'Gelding Clinic at Big Horn First Nation'

In the fall of 2017, we had an exciting opportunity to make a difference in the lives of some horses and people by gelding a large number of colts and stallions in a herd located on Big Horn First Nation west of Nordegg.

We'd been helping someone there with a couple of their injured fillies and afterward they'd also asked for suggestions on how to manage the large number of ungelded horses in their herd. These young stallions were fighting amongst themselves and also presenting a danger to the mares and foals, in addition to breeding the mares and creating an overpopulation problem. We didn't know what we may be getting into, but I presented the idea of gelding all the males to our vet, Dr. Noeline Erickson, and to Pets for Life Society and Four Feet Companion Foundation (for funding assistance). Dr. Erickson was enthusiastic and not the least bit daunted with the idea (I thought she'd tell me we were crazy), and with Pets for Life and Four Feet on board, we went ahead.

It took a bit of planning and juggling of dates but, finally, October 15th arrived and we were off. What made a big difference in our being able to help in this particular situation was that:
a) at least some, if not most, of the young colts and stallions had been handled a bit already at some point, and
b) there was a corral on site that the horses were used to being brought into for oats, so they could be contained in anticipation of our arrival.

We loaded up about 15 or 20 of our own light panels so that we could create a chute system and have separate areas for doing the sedation, surgery, and recovery. We also loaded up Beauty, one of the fillies we'd helped previously for this same family, that had a bad injury resulting in an infected fetlock joint, to return her to her home. The drive was about 2 1/2 hours, and once we arrived it took us a bit to figure out the best way to set up the panels so that everything flowed smoothly and safely (safety is always paramount - no horses or people get hurt!).

Once we got started the process went very well.    Most of the horses were not difficult to sort and handle, and they were reasonably calm around people thanks to the care and handling they'd received from their owners. We would sort out one horse in the back area, push him into the narrow part, get a halter on him, administer initial sedation to get him quiet and then lead him into the open area to give him the second sedation to knock him out and lie him down. After the surgery they'd slowly wake up and get to their feet and be turned back out into the main corral. They all got up very quietly, which was a relief and nice to see. There were a couple of the horses that were a bit more difficult and required some reformatting of the corral/chute system in order to get them sedated, but al the people were calm and knew their way around horses so we succeeded in getting them all done. We had figured on maybe having at the most 8 or 9 gelded, but actually got 10 done!

All that remain now are 2 or 3 weanlings and 1 yearling colt, which the owners will be able to haul in to us or Dr. Erickson's by spring. What a great day! Thank you Noeline, Brent, and Marion, and thank you Eugena and Harlan, and Gary, for caring so much about your animals. Thank you to Four Feet Companion Foundation and Pets For Life YYC Society for helping us make a difference! We can't do this without the help of our great volunteers as well - thank you to everyone who helped hold down the fort back at the Rescue while we were gone for the day.

I followed up the the owners of the horses in 2018 and they are very happy with the improved behaviour of the horses  after being gelded.  They are much easier to work with and not fighting amoungst themselves.  Beauty and Fallon. the two fillies we had helped earlier in the year, are also doing well.

On the road.

The horses are already corralled and, thankfully, most can be haltered.

Our wonderful vet and her assistant preparing everything we will be needing.

We used some of our own panels to make a chute and recovery area.

Sedating one of the first patients.

This one is done, now he just has to wake up.

This one just got up, he's a bit wobbly still.

Beauty spent the previous 2 months at the Rescue, being treated and recovering from a serious injury and infection to her fetlock joint. She healed up very well and we brought her back to her owner and here she is being returned to her pasture-mates.

We picked up the beautiful white 3 year old colt from down the road and brought him back to be gelded.

We had to rearrange the panels a bit to squeeze him up safely.

Last one done and he is sleeping off the sedation.

Heading back onto the highway for the drive home.

They each got a number, to help keep the records straight.

Another handsome boy being sedated.

Leaving the best to last, we brought this black stallion in from a neighbour as he was causing everyone a lot of grief with his aggression. He was quite a handful but we managed to get him done.

It helps to be limber!

Just about ready to get up. The other horses are all so calm and grazing quietly, which is nice to see.

A long but satisfying day!