How Soon Can You Ship a Horse After Gelding Surgery?

Horse Gelding Basics

• The gelding process involves a veterinarian anesthetizing the male horse and removing the testicles and testicle covering, the epididymus and a section of the spermatic cord. Incisions are typically left open to allow fluids to drain naturally while the surgical site heals. Most horses are gelded between the ages of 12 and 24 months. The average horse takes two to three weeks to completely heal from the procedure. Recently gelded horses are allowed to exercise and most are back to their normal level of activity within weeks of the surgery. Horses that were gelded normally and did not experience any complications can be shipped without any concern as soon as the surgical site has healed sufficiently.

Short Distance Shipping

• It is fairly common for veterinarians to perform gelding procedures at their offices, requiring clients to drive the horse to the veterinarian's facility for the surgery and then haul the horse back to their own barn. Hauling newly gelded horses short distances can be uncomfortable for the horse but should not pose any significant risk to the horse. Consult your veterinarian if you are concerned or have questions about the length of time you expect your horse to spend in transit.

Long-Distance Shipping

• Long-distance shipping can be more of a challenge for a newly gelded horse, because shipping a horse any distance more than a couple of hours away requires restricting its movement for extended periods of time, which can be stressful. The gelding process causes a horse's legs and scrotum area to swell, a condition, which can be made worse during shipping, as many horses have a tendency to experience leg swelling when shipped. The length of time you plan on your horse being in transit, as well as the method of transportation, will affect how well your new gelding will handle the trip. It is important to keep in mind that while shipping as air freight is faster, the high altitudes an airplane reaches can cause additional drainage and swelling at the surgical site. Consult your veterinarian any time you are planning on hauling a newly gelded horse a long distance.

Other Shipping Considerations

• It is important to know your horse when you are deciding how soon to ship him after he has been gelded. A horse that is accustomed to being shipped and does not become stressed, agitated or otherwise difficult during hauling can be shipped sooner than a horse that is known to have hauling problems. Horses that refuse to drink or eat during shipping can become dehydrated and stressed. Horses that struggle in the trailer, kick out or are otherwise destructive risk injuring the surgical site, slowing the healing process and incurring additional veterinary bills if the damage is severe.

Health Problems and Regulations

• Newly gelded horses that have not healed completely from the surgery may have open incisions that can swell as well as leak fluids including blood and pus. Different states, counties and foreign countries have regulations governing the health of horses that are transported across borders. A horse with a visible injury, surgical or not, may give health inspectors a pause. In some cases, such as if the surgical site has become infected, it may even cause your horse to be detained or stop the horse from being allowed into the area. This can happen even if you have the proper paperwork. If you are concerned that your horse may not pass a health check, you should refrain from shipping him until you are certain he is healthy enough to meet inspectors' approval.