Gelding a colt and turnout

[lexiedhb]

Does anyone know how long you should keep a colt away from mares for once it has been gelded?

I mean is there residual sperm etc in his "pipes"...... so should he be kept seperate from mares for a while? and if so how long!?

ta

 

[jewel]

6 weeks

 

[jens]

i think it is 6 weeks?? It was roughly 8yrs ago i had my last one gelded so someone else might know better but that sounds about right to me.

 

[lexiedhb]

Yeah I was thinking 4-6 weeks.......

 

[varkie]

Given that sperm are produced in the testicles, which are removed, and that they can only survive outside the testicles for 4-5 days, within 4-5 days they cannot be fertile.

However. It isn't just about fertility - it's about damaging themselves too. I would never turn a recently castrated colt out with mares, in case it attempted to mount, as it still had the behaviour, and it then injured itself at the castration site, due to the mounting.

When we have colts castrated, they are kept separate from mares for a minimum of 4-6 weeks, for their own protection.

 

[shadowboy]

I was told that although 'safe' within 2 weeks - the horse's learned behaviour can take a month or two to wear off so best keep them away from mares fro a couple of months until he has no interest in mares anymore