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Re: [RC] Feeding Colt - Rae CallawayI'm stuck with a vet that won't do the gelding on a newborn - 1 month colt, so when the testicles go back up, I have to wait until they're a year and descend again. Even though I'm sure that the recovery is not as quick and painless as it would have been when they were younger, they're usually bopping around the pen within a day afterwards. I had a friend who gelded her 4 year old stallion. We had to spend almost a week chasing him around to keep him moving or he would massively swell with fluid. He was not a happy camper. Rae Tall C Arabians - Central Region ----- Original Message ----- From: <heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <RHightshoe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 5:07 AM Subject: Re: [RC] Feeding Colt While we are on the subject of getting this colt off to a good start, what is the preferred time to have him gelded? I've read anywhere from 3 weeks to 2 yrs. My colt was born in March of 2004. He hasn't dropped yet but I don't know if that makes a difference. The person I bought him from waits until they are two year olds. Fall is approaching and the flies will be less of a problem if doing him before he drops is feasible. I've heard stories about thick necks from waiting too long or some other problem from doing them too early. I would appreciate your thoughts and experience. Thanks BobMost colts are actually born with their testicles down, but many go back up and remain there until their yearling spring (some longer). There have actually been controlled studies on time of gelding with respect to eventual adult height, and there is good evidence that early gelding can cause a colt to grow an additional 1-2 inches in height, as testosterone causes earlier closure of growth plates. So if you want "maximal growth" geld as early as possible. That said--I'm an advocate of gelding young foals, just from the standpoint of how well they handle the surgery at that age and from the standpoint of avoiding testosterone-driven disposition issues. I've gelded a great many while still on their moms, and have done them as early as three days. If that is not an option (you're past that already, and if you can't palpate testicles, then, well, so be it), then the next best thing, IMO, is as soon as you can find testicles in the yearling spring. Start checking around March... Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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