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In an effort to help reduce the number of unwanted and inconvenient horses being bred in Kentucky, the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., is hosting its first free gelding clinic on Dec. 4, 2010.
The clinic is open to anyone who is financially unable to afford the surgery. Castrations will be performed by a veterinarian or by a veterinary student under close supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Stallions must be at least 4 months old, halter broke, in good health with two descended testicles, and have current Coggins and health certificates.
“The threats facing Kentucky’s horses can be overcome when horse owners take their responsibilities seriously and provide good stewardship and when other good people make up their minds to get involved,” says John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park. “This clinic is a great example of how horse owners can do the right thing for their animals in spite of a challenging economy with the help of organizations that are willing to come alongside them with resources and expertise.”
The free clinic will be provided by the Kentucky Horse Park in partnership with the Kentucky Equine Humane Center and the Kentucky Horse Council, with funding provided by the American Horse Council’s Unwanted Horse Coalition and the Kentucky Horse Council’s SoHo fund.
The Kentucky Horse Park has already formed successful partnerships with the Kentucky Horse Council in hosting the annual John Henry Memorial Equine Adoption Fair and with the Kentucky Equine Humane Center in helping homeless horses become more adoptable.
“As a result of the enormous success of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, we are more aware than ever of the tremendous contribution that horses make to our Commonwealth,” Nicholson says. “The Kentucky Horse Park and our partners want to repay some of that debt by continually seeking ways to improve horses’ lives.”
Applications are currently being accepted for the free gelding clinic. Contact Sheila Forbes at the Kentucky Horse Park, or 859-233-4305 for an application.
