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Post by horsedeal on Sept 16, 2012 11:26:46 GMT
I have a five month old colt foal i was thinking of getting him castrated as a foal. I spoke to the vet and he said to leave him until he is a yearling. Just wondered what peoples experiences where with castrating foals i would have thought that while he is still on the mare would make it much easier and with him being so young would not swelll up so much. The only thing i am worried about is that the mare and foal a used to coming in the stable at night and that it seems people say to leave colts out all the time after castration ( this would be hard for them as they are both used to coming in at night) What are your thoughts a castratings foals and do you think he would be ok in at night.
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Post by flo1 on Sept 16, 2012 11:41:44 GMT
My colt was gelded aged 18 months, but I know of many people who have their colts cut before weaning as it's thought to be less traumatic for them.
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Post by gillwales on Sept 16, 2012 12:16:09 GMT
We had a colt gelded a fortnight prior to weaning, it was much less stressful and he was always calm, made him easier to manage has a yearling, I would recommended. This was suggested by my Vet who specialized in equines.
Hope this helps
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Post by elmere on Sept 16, 2012 14:22:59 GMT
My vet likes to do them as yearlings, something to do with their parts and it being easier to geld safely at that age, sorry can't remember what exactly it was. In at night is fine, Im sure they will be quite happy with that along as they have company during the day.
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silvershadow
Full Member
<3 Silver Shadow <3 Horninglow Ennerdale Water <3 Kincardine Garry <3
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Post by silvershadow on Sept 16, 2012 14:36:22 GMT
My highland Syd was gelded at 6 months, apparently he was a handful.
⤠Silver Shadow ⤠Kincardine Garry â¤Horninglow Ennerdale Water â¤
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2012 15:12:41 GMT
I've gelded them at all ages, has he got testicles? some of mine can be three yrs old before they drop them!
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Post by horsedeal on Sept 17, 2012 7:08:09 GMT
Yes he has his testicles
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2012 7:25:47 GMT
Personally, I would geld him as soon as you can, I'm usually waiting for my ponies to drop them!
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Post by larkhaven on Sept 17, 2012 8:04:30 GMT
Do have him done now if he has dropped them otherwise you are going to have to separate him from mum pdq!!!
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Post by twofatladies88 on Sept 17, 2012 9:02:27 GMT
Had mine done at 6 months whilst still on mum - no problems whatsoever - then weaned a month later.
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Post by horsedeal on Sept 17, 2012 16:47:08 GMT
The only problem is that mare and foal are stabled at night do you think it would still be ok as normally colts are left out all the time after. My mare will not stay out at night at all just gets so upset to come in so would not have much choice but to leave out in the day and in at night. Do you think it would affect the recovery as he might swell while standing in at night. Has anybody else kept their recently gelded colts in at night. That is they only thing that is putting me off having him cut as a foal. Do you think it afftects there build and make up as some people say to cut as yearlings as they have male hormones in them for longer and so do better
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Post by twofatladies88 on Sept 17, 2012 19:29:16 GMT
When I had mine done, I left stable door open in the paddock so mare and foal could wander in and out. How big is your stable? My stables are at least 20ft long and ponies can canter round them so could keep moving if needs be! My friend had her colts gelded at the vets and they stable them 24/7 for two days and everything was fine. Have a word with your vet who is the best person to advise you. Good luck!
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Post by kaybrook on Sept 17, 2012 19:32:58 GMT
I would do it and not worry about being in at night. It's much less likely to swell than doing an older one anyway, and if it's a reasonable sized stable there's room for a foal to be wandering round at night rather than standing still anyway. Even if the worst came to the worst and it swelled up you could just leave them out for a couple of nights if you had to? I've had pre-weaned foals done before and they get over it really quickly. They can go and have a nice comforting drink from mum when it's done, and mine have always grown on just as well as if the ones that kept their bits for longer. The only reason I leave any of mine longer is if I think I might keep them entire. If I'm sure they're destined to be geldings I'd much rather do it pre-weaning.
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Post by gillwales on Sept 17, 2012 19:56:40 GMT
Mine which was done was kept in at night, albeit in a very big stable that he could canter around. It certainly did not affect his growth, a first foal by a smaller stallion he went on to be the biggest of all of her foals and the same height has his dam, we didnt have any trouble getting him toplined either. If I was still breeding I would definitely do it again.
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Post by gillwales on Sept 17, 2012 19:58:41 GMT
oh and just to add we did the foal shows with him, he won all of his classes and was also either champion or reserve champion, a real star
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Post by horsedeal on Sept 18, 2012 7:13:45 GMT
Thanks everyone for your advice i have found it most helpful, who have castrated foals and stabled makes me feel a bit more confident about the situation. The stable they are in is about 14x 12. It is not possible to let them go in and out unfortunately. It was the vet that had put me off the idea as he said they she be done as yearlings. I feel that if he was done as a foal he would have mum for comfort as you have all sait in your experiences and also his bits wont be as big so he she get over it quicker. I will have another word with the vet do not understand why he says they should be done a yearlings . Thanks again for your replies.
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Post by thecremellosociety on Sept 18, 2012 8:44:32 GMT
both mine done at 5 - 6 months, not sure about Fred he was done as a weanling i think but Char done on mum, standing and no problem, i witnessed a freinds colt foal done last year in the stable standing, no hassle or fuss and no problem x
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Post by elmere on Sept 18, 2012 11:08:20 GMT
Its not going to make much difference to his build whether he's done 6 months before or after, you can only really notice it when say gelded as a 2/3 yr old or older. My vet said its best to keep them in a couple of days to start with after castrating anyway as its a bit of a shock to the system, its like us going in for an operation at hospital then getting thrown straight out the door and having to walk home or something, plus the weathers not great so that won't help him keep the weight on. Just make sure the stables disinfected and there is lots of dry clean bedding, straws probably best as it won't get in the wound, rubber mats are the worst for harbouring germs so would take them out if you have them in and keep the wound covered with anti septic whilst stabled.
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Post by horsedeal on Sept 18, 2012 13:46:02 GMT
I do not have rubber mats, at the moment they are on shavings but good advice about the straw and would make sure i got anti septic powder off the vet thanks
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Post by glorybe100 on Sept 19, 2012 8:52:22 GMT
Its not going to make much difference to his build whether he's done 6 months before or after, you can only really notice it when say gelded as a 2/3 yr old or older. My vet said its best to keep them in a couple of days to start with after castrating anyway as its a bit of a shock to the system, its like us going in for an operation at hospital then getting thrown straight out the door and having to walk home or something, plus the weathers not great so that won't help him keep the weight on. Just make sure the stables disinfected and there is lots of dry clean bedding, straws probably best as it won't get in the wound, rubber mats are the worst for harbouring germs so would take them out if you have them in and keep the wound covered with anti septic whilst stabled. My vets have told me to keep mine out when i have him done as moving around will help with swelling plus i also think being out and grazing will help keep their mind off it. I suppose each vets have differing opinions so it is always good to hear what others have to say. We had a stallion gelded last year and he was antiseptic sprayed for a few days and healed very quickly, it also transformed him literally overnight into a manageable, kind gelding, something he was not when he had his bits on!!!! ( he was 2 btw!!) |
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Sept 26, 2012 15:11:36 GMT
I had lots done before weaning in the past without any trouble, but now vets do seem to recommend waiting for some doubtless valid medical reason. Now because I normally have a "boys field" on the go they can be done at any age convenient to me - last spring we did a 3yo, an 8yo and three yearlings if I remember rightly. If I had one seriously difficult because of his hormones I'd still have him done on the mare, they are only left if well behaved!
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Post by horsedeal on Sept 27, 2012 9:14:32 GMT
How wet its gone think i may have to leave until spring (unless we have an indian summer lol)
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