Ask The Experts

Going for the snip

Q I’ve bought a yearling cob who is already showing some rather strong and ‘bullish’ behaviour. He is going to be gelded, but as this is my first youngster, I’m unsure of the castration process and the aftercare he will need. What can I expect, and is gelding him likely to calm his behaviour at all?

Jerry Chapman, Kent

An ‘entire’ male horse’s behaviour is testosterone-driven and it is this hormone which influences herding instincts, sexual aggression and the desire to be ‘top dog’ in a herd situation. While normal in a feral herd of horses, this behaviour is much less desirable in a domesticated situation - especially for the people handling these animals, and particularly when handlers are not experienced or