https://www.vetsurgeon.org/f/clinical-questions/28478/timing-of-gelding-in-colts A friend of mine bought a shire mare from a breeder because she wasn’t in foal but lo and behold she now has a colt foal which arrived earlier this year. She has been told that if she gelds him early he will be easier to handle but might grow largeren-USTelligent Community 10https://www.vetsurgeon.org/thread/215006?ContentTypeID=1Tue, 10 Sep 2019 01:27:34 GMT146601cc-3922-4be7-9974-7e1d4e45a66b:486f20d9-93d8-474e-bf43-f94372ab1a95Michael Woodhouse<p>[quote user=&quot;Clare Tapsfield-Wright&quot;]He is a cocky yearling shire colt.&nbsp;[/quote]</p> <p>Then get his balls off!</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://www.vetsurgeon.org/thread/215005?ContentTypeID=1Mon, 09 Sep 2019 21:52:25 GMT146601cc-3922-4be7-9974-7e1d4e45a66b:8f98200c-b5fd-4ff7-b5a3-60017df85661Clare Tapsfield-Wright<p>[quote user=&quot;villagevet&quot;]</p> <p>Delayed growth plate closure documented in all species - including cats and dogs. Not sure about horses but linked to increase in joint issues such as cruciates in Labradors and other large/giant breeds</p> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <p>[/quote] thank you, interesting . We were debating the benefits of timing with regards to future ease of handling . He is a cocky yearling shire colt.&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://www.vetsurgeon.org/thread/215001?ContentTypeID=1Mon, 09 Sep 2019 18:53:31 GMT146601cc-3922-4be7-9974-7e1d4e45a66b:c38eb0e7-b746-4015-8d13-7105e6ebeffdLindsey Edwards<p>Delayed growth plate closure documented in all species - including cats and dogs. Not sure about horses but linked to increase in joint issues such as cruciates in Labradors and other large/giant breeds</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://www.vetsurgeon.org/thread/214905?ContentTypeID=1Wed, 04 Sep 2019 19:42:12 GMT146601cc-3922-4be7-9974-7e1d4e45a66b:4394c300-103f-4a1a-80d7-9ab714236cf7Clare Tapsfield-Wright<p>Thanks Aoife , that&rsquo;s interesting. does it have any long term deleterious effects ?&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://www.vetsurgeon.org/thread/214904?ContentTypeID=1Wed, 04 Sep 2019 19:36:01 GMT146601cc-3922-4be7-9974-7e1d4e45a66b:5cebaddc-36ae-4bb2-a04a-0dd21f2a3252Clare Tapsfield-Wright<p>Thanks Aoife , that&rsquo;s interesting. does it have any long term deleterious effects ?&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://www.vetsurgeon.org/thread/214901?ContentTypeID=1Wed, 04 Sep 2019 18:32:02 GMT146601cc-3922-4be7-9974-7e1d4e45a66b:d37de2d3-a391-4d74-996c-3d39ce43d553Aoife Byrne<p>Hi Clare, yes if a colt is gelded earlier in life, then it will grow taller–closing of the growth plates in the legs is delayed with early castration. BW, Aoife</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>