Your opinions & reviews of castration procedures - open, closed or Henderson Tool

[M]

[QUOTE=gumtree;8481717]
We usually geld 3+ every year and as many as 7 in one session. All are done here on the farm. All are done laid down and with the Henderson tool. Which I refer to as the ‘drill’. Because the ‘Henderson tool’ is an attachment that is used in a standard cordless drill.

This year we gelded two late 2 year olds, 1 yearling and one late 3 year old. Only one (a 2 year old) had a minor issue of with the incision closing/blocked and the associated swelling due to not being able to drain. Simple to clean and get things back in order. The other 3 had no issues. Within 2 weeks everything looked like any other gelding.

We have gelded a fair amount using the Henderson tool with little to no complications. I see no reason to do it any other way. I have seen some nasty handling situations when done standing. The extreme being what Ghazzu pointed out. The ‘risk-reward’ doesn’t merit the standing method IMO and experience. I would bet any vet that has done both would agree also.

I took a video of the complete Henderson procedure and was thinking of posting on our farm FB page. But decided against because the ‘nuts’ might start falling out of the trees. It is pretty graphic and hard for most males to watch. I turned my head while videoing.[/QUOTE]

I had seen a video years ago and it looks so tidy. I only heard of a cattle vet who used it - no horse vets in my area. Hoping to get a referral to an experienced vet. There may be none in my area. No. California - SF bay area.

I understand your reluctance to post video. I don’t understand why it is considered so gross. Far less gore than other castration methods I attended and much less trauma to the body during and after.

So, the usual recovery period for a Henderson castration is how long?

[M]

[QUOTE=Fourbeats;8482478]
My vet used the Henderson method on my colt as well and it was by far the easiest castration ever. Almost no swelling and a very speedy recovery.[/QUOTE]

Hopefully, I will have the Henderson option.
You vet is located in which state?

[Fourbeats]

I’m sorry. I’m in Texas. It was my first experience with that type of castration method and I found it fascinating. We did lay my colt down and everything was easy peasy.

[TheHunterKid90]

My vet has always put them under and just two small incisions, bing bang boom, done in a half hour. Never a complication or swelling. They’re ready to rock and roll in a week.
We had a half dozen to do two years ago and my vet was awfully busy at the time so we hired a local vet to geld them. We had never seen the Henderson tool in action before that day and I will sleep just fine at night if I never see it again. Our 2 year olds faired okay however, he insisted on doing them standing up and that was a nightmare. Our 5 year old stud didn’t fair so well. He bled a lot. Swelled up huge and he left a piece of skin dangling. Poor guy was sore for about a month during which time my full time vet came and saw him and said “the Henderson tool is for guys too cheap to buy the proper tools for the job, a company sent me that thing to try once and I promptly returned it…that should be used on cattle only.”
Anyways, moral is, never have a problem with putting them under. Take them up in the pasture, they lie right down, blindfold and done in a half hour at most.

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=TheHunterKid90;8483113]
My vet has always put them under and just two small incisions, bing bang boom, done in a half hour. Never a complication or swelling. They’re ready to rock and roll in a week.
We had a half dozen to do two years ago and my vet was awfully busy at the time so we hired a local vet to geld them. We had never seen the Henderson tool in action before that day and I will sleep just fine at night if I never see it again. Our 2 year olds faired okay however, he insisted on doing them standing up and that was a nightmare. Our 5 year old stud didn’t fair so well. He bled a lot. Swelled up huge and he left a piece of skin dangling. Poor guy was sore for about a month during which time my full time vet came and saw him and said “the Henderson tool is for guys too cheap to buy the proper tools for the job, a company sent me that thing to try once and I promptly returned it…that should be used on cattle only.”
Anyways, moral is, never have a problem with putting them under. Take them up in the pasture, they lie right down, blindfold and done in a half hour at most.[/QUOTE]

I think the vet should have read the instructions and taken some lessons before practicing on your horses. The Henderson is not supposed to be used on ‘standing’ horses. That’s the whole point, they are supposed to be laid on their back legs spread which give full access and easy inspection of things when finished.

“the Henderson tool is for guys too cheap to buy the proper tools for the job”

Total nonsense and a self servicing statement. Pretty sure New Bolton one of the most respected Clinics in the world and one of the most well endowed can afford to buy what ever they need. They have given it their stamp of approval.

Regardless of procedure used an older horse is almost always going to need a bit more after care. Anyone wanting know the reasons why can do the research.

Different stokes for different folks. Too bad we can’t get an opinion from the horses.

[pluvinel]

I just had a conversation with my vet who does a lot of castrations for big time trainers in the area and to whom other vets will “outsource” the procedure.

When asked how this vet does castrations, answer was all are done standing, with the exception of “shorties”…donkeys, mini’s and yearlings.

Use of the Henderson tool was met with minimal comment.

So thanks to COTH, I had the opportunity to get a fascinating lecture on the sedation protocol, the key of proper application of the regional anaesthetic, surgical approaches and post-op care.

Although castration is one of the most common equine surgeries, it is not without risk.

My suggestion if you are gelding a horse is to get educated on options and find a highly experienced vet you trust.
http://www.tnequinehospital.com/uploads/2/6/2/9/26298740/castration_complications__how_to_treat_them.pdf

[Ghazzu]

I think the bottom line is to choose a surgeon you trust and let them use their preferred method.