My youngest is getting gelded in two weeks. The vet would like the stall bedding switched to straw temporarily and wants him stalled for at least the first 24 hours.
I’ve never used straw before - how many small square bales of straw do I need for an 8x10 stall?
I plan in switching back to pelleted bedding as soon as I can, so I’d like to buy only as many bales as needed.
Thank you!
When we do our gelding, I keep a small base of shavings (or pellets in your case) to help absorb urine etc under the straw. I spread out one full bale of straw on top of the shavings. My stalls are about 8 x 10 as well. You may need another bale to replace the dirty bedding, and our boys stay in for the 24hr as well, then I turn out through the day and bring in at night.
I kept them on straw for about 1 week as long as the gelding went well and everything looks good.
Very helpful, thank you!
You should plan on forced exercise for your boy. We do at least 2 times daily of 15 minutes moving, lunging both directions. 3 times lunging spaced out is better, but you may not have enough time for that. Mostly walk, but just moving all that time Use a watch or timing device to get in the full 15 minutes. Then we gently drizzle water over his open area, down his legs to remove any drainage, scabs. Not cleaning off lower drainage will make hIm lose hair. GENTLE water flow, you don’t want to open everything by force of water pressure. His moving should keep his wound hole open, draining, prevent blockage and infection. No medication on it. I have used SWAT to keep bugs away on his inner legs, if you have insects still.
We do this for a full week to insure he is healing, checking things on him, lunging him twice a day. I do turn them out in a small paddock, grassy if possible on the third day. But not keeping a close eye on him and his wound, for the entire week, is asking for trouble. I hear about LOTS of new geldings needing the Vet again shortly after gelding, because they are swollen, closed, infections started, no drainage happening. All can be avoided with keeping an eye on him, forcing movement regularly. Not LOTS of movement as turned into big fields, other horses chasing him, result in. This is where you “have to be a bit mean”, for his good healing. Too much sympathy for his pain, not making him move enough, wIll hurt him.
I go to once a day hosing, checking for swelling, drainage to clean off, during the second week. With no issues developing, he can probably get turned out like normal now. I still force him to exercise once a day this second week. If he is older, full yearling or even more mature, he will need regular checking longer. Bigger horses need bigger holes for gelding, take longer to fully heal closed. We had a big yearling who was not fully healed in SIX weeks! Still spotting blood now and then. I called the Vet who told me that horse needed a very large hole to get the testicles out. It was just going to take longer to close up. Horse never was swollen, acted fine, did eventually close up, quit spotting blood.
Better to take the time making him move, gently washing him down after exercise, type care ”‹”‹”‹”‹ from the start, than needing to get your Vet involved a second time. Those visits are nasty. All our colts, stallions, have been handled as described above, never had a moments trouble with them healing clean. Ours are stalled nights, not left out in the cold or wet, if not being exercised. Their resistance to sickness is low after gelding. Don’t want to stress them too much at once.
Thanks goodhors.
I plan on hand walking 15 - 20 minutes (with some trotting thrown in too) three times a day to start. I work from home, so that helps. I’ve got 3 weeks between gelding and my own surgery, so hopefully being exercised 3 x a day for 1st week, 2 x day for 2nd week, and 1 x day for 3rd week will be good.
He is okay with the hose up there, I practiced that over the summer. I will practice a few more times in the next couple weeks just as refresher. Depending on the weather, I may bring some lukewarm water down from the house.
I may open the gate to their grass pasture so they can walk around between the grass and hay in their dry lot. I normally limit their grass but given the situation, it may be worth it for the extra movement.
Sounds real good!
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