With the problems the Miniature Horse industry faces with an overabundance of colts being left entire, MMHC firmly believes in rewarding the owners of geldings, and therefore responsible breeding practices. Our Super G classes are proof of that.
PURPOSE
To encourage the ownership, selling and showing of geldings and to promote the gelding as a versatile and valuable part of the miniature horse industry.
Classes listed on schedules as "Super G" classes will receive cash payouts as follows -
1st placegetters will receive $15
2nd placegetters will receive $12
3rd placegetters will receive $10
4th placegetters will receive $8.
(Scaled if less than 4 horses per class)
WHY GELD?
As the old saying goes, "A good stallion makes a GREAT gelding".
A male horse is often gelded to make him better-behaved and easier to control. Gelding can also remove lower-quality animals from the gene pool. Ideally, horse breeders choose to leave only their best animals as stallions; lesser specimens are gelded, to improve the overall quality of the breed.
To allow only the finest animals to breed on, while preserving adequate genetic diversity, it is recommended that only a small percentage of all male horses should remain stallions. Some sources place the percentage of stallions considered unacceptable breeding stock at about 90%, while others would be more radical and state that only 0.5% should be bred. In wild herds, the 10% ratio is largely maintained, though via a different mechanism, as a single stallion usually protects and breeds a herd of up to 10 or 12 mares, though may permit a less dominant junior stallion to live at the fringes of the herd. There are more males than just herd stallions, but unattached male horses group together for protection in small all-male "bachelor herds," where, in the absence of mares, they tend to behave much like geldings.
Gelding a male horse can reduce potential conflicts within domestic horse herds. Geldings are preferred over stallions for working purposes because they are calmer, easier to handle, and more tractable. Geldings are therefore a favorite for many equestrians, especially amateurs and youth.
