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 .)