The procedure occurs much more frequently in adopted and pedigreed horses, but that wasn’t a finding of a study cited in a March 18 blog post by the BLM.
About 40% of the stallions in the Conger HMA were gelded in 2017 to test for differences in behavior and habitat use as well as effects on survival and foaling rates.
Researchers found that geldings tended to lose their harems three years after surgery and there was no long-term reduction in foaling rate.
A 1992 study showed that 80% or more of a herd’s stallions would need to be sterilized to substantially reduce growth rates.
RELATED: Wild Horse and Burro Research Initiative Announced.
Western Horse Watchers Association 