The stud currently has one of the largest herds of Connemara Ponies outside of the West of Ireland, with the best of bloodlines available. We have exported ponies to most parts of the globe, including Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

We invite you to take some time and browse our website, listings of available stock, and see some of the great ponies that have gone through our hands over the years.

Please have a look at the various services we offer prospective buyers. Even if your intention is not to purchase today, then why not spend some time and come visit us to enjoy our ponies and partake of our hospitality!

Dust in hay comes from four sources: Leaf shatter dust: the hay is extremely leafy and very dry. The leaves shatter during the baling process. Soil: dirt is splashed onto the cut hay during heavy rains. Molds (mesophilic – grow at 20 – 45°C): molds and fungi growing on the cut hay during damp/wet periods prior to baling. Very humid days with poor drying conditions that extend over a number of days, or rainfall, promote their growth. Molds (thermophilic – grow at higher temperatures, e.g., >45°C): molds and fungi that grow on baled hay at moisture levels greater than 15%. These fungi grow in the presence of oxygen and sufficient moisture when the hay is heating in the mow or in densely packed round bales. During a wet haying season, producers often look for alternative forms of forage than the traditional dry hay. Horse owners can consider the use of haylage (bagged or wrapped) and/or preservative-treated hay. These alternatives will allow producers to bale during unpredictable weather conditions and thereby ensure higher feeding values rather than waiting for suitable drying weather before cutting or having hay rained upon. Haylage, grass silage, or baleage are terms given to hay that has been ensiled. Ensiling is a preservation method requiring; the cutting of young lush plants (grasses and/or legumes); removing some moisture by partially wilting (down to about 45% moisture); eliminating contact with oxygen by placing the material in a container, such as a silo or plastic bag and allowing a fermentation process to drop the pH of the material below 5. At pH 5 and below, bacteria and fungi will not grow and the material is maintained in a stable state unless air enters the bag/container. In the case of round-bale silage (baleage), the hay is baled at about 45-50% moisture and immediately wrapped with plastic, or placed in a bag. The wrapping will prevent further entry of oxygen while the young plants respire using up the remaining oxygen. The pH will drop below pH 5 within a few days. Should the bag become punctured, the haylage will undergo secondary fermentation and spoilage will occur in those areas where oxygen is present. If the forage is baled too dry (25-30% dry matter), incomplete fermentation and higher pH levels occur, and there is a greater chance of growth of undesirable bacteria and fungi. Growth of Clostridia botulinum and production of deadly toxins (botulism) can be the result. Treated hay is the name used when a commercially available preservative product is applied to hay. These products are often used on hays between 15-30% moisture and are sprayed on the hay during the baling process. There are two main types of preservatives; those containing an acid, such as propionic, acetic and formic acids, and those containing mold inhibitors. The acids being used today are buffered and are less likely to cause corrosion of equipment than previous products. Propionic and acetic acid are commonly combined. They are produced naturally in the cecum and colon of horses as a result of microbial digestion of fibrous feed (1). These organic acids are potent mold inhibitors. The acids are applied to the hay during baling when it is difficult to dry the hay below 15% moisture content. Studies have shown that heating and molding of hay during storage is decreased with the use of these preservatives (2). However, these products must be applied evenly onto the hay to be effective. Studies have also shown that, when given the choice of dry hay or preservative-treated hay, horses preferred the dry hay. However, when only given treated hay, daily consumption did not decrease (1,2,3). The preservatives, when used properly, allow the storage of hay at a moisture content level of up to 30% (2). Treated hay should not be placed beside dry hay or the dry will absorb moisture from the treated hay and mold. Mold inhibitors are routinely applied to hay in a similar manner as the propionic/acetic-acid products. They are commonly used in hay fed to cattle but no research for horses has been found to compare parameters, such as acceptability, daily consumption and weight gain. Antidotal reports suggest that horses readily consumed hay treated with these products.

Advantages of Haylage and Treated Hay The process of ensiling maintains the quality of the forage as it was cut. Digestibility and palatability are not decreased with the use of preservatives (1). Usually, haylage is higher in energy and protein because the cutting date is not dependant on the weather (less mature plants with higher carbohydrate and protein content and with less indigestible fibre). The high moisture level and lack of dust are useful when feeding a horse with heaves (3). Since no ill effects were noted during studies conducted using treated hay, the feeding of treated hay to horses appears to be safe (1,2,3). Disadvantages There are outstanding unanswered questions, including: the effect of long-term feeding of a preservative-treated (acidic) hay when also feeding high volumes of grain and the possibility of causing colic when feeding frozen silage. Handling problems can occur because the bags/bales are almost twice the weight of dry hay (due to the 50% moisture level). Individually bagged haylage cannot be moved with the normal bale spears. A grasping unit is required to prevent damage to the integrity of the bags. If the bag or plastic wrap is damaged, oxygen enters and spoilage occurs. There is a greater danger of botulism when feeding round-bale silage or bagged silage than when feeding dry hay. Visual appearance of the haylage will not indicate the presence or absence of botulinum toxin. Horses should be vaccinated for botulism prior to feeding round-bale silage or bagged silage. Since large wrapped round-bale haylage came into common use, there are several reports each year of groups of horses dying of botulism after eating this type of feed. Commonly, the haylage does not look or smell spoiled, but horses eating it develop botulism. Antidotal findings suggest that haylage baled, bagged, or wrapped drier than the normal 40-50% moisture level are more prone to containing botulism toxin. An increased risk of botulism occurs when: a producer, trying to make dry hay, was unable to get sufficient drying conditions. a decision was made to bag or wrap the bales when the moisture content was in the 20-30% moisture range. (This is too dry for silage.) The pH does not drop below pH 5 within 3 to 5 days of baling, allowing the right environment for growth and proliferation of Cl. botulinum. Producers should use a hay preservative on hay in the 15-30% moisture range rather than attempt to make haylage by bagging or wrapping the bales.

It is that time of year again when many horses become infested with lice. Infestations usually occur in the Winter months when the coat is long.

What types of lice affect horses?
There are 2 types of lice that affect horses. (a) Damolinia Equi is a biting louse that feeds on scarf and other debris in the skin surface. (b) Haematopinus Asini is a sucking louse that feeds on the blood and tissue fluids of the horse.

Do horse lice live on humans?
Fortunately, horse lice are host specific and do not live on humans.

What is the method of spread?
Lice are spread from one animal to another by direct contact. They could also be spread by shared rags and brushes. In this case the louse eggs may be transferred from one animal to the next. Lice themselves would not be transferred unless the brushes or rags were used immediately by the other horses. The reason for this is that the lice only survive off the horse for approximately 20 minutes. Lice do not live or survive in a stable or on tack.

Can lice be seen on the horse’s skin?
Yes. Close examination by a veterinary surgeon or a reasonably knowledgeable horseman will detect the presence of the lice. By turning the hair sideways they may be seen moving on the skin. The are 1mm to 3mm long and grey in colour. Use of a magnifying glass may help to identify the lice. The eggs also known as “nits” may be seen close to the roots of the mane and forelock. What are the signs of louse infestation. Lice cause the horse to become very itchy. Horses tend to bite themselves and rub off any objects which are available to them. Bald sore patches may result on the horse’s skin when the rubbing and biting are done excessively. The coat may become dull and scurfy. Loss of condition in severe cases. Some horses may become restless and roll regularly to relieve the itch. In chronic cases the skin eventually becomes thickened.

What is the treatment?
1) Louse powder.
2) Antiparasite washes. These should be well distributed and evenly spread over the body. It is important to give a second dressing about 10 – 14 days later to kill the new young lice that have hatched from the eggs since the first treatment. These dressings do not kill the eggs.

Do any of the worm doses kill lice?
No. Many horseowners are under the false illusion that these pastes especially the ivermectin ones also kill lice. This is not the case.

Do cattle ivermectin injections work in horses?
They can be used, but it is inadvisable. They are not licensed for horses and therefore carry certain risks, i.e. they may kill the lice but could also kill the horse, not a great outcome. Cattle pour-ons and sheep dips also carry risks when used in horses.

Control
When treating horses for lice it is important that all horses in the paddock are treated. If even one is left untreated, it may act as a resevoir for the lice and re-infest the others at a later stage. Be careful when using shared rugs, tack and brushes as this could transfer the lice from one stabled horse to the next.

Foaling season brings with it the next generation of equine sports stars, all of them long-legged and inquisitive, following closely behind their dams. However, not every foaling goes well or naturally and there are inevitable losses of both mares and foals. Across the country, dams will lose their foals and foals will lose their dams. Fostering is the best possible way of salvaging either scenario. The Northern Ireland Horse Board runs a website where breeders north and south of the border can find a much-needed dam for their orphan foal or offer their mare as a foster mother. The website www.nihorseboard.org has a foster/orphan alert page where breeders can immediately notify other owners of their individual circumstances. The service is free of charge and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. First set up five years ago, the foster/orphan alert has been running properly for four full foaling seasons. Charlotte Kirkpatrick, from the Northern Ireland Horse Board, says the site has around 100 mares and foals advertised each year. “But we believe the usage is about double that because people browsing the list for a mare or foal do not have to register to use it,” she says. Traditionally, the finding of a foster mare was very much a local, word-of-mouth exercise. This website means that a breeder with an orphan foal in Kerry could find a foster mare in Donegal. However, the urgency of the situation means breeders will try to find a foster mother as geographically close to the foal as possible. In the case of the foal, finding a foster mother could be a case of life or death. However, there are compelling reasons for dams that have lost a foal to rear another. “Primarily, the mare owner is simply being generous and doing a good deed for the foal owner,” says Charlotte. “But there are some benefits for the mare too. If she accepts the orphan, her hormones will go through the natural process as if she were suckling her own foal. “As a result, she should go back into her normal breeding cycle and should go back in foal easier,” she says.

Mares that lose their foals can become irregular in their breeding cycle and often lose out on the entire breeding season. Time is of the essence when it comes to fostering as the mare will only stay in milk for four to five days and foals need colostrum within eight hours of being born. However, not all mares will accept a foal that is not their own and great care must be taken when introducing the pair. The best method of ensuring the mare adopts the orphan foal is to cover it with the skin of her own dead foal. A strategy long employed by sheep farmers, it may surprise some to know it is also a tried and tested method for horses.Allow the mare to see and smell the foal’s quarters when it is covered with the dead foal’s skin over a door. Feeding the mare while the foal begins to suckle for the first time is also recommended. A mare only adopts a foal by smell and the orphan foal will not take up the smell of the mare until the milk has passed right through the foal. This takes around 36-48 hours. Therefore, the skin of the dead foal must be used on the orphan when being fed every two hours for the first 36-48 hours. Only when the foal’s dung changes colour, indicating the milk is passing through it, should you attempt to gradually remove the skin. Begin by pulling the orphan’s tail out from under the skin. You can test the mare’s reaction by allowing her to smell the orphan’s tail. Gradually take the skin off by degrees, turning the skin under itself and exposing only inches of the foal’s quarters at a time. “Some mares will not take an orphan foal and they could lash out or bite the foal, so it is extremely important not to leave the pair alone until you are very sure they have bonded properly,” warns Charlotte.

The Northern Ireland Horse Board website is purely a facilitatory service for breeders to make contact with each other and once mare owners and foal owners have spoken, fostering arrangements are up to them. One woman alone who has more knowledge of fostering than hundreds of breeders put together is Johanna Vardon, founder of the National Foaling Bank in Britain. She established the organisation in 1965 and has united thousands of orphan foals with foster mares who have lost their own foal.Every year, hundreds of owners call the National Foaling Bank for help and advice on difficult foaling cases, 24-hour nursing and information about colostrum, milk replacements, and special dietary requirements. Not only does she dispense valuable advice, she also offers a hands-on fostering service for owners at her base in Meretown Stud, Shropshire. “I once had seven adoptions in 20 hours — that’s 14 animals, 32 breeders and 64 cups of coffee,” she laughs. “But we did it.” She claims to have 98pc success rate for adoptions when using the skin from the dead foal. “Unless you have an exceptional mare, skinning the dead foal is the best option,” she says. Stand “The loss of a foal is a tremendous psychological process for the mare.”Never part a mare from her dead foal,” she outlines. “Out on a hill, a pony who loses her foal will stand over it for 48 hours as part of the natural grieving process. “For the next 36 hours she will move away from the body to graze but hurry back to nudge it and lick it. Eventually she will leave it — that’s the acceptance point,” she says. “If you whip away the dead foal immediately, you will have a frantic mare on your hands who cannot understand where her foal is gone,” she warns. If you want to carry out a post mortem on the dead foal, she advises skinning it and wrapping the skin around a bran sack stuffed with straw. “Let her grieve what she thinks is her foal for a few days until she accepts that it is dead,” she advises. She warns that a foal rug should be worn underneath the skin, as hot weather could change the foal’s coat colour permanently. Johanna is recognised across the world as an expert in foaling, adoptions and breeding. “The first thing breeders do when a foal dies is panic, the second is to ring me.” Membership of the National Foaling Bank costs just £20 (€22) and for that, Johanna does everything from giving foaling advice, helping with emergency cases and providing colostrum to adoptees. The service costs £20,000 (€22,500) to run each year and funding is always needed. Lectures She also lectures at courses run in Britain and has visited Ireland on several occasions to give advice and lectures. Going back to the 14.1hh mare pony that started it all, it turns out Johanna was just as successful in her private breeding enterprise as she is at adoptions.From that mare, she has bred seven generations of horses, ranging in size from 12.2hh to 18hh. The mare was the foundation mare for a 500-foal family that has produced four horses good enough to be placed on the Olympic shortlist for the British equestrian team. For advice on adoptions, consult your vet and equestrian experts. The Northern Ireland foster/orphan alert can be found at www.nihorseboard.org and you can contact Johanna Vardon at the National Foaling Bank via www.nationalfoalingbank.com or call her on (0044) 1952-811-234 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (0044) 1952-811-234      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

EC stud-book legislation governs the approval of breeding organisations to maintain stud-books and also the entry and registration of horses or ponies in those stud-books. The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for the implementation of the legislation in Ireland. The Department approves breeding organisations for the purposes of maintaining stud-books and must ensure their compliance with relevant EC stud-book legislation. Approved breeding organisations who maintain stud-books (such as the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society and the Irish Horse Board) play a key role in breed preservation and breed improvement for Ireland’s native breeds such as the Connemara pony and the Irish Draught horse.

The main aim of the legislation is to ensure development of equine production and to increase productivity in the horse breeding sector. It identifies the breeding and rearing of horses as a viable source of income that should be safeguarded. Satisfactory results in the horse breeding sector depend on the use of horses and ponies registered in stud-books maintained by officially approved breeding organisations. At the time when the legislation was being drafted disparities regarding the entry and registration of horses in stud-books were identified. These disparities constituted barriers to trade within and between European countries. Therefore, complete liberalisation of trade required harmonisation between European countries regarding the entry of horses in stud-books Ireland transposed the stud-book legislation by way of a Statutory Instrument, the European Communities (Equine Stud-Book and Competitions) Regulations 2004. Regulation 4 provided for the direct application of Commission Decision 96/78/EC governing the entry and registration of horses in stud-books for breeding purposes. It is submitted that Commission Decision 96/78/EC had full legal effect in Ireland from the 10th of January, 1996. The Decision gives every pure-bred horse, the progeny of parents registered in the main section of the stud-book the legal right to be entered in the main section of the stud-book. It requires that approved breeding organisations must classify or grade all pure-bred horses within the main section of their breed stud-book. It is possible that an aggrieved horse breeder in Ireland can rely on provisions of the legislation in an Irish court to obtain compensation or an effective remedy if their pure-bred horse who meets the necessary criteria has been refused entry into the main section of their breed stud-book.

Prior to 2005, the Connemara Pony Breeder’s Society (CPBS) operated their stud-book rules in non-compliance with EC legislation as the rules did not permit all pure-bred ponies entry into the main section of the Connemara Pony stud-book. Such ponies who failed the inspection procedure were denied status as a registered Connemara pony. A situation existed whereby colts who failed the inspection procedure were excluded from entering the main section of the stud-book, possibly causing the owners financial loss. It is submitted that since 1996, all pure-bred Connemara ponies brought forward for inspection had a legal right to be entered into the main section of the stud-book and should have been given a passport as a registered Connemara pony. The Department of Agriculture and Food (who approved the CPBS to maintain a stud-book) should have intervened and revoked the CPBS’s official approval, as the CPBS stud-book rules permitted discriminatory practices and failed to comply with the EC legislation. Therefore, the Department failed to properly implement the provisions of the EC stud-book legislation and may be liable in damages if an aggrieved horse breeder initiated legal proceedings in an Irish court against them.

The failure of the Department of Agriculture and Food to properly implement the stud-book legislation has hindered the legislation from having an effective impact on the Irish equine industry. This is clearly contrary to the positive impact which the European Commission envisioned the legislation should have had. If implemented correctly, the legislation would have permitted all breeders to have had their pure-bred colts approved and registered in the main section of the stud-book. This would have facilitated greater diversification of the blood lines of the Connemara pony. Non-compliance with provisions of the legislation by approved breeding organisations infringes breeders’ rights and can result in damage to national breeds, which both the legislation and the breeding organisations sought to protect in the first place.

Thankfully, since 2005 the CPBS have considerably amended their stud-book rules and they now appear to be in compliance with the EC stud-book legislation. The CPBS now have a classification system which classifies all pure-bred ponies within the main section of the stud-book. At inspections, pure-bred ponies are classified according to their merits and entered in whichever class within the stud-book they qualify for. The EC stud-book legislation has not realised its full potential in Ireland. This is as a result of non-compliance by approved breeding organisations with provisions of the legislation. Non-compliance has arisen due to improper implementation of the legislation by the Department of Agriculture and Food. The Department has failed to adequately monitor compliance and enforce provisions of the legislation; this has stifled and hindered the effectiveness of the stud-book legislation in Ireland.

It is recommended that the Department should implement an appropriate monitoring mechanism to ensure approved breeding organisations consistently comply with provisions of the legislation. Regular consultations should take place between the Department, breeding organisations and the Irish equine industry in order to discuss difficulties that may arise with the interpretation of or compliance with EC legislation. Legal officers should be appointed within each approved breeding organisation. The legal officer should be given responsibility to ensure compliance with applicable EC and national legislation. The Department should amend the current requirements for breeding organisation approval so that the appointment of a legal officer is a pre-requisite to the organisation being granted approval. In the absence of a legal officer, the breeding organisation should be required to retain a firm of solicitors who would ensure compliance.

Shane Riordan is a trainee solicitor and recently completed a thesis entitled “The Impact and Legal Effect of EC Stud-Book Legislation on the Breeding Sector of the Irish Equine Industry” as part of his M.A. in Law at the Dublin Institute of Technology. The views and opinions contained within this article are solely those of the author.

The condition where the uterus undergoes these changes is called endometrosis. The development of endometrosis is not at all related to the number of foals produced by a mare. In fact, the degenerative changes seen in endometrosis can be greater in older maiden mares, contributing to the difficulty in achieving pregnancies in these mares. Endometrosis is diagnosed by endometrial biopsy. This involves the removal of a portion of the lining of the uterus using a biopsy forceps. This procedure can only be carried out by a vet. The tissue is then examined to detect degenerative changes.

When examined under the microscope the degree of abnormality is graded and using this grading system it is possible to predict the chances of a mare being able to maintain a future pregnancy. Can endometrosis be treated? Successful treatment of endometrosis is very difficult. Curettage is the most common treatment attempted. This may be done physically using a uterine curette or chemically using a chemical such as iodine infused into the uterus. Treatment works better in younger mares. The fact still remains that many mares with endometrosis have reached the end of their breeding career and it may be advisable to retire them to avoid further financial losses incurred with covering what is essentially now an infertile mare

What are the signs of Strangles?
Strangles can present with different signs depending on the stage of the disease. Most commonly you may note: A high temperature with loss of appetite A thick yellow discharge from nostrils and eyes Swollen lymph nodes of the head and neck with abscess formation Often these abscesses will burst to the outside and release thick yellow pus Large abscesses in the throat can lead to difficulty in swallowing or breathing.

How is Strangles spread?
Strangles is highly contagious and can be spread by: Direct contact between horses Tack, feeding utensils, water troughs or any equipment if contaminated with pus from an infected horse Humans that have had contact with an infected horse can carry the disease Recovered horses can spread the disease even though they appear normal. These horses are symptomless carriers of the bacterium and can act as a source of infection for many months

Can Strangles be treated?
If you suspect a Strangles outbreak then contact your vet immediately. The bacterium that causes Strangles can be killed by antibiotics but sometimes antibiotics are not administered depending on the stage of the disease. Antibiotics are unlikely to penetrate to the centre of a large abscess. Treatment may involve: Application of hot compresses to the abscess or bathing it with warm water to encourage the abscess to burst Irrigation of burst abscess cavities to promote healing Administration of antibiotics early in the disease may prevent abscess formation Anti-inflammatory medication often makes the patient feel much better

Are there any long-term complications of the disease?
Strangles can sometimes take an unusual course with abscesses forming deep in the body. This condition is called “Bastard Strangles” and is often hard to diagnose. Sometimes when horses recover from Strangles they can develop a condition called Purpura Haemorrhagia. This is due to widespread damage to blood vessels resulting in swelling of the legs and is often fatal requiring immediate veterinary attention.

How can I prevent Strangles?
Prevention of Strangles depends on good management. Isolate all possible Strangles cases. Stop movement of horses onto and off an infected premises. Do not mix equipment or personnel between infected and non-infected horses. Disinfect all stabling, feeding utensils and tack. Carriers of the disease may be identified by taking repeated nasal swabs. This system of carrier identification may be used after an outbreak or to identify possible carriers entering a yard

Vaccination:
A new vaccine is now available to help in the prevention of Strangles. The vaccine uses modified live bacteria that cannot produce the disease. The vaccine is administered as a small volume injected into the upper lip. The basic vaccination schedule is two vaccinations four weeks apart. For high risk horses they should be re-vaccinated every three months. Horses in a high risk situation include: i) Those on a premises where Strangles has been diagnosed before. ii) Those in a large group with a lot of new horses coming and going iii) Horses in an area known to have a high incidence of Strangles. Horses considered to be at “medium risk” should be re-vaccinated every six months. This group includes horses frequently travelling to shows. Low risk horses, i.e. those kept at home and away from other horses, do not require vaccination. Vaccination is carried out by your vet who will be happy to discuss your risk status and implement a vaccination programme for you.

In my experience people are very reluctant to confirm the presence of Strangles in their yard. This secrecy often helps in the spread of the disease. Strangles is not a notifiable disease but it makes good sense to inform the owners of all in contact horses that the infection is present. They can then take steps to reduce the risk of clinical disease or further spread of the infection.

When is the best time to castrate?
While most horses are castrated as yearlings there is no reason why they may not be castrated earlier or later. There is no evidence to suggest that colts left entire develop any faster or stronger than their castrated comrades. Castrations are usually carried out in the spring and autumn. This avoids the heat and the flies of the summer as well as the frost and mud of the winter.

What is castration?
Castration involves the removal of both testicles through incisions into the scrotum. To minimise blood loss an emasculator is applied to the connecting blood vessels and tubes which are crushed. In an open castration the wound is left open to drain and heals over a period of weeks. Closed castration where the wound is closed is the preferred method if there is any chance of herniation of the intestines through the wound.

Can castration be carried out in the standing position?
It is possible to castrate a colt in the standing position using sedation and local anaesthetic. To do this the horse must be: 1. well handled 2. have two descended testicles 3. the vet is happy that there is no intestine in the scrotum ie. a scrotal/inguinal hernia While standing castration is not a sterile procedure it is desirable to carry it out in as clean an environment as possible.

Why are some horses knocked for castration?
It is necessary to administer a general anaesthetic to some horses for castration. Some situations that may necessitate the administration of a general anaesthetic include: 1. A poorly handled fractious horse that presents a risk to the vet and handler 2. Castration when a scrotal hernia is present 3. If an undescended testicle is in the groin area it may be removed in the anaesthesised horse.

What is a rig?
Sometimes when a horse is presented for castration it is not possible to find one or both testicles. While the testicle may be located in the groin area, often the testicle is retained in the abdomen. This means that the horse is a cryptorchid or “rig”. These horses generally require more invasive surgery to locate and remove the retained testicle. Often a horse presented for castration with one testicle may have an unknown history and it is possible that the other testicle was previously removed. A blood test to assess hormone levels will tell whether the horse is a rig.

What are the risks associated with castration?
Routine castration is usually uneventful but there can be: a) Haemorrhage: some bleeding is normal. However excessive or prolonged bleeding is a worry and should be attended to. Donkeys are particularly at risk of haemorrhage after castration. b) Infection of the wound is common while infection of the remains of the cord leading to schirrous cord is a rare problem. c) Evisceration of abdominal contents through the wound is the most serious consequence following castration and is often fatal. d) Swelling of the sheath often extending under the belly can develop and usually signifies the presence of infection.

How should i care for my horse after castration?
Proper care after castration can reduce side effects and mean a quicker return to work. Your vet may prescribe antibiotics and painkillers. There is generally no need to treat the wound. Controlled exercise, for example going on a horse walker, will reduce swelling or prevent it.