The problem of unwanted horses is widespread and apparently growing across the United States. Many rescue organizations are at capacity, can't accept more horses, and are struggling to feed the ones they are already caring for.
As one step in the effort to combat this nationwide problem, the American Horse Council, in partnership with the Kentucky Horse Council and Kentucky Horse Park (KHP), will provide an equine castration clinic on March 10, 2012. The clinic, to be held at KHP in Lexington, provides free gelding surgery though $20 registration processing fee will be charged to help defray necessary expenses.
Stallions are generally more difficult to manage than geldings and often can't be used for pleasure riding. Gelding a horse that is not of top-notch breeding quality eliminates most management problems, prevents the horse from producing unwanted offspring, and results in a horse that can be ridden and used in multiple ways. Gelding young horses is a relatively simple procedure from which the horses usually recover quickly. The procedure is somewhat more difficult in mature stallions because more tissue is involved, but most recoveries are still uncomplicated.
The clinic is open to any horse whose owner who is financially unable to afford the surgery. Castrations will be performed by a veterinarian or a veterinary student under close supervision by a licensed veterinarian. Stallions must be at least four months of age, halter-broken, in good health, and with two descended testicles. A current Coggins test and health certificate are required.
To register a horse for the clinic or to get more information, call 859-233-4305, or visit: http://kyhorsepark.com