Advice RE Castration.

[PinkGlamourGurl]

Hi all!

Silas was gelded 8 weeks ago now, well maybe 9. So we were wondering, when is it actually safe to put him out with a mare?

Thanks!

[SJ wanabe]

As far as I know you should be able to put him out after a week or two!:)

[Daffy Dilly]

I think it's 6 weeks or 6 months, but six months sounds far too long.

[showjumper-zoe]

http://www.horsekeeping.com/horse_health_care/gelding_and_aftercare.htm
Two weeks after the horse's surgery, from outward appearances, he is a gelding. However, past behavior patterns and a low level of androgens make the yearling continue to act somewhat like a stud-colt. Use caution in turning the new gelding out with a group of mares, for example. He may learn a lesson the hard way. Depending at what age he was gelded, the horse may need as long as 4-6 months to mentally and physically forget he was a stallion.

After castration, the gelding's metabolism is likely to slow down. Therefore, to maintain optimum condition, a gelding usually requires less feed and more exercise than his stallion counterpart. Although a gelding and stallion may have similar muscle bulk, a stallion's muscles exhibit more definition because a gelding's muscles tend to be covered with a layer of fat giving him a rounder appearance.

Horses gelded before puberty usually grow taller than if they were left stallions. The testosterone rush at puberty triggers the closure of the epiphyseal plates (where bone growth takes place), so the stallion essentially quits adding height at puberty. The horse gelded at one year of age has a gradual, delayed puberty and the additional time may allow him to add extra height.

Most gelding procedures will occur without incidence. Preparation, observation, and daily care will help the young horse recover quickly.

found this on a site might help lool

[Wally]

After a week or two there is still a very strong possibility he will be fertile!

You need a period of at least 6 weeks before you can put him out in mixed company.

[domane]

Thank you for that link... very informative and relevant as Ludo is booked to be cut on 21st May!

Wally, do you do the "petroleum jelly on the hindlegs" to your little men, as per the article? Thanks :)

[Wally]

Nope, no petroleum jelly.

To be honest I have never seen more than a few drops of blood after castration and have never seen or heard of any long term seepage from any open castration.

[PinkGlamourGurl]

Thankyou! Am still worried about putting them in together, although a mini Ginge/SnotFace would be rather cute...

[lana27]

6 weeks minimum, if you don't want any mares in foal to an unlicensed stallion ;)

I didn't do the petroleum jelly thing, but my old stallion had stuff dripping from there for a long time, but no hair or skin came off because of that.

[sheryl]

My vet told me 3 months, however he was desperately lonely (no other geldings), and so was a mare on the yard, so we put them together after 6 wks. Didn't have any problems at all.