One ball or two??? Colt Problems

[mrsjcmking]

My Colt has been acting very stallionish. He did this a few months ago, but calmed down after a few days. I got the vet out and he said that he had dropped one ball and we had to wait.

In the past week he has been a pain in the butt. He has become very nippy, fighting in his field, prancing around like he's gods gift to mares, mounting geldings (i have a very confused pony!) and whenever we walk past a stallion when we're out I can barely control him. This has been going on for a week but haven't managed to get a vet out because our vet has a call out day, and you get a two hour slot but i've been unavailable on the two days. I don't really want to have to pay £40 to find out if my horse has one ball or two so now have to wait until next wednesday. I can't feel myself as he doesn't like being fiddled with, (he was wild when i got him and we have yet to overcome this little hurdle!)

My concern is that he'll get mares in foal (although the yard owner is aware of his antics) and also he's in a field next to another stallion. he's a 12.3 native and the stallion is a 15.3 Friesan who is shall we say, well experienced!

What do you think, one ball or two? Should I risk it and get the vet to just come and geld him and hope he's got two or wait another week?

 

[Bertthefrog]

I'm in the same boat!

I was going to say could you check yourself - but having reread your post - obviously not an option!

Mine only had one a week or so ago and he has been "practising" on a rather shocked, ageing shetland gelding. Quite funny really as he's quite proud of himself but then looks a little unsure as if he's forgotten something, but he hasn't figured out what. Much to the relief of the shetland.... which I have now removed from the field.

I know some vets say that the second will drop once the colt is sedated anyway - but it would be costly to get that far and then discover that it was still refusing to put in an appearance!

 

[mrsjcmking]

He is over 18 months old, the vet said if he doesn't drop soon then they'll have to go in and get it (which I would like to avoid!)

I have yet to see him mounting any mares, but he lives out and I only see him once a day for a couple of hours, where he is mostly out of his field! There is a definite head of the herd thing going on as the whole herd now follows him, he stays with the two mares and there is another stallion (I think he's a stallion) in the field with him, (a miniature shetland, could even be a fallabella cross) who now stays at the other end of the field to him at all times.

I just don't want him or the friesan in the field next door fighting, as I don't think he'd come out in one piece!

 

[mrsjcmking]

He is over 18 months old, the vet said if he doesn't drop soon then they'll have to go in and get it (which I would like to avoid!)

I have yet to see him mounting any mares, but he lives out and I only see him once a day for a couple of hours, where he is mostly out of his field! There is a definite head of the herd thing going on as the whole herd now follows him, he stays with the two mares and there is another stallion (I think he's a stallion) in the field with him, (a miniature shetland, could even be a fallabella cross) who now stays at the other end of the field to him at all times.

I just don't want him or the friesan in the field next door fighting, as I don't think he'd come out in one piece!

 

[joeanne]

If its not dropped, the vets going to have to go in and get it regardless, so you might as well bite the bullet and book him in for gelding. I would far rather that than an unplanned pregnancy with a mare thats not yours!

 

[K27]

I'd get vets out and get it booked in anyway as colts can be a right pain to deal with and you have your safety to think of too. if he has 2, then your own vet can castrate him and if he still only has one then you could ask about a referral to have a closed castration?- that can only be done under sterile conditions in theatre. It does work out more expensive though- thats what we did with my little chap who was in the same situation as yours as for him it was better to get it done rather than wait!