My thing is when people say there should be less breeders with their own stallions. Who is to choose who is good enough to be the breeders? What makes one person/farm/stallion better than someone else? Who's opinion should matter in this? Not everyone shows their minis so they arent gonna breed for show horses. But does that make their horses poor quality? For showing, yeah maybe. But for pleasure driving on your own property? Or fun local shows? Probably just fine for that.
Just dont know who is the experts on who should and shouldnt breed. JMO.
Marsha
Marsha, You are absolutely right. The owner of the animal is the one that needs to make the decision on breeding or gelding. However, there are many experts and experienced people on this forum, and when their opinion is asked, are willing to use their expertise to help others out. Nobody is telling this person that they HAVE to geld. Just stating their knowledge based opinions.
You mentioned "pleasure driving". In My Opinion, I would much prefer to have geldings around if I just want to have fun and drive around the place. Before I gelded my driving stallion, we always had to wait away from the others so he didn't act stupid, even though he was extremely well trained. I know another person who was waiting for a driving class with their very well trained stallion when he decided to take off, taking the header holding him behind the knees with the cart shaft. No reason, just being a stud.
Geldings are Also for when visitors show up and want to pet the horses or go for a ride. My stallion - I have one now, gelded 5 colts this spring, is always in his pasture with his mares, and I don't bring him out for pets and hugs and photos. Stallions can be very unpredictable (yes as can mares), but it's more predictable for stallions to be unpredictable LOL!!
IMO - I would geld this horse, based on the information given and my 20+ years of experience with miniature horses. She wants to just enjoy him around her property, he is - in her opinion - too big to use on her mare, and she isn't going to show. It doesn't say if the horse is registered AMHR, but if not, the offspring cannot be registered and will limit the market for the foal(s). If this was a quarter horse this discussion probably wouldn't even be happening. I think this person is extremely wise in considering gelding. Many many people believe that since miniature stallions are in general very easy to handle, that everybody can have their own breeding herd. I've had more people contact me and say that they have just purchased (for such a good deal!), or been given, a stud or a colt, and can't wait to breed him, so are looking for GOOD - CHEAP - COLORFUL mares. Again, this probably wouldn't be the case in Big Horse world. First thing done would be gelding.
I commend this person on making a considered decision!