*blink*  I've never heard that before... odd, I'll check that out.

If you're going to keep a "whole" horse, the only reason would be to
eventually use him as a stud. A race horse typically retires before the
age of 5 and they can live another 20 years easily. There are many other
uses for quality/high dollar horses other than racing. You have several
different types of show circuits that display different uses for the
animal. Cattle, dressage, english... list goes on and on. And you can
race a gelding just as easily as you can a stud. But it doesn't make
sense to geld a race horse if he's very good. (this is just my
knowledge, I may be wrong)

I don't think it's illegal, but many of your various functions forbid
intact horses because of the problems they can cause. Most studs are
downright ornery when they smell a mare. Some are wild as wild can be
around strange horses. And I've met a couple that are just as gentle as
their geldings.

Now... if you want to go further... you can have proud cut horses. Proud
cuts are generally cut to take most of the testes away, but some is
left, thereby producing some testosterone but unable to properly
impregnant a mare. Mostly you hear this when a gelding is acting like a
stud and someone talks about that one must be "proud cut".

But no... I've never heard of laws about keeping a stud horse.
Generally, as I said, it's a bit more upkeep because they're harder to
contain than other horses, and they can be.... well...difficult :).

Grace

Oh... I forgot...

Every couple years, the state comes around to check horses and your
papers. It's necessary to keep your horses and cattle innoculated
because of certain diseases. If you don't keep them up to date with
their shots, then you have trouble.  Most if not all of your large
livestock events will check your papers before you can unload the
animal.  Unless it's a special requirement that you can't bring a stud,
they never ask the sex of your horse.

In fact, if one of your horses tests positive for some diseases, the vet
*must* notify the state agriculture department and they come to verify
that you dispose of the animal or they remove the animal from your
possession and dispose of it themselves. The vet told us that she's
unable to contact us with the news because some people hide or move
their horses when they're pre-notified. (It's coggins btw, the disease)

Grace