Gelding, stallion features, etc. Please read!

[Virgo]

Is there going to be gelding eventually? I think it would be cool to add some realistic factors here...

- When you first start the game, you must complete a course ("Stallion Handling") to own a stallion, which would appear after X number of horse ownership courses have been completed or you reach, let's say, level 8. Anyone who has handled a stud in real life knows that it takes a lot of experience to handle them. An inexperienced horse handler could be eaten alive or mounted depending on the stud lol. It should take a good number of courses to get here. New players can still utilize the use of stud services of other farms, but cannot own their own stallion until they have the experience to do so. This would also make good use of geldings and possibly increase the number of show entries as people might start bringing a closer focus to competing in events.
* Adding this feature will benefit the game by encouraging more playing time.. people will want to play more to achieve "stallion status" and may take an interest in purchasing upgrades to increase their number of max days, etc. HWO is the only game that would be able to pull this off because there is an advanced course system. *

- Geldings would have a greater chance at performing well in events. I think someone mentioned that some stallions are better producers than they are show horses and/or vice versa. Geldings would not receive this deduction like a stallion does.

- Okay here's the COOL PART! At least for the people who squeal over their horse's appearance. Just like how the game has the coding for horses to grow feathers as they age, stallions will gain "stallion" features as they age. Enhanced face and jawline, more muscular build, and what have you.

Please comment with your thoughts!!

[SageFeather145]

I am not really a fan, because then it becomes difficult to get coverings, and new blood. It might become like other horse games where there's an elite few and they keep all good studs to themselves and geld everything else

[CoalCraft]

I support; it is more realistic, since the vast majority of colts IRL do end up as geldings, and indeed only a few stud farms having the best studs is also kinda' realistic. There would have to be some kind of training/showing benefit to geldings/penalty to stallions, however.

[Argent]

The vast majority of colts end up as geldings in areas with a British influence (America, UK, whatever). Elsewhere, the average horseperson has enough horse knowledge that castration is an anomaly. In many Latin and Latin American countries, people ONLY ride stallions, geldings are mostly unheard of, and mares are only used for breeding. It has less to do with stallions being dangerous, which they definitely can be, and more to do with people not being expected to know what they're doing and people not expecting stallions to have good manners (* are not an excuse for an atrocious attitude).

[Confessions]

I would like to see geldings.. I assume they're coming eventually since they're referenced in a few spots. I wouldn't think they'd be a high priority at the moment though.
I don't know if I really like the idea of geldings getting an edge at showing though. I know that's how it's done in a few games to encourage people to geld, because otherwise, why would you! But stallions are at the top levels of competition in real life and being able to show and 'campaign' studs is a huge part of a possible income for stables, advertising the foals for sale etc. Though perhaps stallions can't breed and show on the same day or something? So you can have a stallion that's never entered a show-ring up for stud or you can show him for a while and then 'retire' him to stud, as is so often done in real life.

[CoalCraft]

I was thinking a small disadvantage to stallions only - enough to make you want to geld if you only want a good show horse but not so much that a very good stallion would not be competitive. Think about it this way - if a stallion can win competitions despite a small disadvantage, he must be REALLY good, and shows are therefore a good way to show him off XD

[Randi Potos]

What about the players who do not want to focus on showing? I play for the breeding aspect and to develop my own lines, and I would have found it incredibly discouraging and annoying if I had to wait to own my own stallion just to play the game the way I would like to. I support gelding and possibly certain advantages to that, but I don't support a wait time to own a stallion.

[Ms. Trouble Maker]

Well anyone on this game has the potential to breed good horses and create the ultimate horse, and of course they would geld the offspring if they sold it...simply because all that hard work that specific person did would be a waste...but if someone was looking for a good show horse to earn then some cash, then that's an option without it being bred.

[Virgo]

It is so difficult to part with one side after you all put in such great inputs. It seems like, for the majority, everyone agrees that rules regarding gelding should not take place. I was a little surprised that no one commented on the stallion image features. I think that would be a great addition to the game.

The vast majority of colts end up as geldings in areas with a British influence (America, UK, whatever). Elsewhere, the average horseperson has enough horse knowledge that castration is an anomaly. In many Latin and Latin American countries, people ONLY ride stallions, geldings are mostly unheard of, and mares are only used for breeding. It has less to do with stallions being dangerous, which they definitely can be, and more to do with people not being expected to know what they're doing and people not expecting stallions to have good manners (* are not an excuse for an atrocious attitude).

Hi! Not singling you out or anything, but just wanted to make a general observation regarding the comment above. While I agree with you entirely, have grown up with a friend from Colombia who owns a stallion with no horse experience whatsoever (lol), and don't intend to disagree with you.. but this game is mostly based off of British influence. The general theme of the farm buildings, events, player images, etc. Most of the players seem to be of British influence as well. And I also believe that those in Latin and Latin American countries speak of injuries more often lol.

[Raven]

Well I hope that the game will soon feature geldin. I like more stallions, but when I have too many of them and I need only one or two of an entire huge generation of my Thoroughbreds, I can only sell them at a huge price or rehome, because their offspring will be very valuable. I breed about 20 new horses a day and I can`t wait them to naturally die or sell the finest of finest at low price.
My stallions could be very good at racing, but I can`t train all of them, I play alone.
Gelding would be the best decision for my stallions not used for reproduction.
*Sorry for my bad english*