We have always done our at approximately 9-10 months - both horses and ponies. I did have a client castrate hers at 4 months last year and he didn’t seem to mind at all. We’ve never had a problem with any of the castrations that we’ve had done…but we do end up getting them castrated while there is still snow on the ground, so no flies, lower risk of infections, etc.
Mine are turned out as soon as the drugs wear off. As long as there are no complications, early ambulation is KEY! I like them to be in a quiet herd situation (which is nearly the only thing I have here).
I have castrated a lot of different animals and I have an Animal Science degree AND I am a critical care nurse so I draw a lot of knowledge from a variety of sources. As long as an animal is healthy and can tolerate the meds, younger is nearly always better. The younger body just heals better. A tonsillectomy in a young child is much easier than one at the age of 24 (like I had done!). In most livestock, castration is done as early as is reasonable. Of course in most meat animals it is important to reduce stress in order to maximize the rate of growth so it has been “researched” far more perhaps than in horses.
I agree having them still on the dam is nice because they get comforted immediately after and seem to just do well. But I always do them in the fall when there are no flies so it is somewhat dependent on birthdate and weaning date.
But I have never had a colt that didn’t have their testicles be down enough to do the surgery by a few months old.
[QUOTE=amastrike;5601685]
I don’t think his age is in related to the drug resistance. And I imagine the testicles would have been easier to get if he was fully drugged.[/QUOTE]
I a sure you are right about his age and drug resistance. I am just repeating my experience and what my veterinarian said about doing them early.
I like to have mine gelded before a year old, as well. We have been doing it usually around 9 months old, mostly due to the weather. I wouldn’t mind doing it before weaning but in Florida, it would usually be too hot and too buggy to do it before weaning. So usually the 9 month rule works well for us.
We have them gelded, let them wake up and then turn them out as soon as the drugs wear off. I never stall them – we keep them out 24/7. Just gelded two of them about 3 weeks ago – no swelling on either of them.
Gelding my babies
My boys? Generally by the time they are 8 months old.
