ENGLISH TEXTS and minimizing swelling . The earlier castration occurs , the more it impacts temperament : gelding a young foal versus an adult with an established character produces differing results . Owners may hesitate to geld their horse , clinging to the dream of it becoming a stallion or anthropomorphizing the decision . However , a newly gelded foal doesn ’ t mourn the offspring it will never sire ; it lacks such awareness . Instead , unlike stallions , it can enjoy youth in a herd and have paddock companions . If two clones were born , one gelded young and not the other one , the gelded might grow taller , as testosterone hastens the closure of growth plates in bones . The stallion would likely have a stronger temperament and a heavier , more muscular build — often described as " stallion-like ." This muscular evolution complicates selecting stallions for jumping disciplines . Pascal Noue of Haras de la Hêtraie notes , " The issue with stallion prospects isn ’ t their temperament but their weight , which is a tendon risk in jumpers . Unlike flat racing , jumpers ’ careers are non-linear , with training and competition interspersed with time at stud , where stallions are harder to manage . In competition , they can quickly lose enthusiasm and underperform ."
ETYMOLOGY The dictionary of the French Academy tells us that the word " hongre " appeared in the 14 th century and comes from the medieval Latin " hungarus ," meaning " Hungarian ," as the practice of castrating horses was Hungarian . In English , the term " gelding " comes from Old Norse ( medieval Scandinavian language ) " geldr ," which means " sterile ."
A COMMON YET COMPLEX PROCEDURE
Historically , breeders gelded horses themselves , using crude methods like wooden clamps to cut off blood flow to the testicles , causing necrosis and detachment — a far cry from today ’ s standards . Now , only licensed veterinarians may perform castrations , with various modern techniques available :
• Scrotal Castration : Incisions are made in the scrotum to remove the testicles , using an emasculator tool . This can be done with the horse standing ( under sedation and local anesthesia ) or lying down ( under general anesthesia ). Wounds are sutured when performed in clinics but left open in field surgeries .
• Inguinal Castration : Performed in an operating room under general anesthesia , small incisions are made in the groin . The spermatic cord is tied off , and the incisions are closed .
• Laparoscopic Castration : Conducted with the horse standing under local anesthesia , a camera guides the surgeon to ligature the spermatic cord . The testicles remain in place but atrophy as testosterone production ceases . Ideal for cryptorchid horses or those with contraindications for general anesthesia , this method has a 12 % revascularization risk , meaning some temperament traits may persist despite sterility . Costs range from € 300 –€ 500 for scrotal castration to € 1,600 –€ 2,000 for laparoscopy . Risks include hemorrhaging , hernias , and rare complications during anesthesia recovery .
" FAMILY JEWELS " MUST BE EARNED
For trotters and flat racers , elite competitions like the Prix d ’ Amérique exclude geldings . As a result , males aren ’ t castrated until their talent is evident . Thierry Duvaldestin , trainer of Ready Cash and reigning Prix d ’ Amérique champion Idao de Tillard , observes less " restraint " in trotting races than in flat racing . Top trotters often balance breeding and competition , with sperm collected artificially rather than through natural covering . Off-track , however , testosterone complicates management : " Geldings can share paddocks , but stallions often stress themselves by pacing along fences , risking knee injuries . Transport is also harder for stallions , as nearby horses can agitate them ." According to Duvaldestin , " Not all males can remain intact — those who do must earn it ."
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