Hermaphrodite colt - learn something new every day!

I came across this thread, complete with pictures, of this lady’s newly acquired colt/gelding with no testicles, no obvious penis, and 2 clearly defined teats. One opening only under the tail

http://www.drafthorsevillage.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7534&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Fascinating to read especially after he was sedated to have his teeth done and what they found with him

I had NO idea that Hermaphrodite’s could exist in the horse world at all!

About 15 years ago, I had the privelege of seeing a hermaphrodite TB filly. Was deinfitely interesting!

Have seen one. Where I boarded as a teen the BM had an Appy that was one. Presented himself like a male, had 1 dropped testicle and acted studdy. He did have a penis but, and stay with me on this, it came out under the tail pointing back like where the vulva would be on a mare but a bit lower. No sheath or anything and it was super short. As in you had to lift his tail and you would see it just stuck there looking at you. He went to be gelded and when they got in there to find other testicle(wasn’t there), they found the one that had dropped and 2 poorly formed ovaries. They filmed it for research as coming into it with the weird penis they knew they may be in for something unexpected. He ended up being a quite nice fella once under saddle and acted like any other “normal” gelding, he just peed like a mare!

There was a thread here a few years ago about a hermaphrodite TB someone was trying to find a home for. I always wondered what happened to that youngster. Here’s the thread:

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=210607&highlight=hermaphrodite

I used to work at an Andi breeding farm in VA and we had one. Shim had teats, a vulva with a penis coming out. Craziest thing ever!

When the owner called to find out the sex of the new foal he asked, “well, colt or filly”? and we answered “Yes”

Wow, that is super weird/interesting… So here’s another question… If you end up with a hermaphrodite foal can you register them? And if so, what do you register them as, colt or filly? Do you just pick one or???

There is one in my area. I believe she has a sheath but no penis, and a combination of various male/female characteristics, but I can’t remember the details - maybe vulva with blind vagina, teats, no uterus, no ovaries, etc. I am not sure if they ever ascertained whether she had testicles at one point. Her owner has always referred to her as “she”. A vet described her as a “mosaic”.

So here’s another question… If you end up with a hermaphrodite foal can you register them? And if so, what do you register them as, colt or filly? Do you just pick one or???

Im really curious on this as well …

Since there doesnt seem to be any pattern as to who gets testicles (or not) and who gets a penis (or not) and where they are all located, if they possess testicles, are they actually capable of impregnating a mare? Is actual viable sperm being produced?

Wow, thats crazy! But I have to say it: who buys a horse and doesn’t know what sex it is?? PPE anyone?
:lol:

Well - I think in all fairness, if you buy a Draft or Draft cross for $1000.00 - $2000.00, you are not going to do a PPE on it

And really - unless its a breeding stallion you are buying or a broodmare, you dont generally check “parts” out to make sure they look normal and are where they are supposed to be and there isnt a penis sticking out of a vulva! You just kinda assume a gelding is a gelding! :lol:

I know someone who had a Saddlebred foal who came out with “some of both”. They took it to UC Davis and had surgery to make it a “filly”, then registered it as mare. I don’t know HOW you register it without the surgery:confused:

I think they even named it Hermaphrodite!

Although hermaphrodites vary, I have heard that some of them can make very nice riding horses as long as they are “gelded” (internal abdominal testes surgically removed).

Here’s a fascinating story someone linked to the thread I linked above:

http://www.hoofbeatsmagazine.com/pdf/july09/ArizonaHelen_july09.pdf

GREAT story Dewey!

Thanks for posting it …

I have seen photos of a hermaphrodite TB filly. She had some of both, interesting to say the least!

We have a client horse in our barn that is a gelding, but has two very distinct nipples protruding from either side of his sheath. That’s the only visible femal anatomy he has.