How to Castrate a Horse

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Most male horses that will not be used for breeding are castrated at around 12 - 15 months of age. [1] Uncastrated male horses have high levels of testosterone, which can make them difficult and even dangerous to handle. If you are thinking about getting your horse castrated, make sure that you schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Castration is a surgical procedure that must be performed by a veterinarian.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Learning About the Procedure

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  1. Your vet will need to assess your horse before the procedure and talk to you about the options for castration surgery. Some horses will be able to be castrated under sedation while at home in his stall, while others will need to be castrated under full anesthesia in a clinical setting. [2]
    • If the horse is healthy with two scrotal testicles, then the veterinarian may opt to to sedate the horse and operate using local anesthesia. This may be done in the field or at the clinic.
    • If the horse has a problem, then the operation must be done under full anesthesia and in a clinical setting. For example, if the horse has an undescended testicle, then the surgeon may need to perform abdominal surgery to find the missing testicle.
    • The veterinarian will also need to decide if it will be better to perform the surgery with horse standing up or lying down. A horse must be at least 14.2 hand high to qualify for a standing surgery.
  2. The veterinarian will administer a cocktail of sedative drugs intravenously and then wait until the drugs have taken full effect. This should take about 20 minutes.
  3. Next, the veterinarian will clean the scrotal area and belly with lots of water and a surgical scrub. [3] This step is necessary to remove as much debris and bacteria as possible from the horse’s body and help prevent an infection.
  4. Wearing sterile gloves, the surgeon will inject a local anesthetic into each testicle. The typical amount is 15 - 20 ml of mepivacaine. Then, the needle will be taken out slowly through the tissue while still injecting the local anesthetic. The anesthetic will numb the testicles and surrounding structures. It should take about five minutes to take full effect.
  5. Once the testicles are numb the surgeon makes an incision with a sterile scalpel blade through the skin of the scrotum. [4] The incision will need to be just large enough for the testicles to fit through.
  6. The surgeons then applies pressure between the testicle and body in order to pop out the testicle. After the testicle is partway out of the scrotum, the surgeon will use his fingers to pull the testicle out the rest of the way.
    • The surgeon then has the choice whether to apply emasculators. The emasculator is an instrument that crushes and severs the spermatic cord. If the surgeon applies emasculators, then they will either apply them across the whole structure or make an incision through the tough fibrous tunic that covers the testicle.
  7. The veterinarian will leave the emasculator in place for one minute for young colts and at least two minutes for mature stallions. Leaving the emasculator in place for this amount of time will crush and seal the blood vessels. Next, the veterinarian will cut the cords that are on the side of the emasculator that is furthest away from the body. After the cords have been cut, the device will be slowly released. [5]
  8. Last of all, the veterinarian will inspect the stump of blood vessels for hemorrhage and apply ligatures to any bleeding vessels if necessary. If the surgeon finds that there is no hemorrhage, then the stump will be released and allowed to retract back into the scrotum.
  9. After the first testicle has been removed, this procedure will need to be repeated on the other side for the other testicle.
  10. The incision are often not sutured but left open to heal by secondary intention. This allows any seepage of fluid to drain away under gravity, rather than building up beneath the skin and causing swelling. However, this is at the surgeon's discretion.
    • For mature stallions, the surgeon may close each layer of tissue with sutures. This can help to reduce the risk of postoperative bleeding in an active animal or to allow a rapid return to work.
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Caring for Your Horse After Castration

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  1. Following castration, it is important for your horse to rest in his stall for about 24 hours. Try to keep his area as quiet as possible and check on the horse now and then. [6]
  2. After your horse has had 24 hours of rest, then he should get some light exercise. Lead him around on a walk if he does not seem to want to walk on his own. This will help to encourage proper healing and drainage of fluid from the horse’s scrotum. [7]
  3. Check your horse’s scrotal area to make sure that is clean and does not look infected. Follow your veterinarian’s instructions for how to care for the surgical wound as well. You may be advised to keep the area clean with cold water hosing. [8]
    • To clean your horse's scrotal area, use a hose set on a low stream to remove any debris (hay, dirt, etc.) from the horse's scrotal region. Allow the water to run over the scrotal region until it looks clean.
    • Watch for signs of infection. Check your horse's scrotal region a couple times per day until the wound has healed. When you check, look for any signs of infection such as redness, swelling, and/or pus.
  4. Light exercise is advised for 7 - 10 days after surgery. After this time has passed, your horse can return to normal work. Make sure that you check with your veterinarian to be sure.
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Considering Castration

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  1. The majority of male horses are castrated as yearlings, or in the first year of life. This prevents the development of unwanted aggressive behavior and makes the animal easier to manage. [9]
    • Horses that are castrated in the first year of life tend to be taller when they are fully grown because testosterone is what stops their growth.
    • Another advantage of castration at a young age is that the testicles are smaller and the blood supply to them is not as heavy as in a mature animal. This means that there is a lower risk of complications such as heavy bleeding after surgery. [10]
  2. By delaying castration until two years of age, the horse may have a heavier more masculine appearance, which some people may prefer. But by delaying castration, there is also a risk that the horse will become aggressive or difficult to handle. These behavioral issues may even become established and continue after a horse has been castrated.
    • An uncastrated horse may also cause trouble by challenging other male horses or pestering the mares.
  3. The risk of health complications rises with the age of the horse due to the larger blood vessels. For horses over three years of age, many veterinarians will advise full anesthesia under clinical conditions. This may be necessary so that the veterinarian will be equipped to deal with any unforeseen surgical complications.
  4. Do not attempt to castrate a horse on your own. Castration is a veterinary surgical procedure that must be performed by a qualified veterinarian. A lay person (one who is not a veterinarian) may face legal charges for castrating a horse.
    • In addition to legal charges, a lay person could cause unnecessary pain and suffering to the horse.
    • A lay person will also not be equipped to deal with any postoperative complications that may arise.

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What are the benefits of castrating a male horse at an early age?
    Ted & JoAnn Dawson
    Equestrian Experts
    Ted and JoAnn Dawson are Equestrian Experts based in North East, Maryland. Ted and JoAnn gained years of business and horse experience operating Carousel Farm & Riding Stables in Delaware from 1986 to 1998, and in 1999, they opened Fairwinds Farm & Stables, offering riding lessons, trail rides, equestrian summer camp, horse-drawn carriages, pony rides, and special events including weddings and birthday parties. Fairwinds Farm has been selected as a Maryland Horse Discovery Center and was inducted into the Cecil County Business Hall of Fame. It has also been awarded Tourism Business of the Year and Cecil County Outstanding Farm Operation. Fairwinds Farm is a “destination” farm and B&B, featured on Good Morning America, in The New York Times, The Baltimore Sun and Country Woman, Horse & Rider, and Maryland Life Magazines. The Dawsons both teach Equine Science classes at Cecil College, are members of the Maryland Farm Bureau and Maryland Horse Council, and work as animal wranglers for film and TV. JoAnn has a B.S. degree in Animal Science and Ag Education and a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Delaware. She is the author of the Lucky Foot Stable series of books for ages 8-13, and screenwriter of the film Cream of the Crop, now streaming on Amazon Prime. Ted holds a B.S. degree from the University of Delaware in Business Administration and Finance.
    Ted & JoAnn Dawson
    Equestrian Experts
    Expert Answer
    Castrating a male horse at a younger age, typically under six months, offers several significant benefits. At this stage, the horse is less likely to develop stallion-like behaviors even after the procedure. By addressing the issue early on, you prevent the horse from forming habits associated with stallions, such as attempting to herd mares. Delaying castration beyond six months may result in the horse maintaining a stallion mindset, even post-surgery, which can lead to challenging behavior. Therefore, opting to castrate the horse at a younger age ensures a smoother transition and a more manageable temperament, contributing to a safer and more cooperative animal in the long run.
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      Warnings

      • Do not attempt to castrate a horse on your own! Not only is it illegal and potentially harmful to the animal, there is a high potential for you to be injured as well.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about caring for horses, check out our in-depth interview with Ted & JoAnn Dawson .

      References

      1. ↑ https://equimed.com/health-centers/reproductive-care/articles/equine-reproductive-maturity-in-mares-and-stallions
      2. ↑ https://www.thehorse.com/articles/10024/castration-in-the-horse
      3. ↑ https://www.thehorse.com/articles/10024/castration-in-the-horse
      4. ↑ https://www.thehorse.com/articles/10024/castration-in-the-horse
      5. ↑ https://www.thehorse.com/articles/10024/castration-in-the-horse
      6. ↑ https://www.thehorse.com/articles/10024/castration-in-the-horse
      7. ↑ https://www.thehorse.com/articles/10024/castration-in-the-horse
      8. ↑ https://www.thehorse.com/articles/10024/castration-in-the-horse
      9. ↑ https://www.thehorse.com/articles/10024/castration-in-the-horse
      1. ↑ https://www.thehorse.com/articles/10024/castration-in-the-horse

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you have a male horse that you don’t plan to breed, you may choose to take it to the vet to have it castrated. After the castration, keep your horse’s area as quiet as possible for at least 24 hours so he can rest in his stall. Once he’s rested for about a day, lead the horse around on a walk to encourage proper healing of the area. Also, carefully follow your vet’s instructions on how to care for the surgical wound. Keep reading for information from our Veterinary co-author on how to decide whether castration is right for your horse.

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