Castration of stallions is one of the most common medical procedures performed on horses and refers to the surgical removal of the male sex organs or gonads (testicles). This is an amputation permitted under animal welfare legislation. A castrated stallion is referred to as a gelding and is permanently infertile.
A stallion reaches sexual maturity at an average age of 1 to 1.5 years. From this point on, if he is not to be allowed to mate freely, he can no longer be kept in a group with mares. Since only very few stallions are licensed for breeding, castration is the method of choice from this point on to prevent the stallion from reproducing. Castration affects the sexual and territorial behavior of the stallion. After removal of the gonads, the animals become significantly calmer and more sociable due to the lack of the sex hormone testosterone and are much easier to keep and ride as geldings.
However, veterinary experts recommend that castration should only be carried out at the age of 2.5 to 3 years, as the animal is then almost fully physically developed. Proponents of early castration argue that the groin gap widens with age, increasing the risk of complications.
Medical reasons may also necessitate castration, especially in older stallions. These include testicular inflammation or torsion, intestinal prolapse, hernias, or tumors.
The procedure can be performed on both standing and recumbent horses. As mentioned above, the inguinal canal is significantly wider in older stallions than in very young ones, so castration in a recumbent position is generally recommended for older stallions to avoid complications.
A distinction is also made between uncovered or open castration and covered or closed castration. In uncovered castration, the so-called vaginal process (processus vaginalis: sac-like protrusion of the peritoneum) is opened to allow direct access to the abdominal cavity. In covered castration, which can almost exclusively be performed on castrated stallions, the vaginal process is not opened, but rather squeezed and tied off so that access to the abdominal cavity is closed. During this procedure, the testicle is removed along with the vaginal process.
Uncovered castration on a standing animal can be performed by the veterinarian in the stable, but it is recommended for young stallions up to three years of age. The advantage of this method is that no general anesthesia is necessary and the stallion remains fully conscious. He is simply sedated (calmed with medication) and the tissue in the area of the operation is locally anesthetized. Even though this is a relatively short operation, the veterinarian will inform the animal owner in advance about possible risks.
When castrating a standing animal, there is always a risk that the horse will resist or lie down, even if it is immobilized. Due to the opened vaginal membrane, there is a risk of intestinal loops prolapsing, life-threatening bleeding from the spermatic vessels, or ascending infections during unprotected castration, which in the worst case can lead to a spermatic fistula or peritonitis. To avoid these risks, the vessels should be securely ligated and the castration wound closed, but this should only be done on a horse under general anesthesia. In covered castration, there is an increased risk of bleeding in adult stallions due to the larger size of the vaginal membrane. In addition, there are the general risks of general anesthesia and the associated restraint of the horse, such as circulatory disorders, circulatory problems, and injuries during the standing phase.
The horse must be closely monitored for the first 24 hours after the operation to detect any net or small intestine prolapse or persistent bleeding at an early stage. Depending on the local conditions, a decision must be made as to whether the horse castrated in the stable should be kept in the stable or on pasture. Monitoring in the stable is considerably easier, but active movement prevents adhesions and edema from forming in the area of the surgical wound.
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