Gelding Project offers free castration for MN horses

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Animal Humane Society, in partnership with the Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition and the Minnesota Horse Council, is offering a free, one-day horse castration clinic on September 26, 2009, at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Lake Elmo, Minn. through the Gelding Project. The goal of the clinic is to reduce the number of unwanted horses in Minnesota. The unwanted horse is the single biggest welfare issue facing the horse industry today.

The clinic is the first in a series of clinics that will take place in different regions of Minnesota through the Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition’s Gelding Project. The project was launched earlier this year by the coalition, of which AHS is a member, in cooperation with the Minnesota Association of Equine Practitioners. Its goal is to educate horse owners on the care of their horses by providing assistance and education to current and potential horse owners and law enforcement. The Minnesota Horse Council provided a grant for the project.

Individuals who qualify to bring a horse(s) to the free clinic are from certified equine rescues or stallion owners who can’t afford the cost of gelding, have been invited to participate by their veterinarian or have been referred by the AHS Humane Investigations team.

Stallions must be halter broken with two descended testicles and be in good health. Colts must be at least four months old. Procedures will be performed by University of Minnesota veterinary students under close supervision by area veterinarians.

Interested equine rescues and stallion owners can contact Krishona Martinson with the University of Minnesota Extension at (612) 625-6776 for more information on the application process. Castrations must be scheduled in advance.

For more information on the Minnesota Horse Welfare Coaltion and the Gelding Project, please click here.

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