05/16/2026
There is a sweet spot for gelding a stallion. A time when the weather is above freezing but the flies have not yet begun to return.
For Barney, it is also a time where he has made great strides mentally and physically, but is not yet overwhelmed by the spring heat cycles of the mares.
That time is now, and yesterday the day. We had Dr Rigdon of Rigdon Veterinary Services come out for gelding yesterday.
Because Barney has experienced a long period of higher testosterone, has deeply ingrained behaviors, and a body and mind that was shaped by that role. Add to that, was years of isolation locked in a stall and the combination makes his journey more complex.
Gelding will not eliminate all stallion behaviors. But it will significantly reduce testosterone, decrease his sexual drive and frustration, and make his life even better than it is.
As a general guideline, testosterone levels drop rapidly within 24 to 72 hours after gelding, but full hormonal clearance takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks, and behavioral changes tied to hormones can take 3 to 6 months to fully show.
At 16, we may not see the same level of behavioral change we would in a younger horse, but we will see less frustration in him, and that reduction in stress will change his life.
We so look forward to helping him enjoy every day fully, live the life he deserves, and experience all that he did not receive for so many years. He has so much time to make up for.
