Can anyone share their experience with reversing caslicks? I am thinking of having my one thoroughbred done so I can breed her. I originally was planning to breed my older mate but now I’m thinking of using the younger mare instead.
Anyone know how easy this is, if they cycle easily after etc? Cost?
I have never had any issues having one put in or taken out.
It has not affect breeding/cycling in my mares either. In my experience it is about a 5-10 minute ordeal (to take out). There was no “upkeep” or anything afterwards, nature takes over the healing process.
It wasn’t expensive either less then $100? (I believe off the top of my head)
No big deal at all! It is done all the time.
Awesome thanks guys… Can they be bred right away?
Often you don’t have to remove the Caslick’s to breed, assuming AI. My mare had a “long” one, which at first caused my vet to think she might have to remove it to do all the pre- and breeding work, but that ended up not being the case. So it stayed in until the 30-ish day pre-foaling mark
Oh - and I would think I would not want to breed right away, since you are opening a wound and I don’t think you’d want to be pushing any of that in
Ok so If I do AI I don’t need to have it don’t until later??? I am having my vet out anyways, I was just wanting to know why I should expect 
Maybe I’m extra sensitive, but the thought of either breeding or foaling over either a fresh wound or scar tissue to that area gives me extreme nausea, always has. If I had a mare, I’d make sure she was good and healed before either activity.
Well there is always going to be either a fresh wound or scar tissue so it doesn’t really matter when you do it from that stand point. I think the OP may have the wrong idea about a caslicks removal. This isn’t microsurgery to reverse a vasectomy, this is literally one cut with a pair of scissors. You do want to take it out a month or so before foaling anyway just to avoid the mare foaling early while it is still in and tearing badly.
Candle, if you think foaling over a freshly removed caslicks is bad, try getting an episiotomy!
I agree women go through way worse delivering after an episiotomy!!!
I knew it was nothing like a vasectomy reversal, I just wasn’t sure how much the cut etc
If you open it a month before foaling, keep checking it because in some cases it will “heal” and scar back over. You may need to open it again before foaling.
The area is “insensitive” scar tissue!! I had a mare to breed LC on a holiday weekend and was not aware of the Caslicks until we had wrapped her tail and washed her. On my vet’s (unavailable) direction, I (an OR surgeon’s assistant) gave the mare a bit of tranquilizer, scrubbed the area and opened the Caslicks myself with a surgical blade. No biggie…no reaction, very little blood. Not for everyone, but worked for me.
[QUOTE=crosscreeksh;6961319]
The area is “insensitive” scar tissue!! I had a mare to breed LC on a holiday weekend and was not aware of the Caslicks until we had wrapped her tail and washed her. On my vet’s (unavailable) direction, I (an OR surgeon’s assistant) gave the mare a bit of tranquilizer, scrubbed the area and opened the Caslicks myself with a surgical blade. No biggie…no reaction, very little blood. Not for everyone, but worked for me.[/QUOTE]
All breeders with mares with caslicks should learn to do this! And always prepare an emergency caslicks removal kit (i.e. sterile scrub and a blade and/or sterile scissors).
It’s not pretty if a mare foals early or aborts and she has a caslicks in! :no:
Maybe my vet will give me a run down then I am glad it is not a big deal. The mare has never been bred but she is only 8, her heats are just not as obvious as the other mares who have foaled. But I suppose since it will be AI we will give a hormone shot to bring her in anyways.
Do not be surprised if there is a fair amount of blood
I think anyone who has not seen one “unzippered” should be forewarned that there can be a fair amount of blood.
Our mare just needed a little bit of local anesthetic. We did it in the barn aisle with a tarp underneath to minimize clean up.
My surgeon husband was a bit disgusted we paid for the vet to do it, it really is not that technically challenging. I have always been concerned re how far to cut superiorly (ie towards the rectum) - vet told me two big person finger widths is where you stop the incision. If using a scalpel, will need to use free hand to ensure not cutting deeper or past the Caslick.
We did apply some topical antibacterial ointment to the edges a couple of times per day for about a week so it would not close back up.
Good luck!
It’s relatively easy to remove, just a couple of snips with the scissors however, my TB mare requires quite a bit of sedation. She is not one of those that just a simple local, snip, and go does it. She’s good for all other repro work but even just removing the caslick requires sedation and plenty of local numbing if the vet doesn’t want her head kicked off.
[QUOTE=Laurierace;6961152]
Candle, if you think foaling over a freshly removed caslicks is bad, try getting an episiotomy![/QUOTE]
Good point, although watching those gives me nightmares. I will be doing anything and everything possible to avoid that myself!! Guess I’m a little protective of that area 
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