HGG Community Forums

Yup. Which is why I always start with that. But it depends on his breeding.

The better the lines he comes from, the better he has to be to pass gelding advice.

What did your colt's sire paper? If the sire was a B or C, then he should definitely pass GA intact. If the sire was also an A, then it depends on their respective breeding ability scores, (if the sire is at the top of the A range and he is at the bottom he could be gelded, otherwise he should get through intact). If the sire was a star, then GA will likely geld him.

You wouldn't really want to breed a colt that was a significant step down in breeding ability from his sire anyway, so while you would be out the cost of the papering if he got gelded, your stable would be better off in the long run, and show horses are always good to have since showing is where the money is in this game. I do agree with the others though that it makes more sense to do all the free testing first before you do any payed tests. I generally do all the payed testing in order of cost, so that if the horse gets neutered I won't have spent any more on testing it than necessary.

It's totally up to you.

Most people will keep a sire intact, even after getting a superior colt, to breed mares from the sire at least. However, others will geld the sire to move on and focus on the newer generation. There is no right or wrong in that sense, it's totally your preference.

:)

The ranges of Star and Gold are a whole lot larger than any of the other papering levels, since there isn't anything higher, and yet the breeding and showing ability of the foals can, with careful breeding and culling, continue to climb. I can remember when a 12+ PT was a rare and wonderful thing. Now some breeders are getting 14+ foals. We waited with bated breath for Ammit to reveal what Dorris would day about THOSE foals.

And in case you haven't had the opportunity to see it, this is what happens at the Performance Testing grounds for those lofty 14+ PT's:

Sweet Merciful Mr. Ninjas! Dorris is congratulating you on how nice your horse is. Can I buy that horse off you? No really. I mean it. Please? Oh look she is dismissing you and shaking your hand. You lucky son of a mare!