NERN Castration Clinics Continue to Help Horse Owners in the West [Blog]

April 15, 2013 - The National Equine Resource Network's (NERN) low-cost castration clinics have reduced the number of stallions by a total of 142 in the last two months, according to Shirley Puga, head of the nonprofit organization.

In March, a series of seven (7) low-cost gelding clinics were completed in various CA locations by NERN, in conjunction with R-VETS (www.r-vets.org), local venues, and volunteers. 

·         The series began with a clinic in Red Bluff at the Tehama County Fair, where 25 stallions were gelded. The clinic was supported by volunteers from P.E.T.S and Safe Haven Horse Rescue.

·         The following day found the team at the Santa Rosa Equestrian Center, where 24 horses were castrated, with the help of Sonoma County CHANGE Program.

·         Next on the schedule was Elk Grove, and a stop at Hoofbeats Equestrian to create 20 new geldings.

·         A private ranch in Lathrop followed, where 22 stallions were gelded, with the help of Oakdale Equine Rescue.

·         Salinas Valley Fair was the venue for 14 castrations, supported by volunteers from Valley View Ranch Equine Rescue.

·         Creek Hollow Ranch in Ramona became the setting for the team, supported by Tearsong’s Equine Athletes, Rescue, and Sanctuary, to create 11 new geldings.

·         The multi city tour ended at Laughing Stock Farm in Sky Valley, where with the help of Coachella Valley Mounted Rangers, the team castrated 14 more studs.

The total result of the March clinics was 130 new geldings.

On April 6th, a team of veterinarians, interns and vet techs at Pioneer Equine Hospital collaborated with NERN in Oakdale, where 12 more horses were gelded.

"Reception by local horse owners has been overwhelmingly positive to these clinics," Ms. Puga said. "There are a lot of responsible people out there who want to do the right thing by their horses, they are just struggling financially.  In fact, we are getting calls and emails daily from desperate horse owners and rescuers, asking us to host a clinic in their community. We are working diligently to expand the program to address as many areas as possible."

Gelding services are offered to the public at a fraction of the usual cost.  Horse owners pay $75 towards the procedure, which can typically run $150-$325. 

Another benefit of the clinics is providing training for interns, vet students, vet techs and vet tech students.  Under careful, direct supervision of a veterinarian, interns and vet students get valuable hands on experience administering medications/vaccines, inserting IVs and performing routine castrations. Techs and tech students provide assistance to keep things flowing more smoothly for the vets.

Additional castration clinics are scheduled for Arizona and Colorado in May.  Oregon is in the works for June. NERN will be back in California late Summer/early Fall to host clinics in the Central and Northern parts of the state. 

"The bottom line is that there are more horses in this country right now than there are adequate homes for them.  A goal for the castration clinics is to decrease the numbers of horses by castrating stallions from rescues and/or those owned by people facing financial challenges.  This helps because the number of stallions is directly correlated with the number of mares bred.  Reducing the number of foals being born over the next few years will be a major factor in alleviating this problem," Ms. Puga said.

NERN is dedicated to improving equine welfare nationwide.  To help NERN continue to expand the gelding clinics and other proactive programs, please consider making a donation through their website at www.nationalequine.org.