Raising and socialing a good stallion?

Question
Hi there,

I'm a first time horse owner, and recently went with a friend to go and see some horses that needed 'rescuing' from a stud farm. Due to a marriage breakdown they are having to get rid of a lot of their horses and me being me, ended up taking 3 and a half (half being a 3month old foal) rather then just the one I was intending to get.

I know I'be broken all the rules as it were of a first time buyer by falling in love with a 1yr old full cyldesdale entire boy who hasnt had much handling.
He seems very affectionate and docile, which is part of what attracted me to him in the first place. I was lucky enough to see him being caught in a muster with horses panicing all around him and he berely reacted at all, which was very reassuring since I'd already said I'd take him by that stage!
I'm going to pick him up from the stud farm where he is next week, and hes currently ranging free with about 40 mares and foals.

My question is basically that in an ideal world, I'd love to keep him entire and use him for stud occasionally, but also at the same time be able to ride him and socialise him out in the real world trekking with friends and such.

I've been trying to find information on the best way to go about raising him so I can do both since hes young enough to still be able to mould, but I cant find anything!

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Hi Kellie,
           I would recommend that you geld him for several reasons. One being that a stallion needs extra handling and control since they can act up when a mare is in heat. Trying to control a 1000 lb+ stallion when he wants to breed a mare can be difficult for an expert.  With the horse market being what it is now, unless he has wonderful bloodlines, excellent conformation, is registered, and has a better then average personality, you will not be able to sell his foals.

Mnay places will not board stallions, so unless you own your own farm, you may have problems with finding a place to keep him. Even with your own farm, many States require special fencing if you own a stallion.

Most good stallions make great geldings.


Lisa