Gelding
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A gelding is a castrated animal—in English, a castrated male horse. The word comes from the Old Norse geldr ("barren"). A horse is usually gelded to make him more placid, making him easier to control. Geldings were once prized by classical steppe warriors for their silence. The Scythians are thought to have been the first people to geld their horses.
In horse racing, castrating a stallion means it loses any breeding value. However, it may be considered worth it if the animal's passion is stopping him from running to his full potential. Geldings are often preferred over stallions, because they are calmer, and more easy to work with, as they aren't as fiery; they may also be preferred over mares, because some mares can be sassy, or "marish".
Under Showjumping and British National Hunt (i.e. jump-racing) rules, nearly all participating horses are geldings to minimise the health and safety risk for horses, riders and spectators. In Europe, geldings are excluded from many of the most prestigious flat races including the Classics and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
[edit] Famous geldings
Famous geldings include the Australasian Phar Lap and the American horses Exterminator, Kelso, Forego, John Henry, Lava Man, and Mr. Ed (Bamboo Harvester). Famous British geldings include Red Rum and Desert Orchid, while Arkle was from Ireland. The 2003 Kentucky Derby was won by a gelding, Funny Cide.
[edit] See also
- eunuch, ridgeling, wether, and steer
- Spaying and neutering (for animals)
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