advice is the one we would want to follow. Many, many thanks for all you and Mrs. Green are doing for people of all ages.”( End letter).
Note— Mrs. Utter, I want to be specifically frank with you. My advice is worth very little except in a general way. I must depend upon friends to give me views based upon a pedigree. Your young colt seems to have a very good pedigree but some very pertinent points about gelding have nothing to do with the pedigree itself.
First I would— if 1 were you— consider how I would handle the colt if I kept him as a stallion. How could 1 use him to advantage? It is generally thought that a stallion should not be kept as such unless he can be used for breeding purposes. To keep one for just riding would be both troublesome and expensive.
It would require separate pastures for your mares and your stallion, and other complications would develop. Geldings are generally more satisfactory for riding when the horses develop into aged animals( 4 years old or more).
It occurs to me quier unlikely that you would have any profitable use for a stallion— unless circumstances are far more extensive than indicated. If you kept him for breeding purposes you would necessarily have to employ an experienced person to carry on such a program. And I have no idea whether there would be enough demand for services in your area to warrant such a step.
I imagine Mr. Robert Locke, whom you mention could, give you far better advice that I am able to give you in this instance. I will write to Mrs. Utter a special letter setting out what my board of experts has to say about the pedigree of her colt.
One other point also. I believe her colt is quite young, just a few months old. Most people do not consider gelding until the first spring after foaling, and some delay months later although it is usually thought best done when the weather is fairly cool. Counsel based upon local conditions is often better than that from folks far away, like myself.( BAG.)
This Magazine 12 Months For Just $ 4.00
Ben A. Green Shelbyville, Tenn.
Jim Reed, a brand new Tennessee Walking Horse owner of 302 Stamford Road, Portsmouth, Va., finds real pleasure in his two-year-old gelding, that he bought Saturday, Oct. 12, and wrote us a letter about the horse five days later.
“ I have been interested in Walking Horses about six months and last Saturday purchased a registered twoyear-old gelding from Mr. Howard Hensley of Elkton, Va.,” Jim remarks.
“ I am more than pleased with this horse and I intend to use him just for pleasure; perhaps I will enter him occasionally in pleasure classes at local shows.
“ I read each month the Voice and have sent my check for your book on training the Tennessee Walker.
“ It is my belief that the Walking- Horse is dre best pleasure horse breed existing. I have ridden walk-trot horses and the smoothness of the Walker’ s gaits certainly makes rising the Walker more of a pleasure than a chore. Good luck to the Voice and let’ s hope that the admirers of the breed increase. Sincerely, Jim Reed.
“ P. S. You are so right in saying in the Voice that one can’ t buy a decent horse for § 150-5300, etc. I found that out quickly and paid much more for my Walker but he’ s worth the difference.”
( Note— Thanks, Jim, for the Walker recommendation. And I am glad to see you defend the higher price for a pleasure horse. I believe the way 1 put it was that no horse-breeder can sell good horses for those very low prices without losing a lot of money. It just costs much more than those sums mentioned to produce registered Tennessee Walking Horses that are trained to show the gaits and provide riding pleasure. It’ s a case of " cost of production” noL just an idea. BAG.)