Castration
Unless a colt has improved sale prospects or potential as a sire, life on the farm is a whole lot easier when these youngsters are castrated. Castration of colts is generally carried out before they attain sexual maturity, usually between 2-3 years age. Older stallions can be castrated at any age without any significant risk, however these horses may retain stallion-like behavior as much of this is acquired & reinforced with ageing.
Colts can be castrated standing under heavy sedation or, more commonly under a short anaesthesia. The procedure involves the removal of both testicles & the wounds are left open for drainage to minimize swelling & infection risk. The majority of colts can be exercised lightly the next day & then continue on with training programs.
Cryptorchids ( Rigs)
Occasionally young colts may be found to have only one descended testicle visible & palpable in the scrotum. The horses are cryptorchids or "rigs". They display the same male behaviour and will continue to do so if the descended testicle is removed & the other testicle is left in the body. Because the testicle in the abdomen is exposed to higher core body temperature sperm are killed & the rig will be infertile in spite of continuing stallion behaviour. The only way to overcome this problem is to surgically retrieve & remove the retained testicle. This procedure involves exploration of the inguinal canal in the groin with the horse lying on his back under general anaesthesia. Very rarely, it may be necessary to make a flank incision to retreive a testicle from an unusual location. In most cases, these horses can return to exercise after a couple of weeks recovery.
Dominant or aggressive behaviour in colts should be controlled as early as possible with castration. Rarely a colt may continue to show, or develop stallion-like behavior after castration. This may be due to the colt being "cut proud", where the tail or epididymus is left intact, or it may be as a result of testosterone production from other glands, in particular, the adrenal glands adjacent to the kidneys.
If you purchase a gelding that behaves like a stallion a careful investigation of the castration history is recommended. Hormone blood tests will assist in identifying whether there is a retained testicle.
For further information on castrating your colt please phone us during office hours on (02) 67 664333
