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LEXINGTON, Ky. (November 18, 2010) – Several of Central Kentucky’s equine veterinarians are pitching in to help lower the number of unwanted horses bred in the Commonwealth.

On December 4, the Kentucky Horse Park, along with the Kentucky Horse Council and the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, will offer Free Gelding Surgeries for horse owners who cannot afford to have the surgery performed on their stallions.  In addition to rendering a stallion unable to reproduce, gelding surgery often helps horses become easier to manage, train, and if the need arises, adopt or re-home.

Dr. Lori Bidwell of Veterinary Anesthesia and Pain Management Services is enlisting the veterinarians and coordinating the surgeries which will take place at the Kentucky Horse Park.  She said, “As equine practitioners, we make our living from horses.  The gelding clinic is an opportunity to give back to the community and to the animals to which we owe so much.  We are all invested in finding a solution to the unwanted horse dilemma.”

Participating veterinarians include: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Woodford Equine Hospital, Equine Medical Associates, Dr. Tom Daugherty, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Veterinary Anesthesia and Pain Management Services, Dr. Leah Neuhauser, and Lexington Equine Surgical Associates.  Pfizer Animal Health and Celox are both donating supplies.

John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park, observed, “These veterinarians are leading the world by example.  By giving their time and skills to this clinic, they are contributing to a much larger, multi-dimensional effort to ease the suffering and reduce the numbers of unwanted horses through completely humane solutions.”

Partial funding for the clinic is being provided by the Unwanted Horse Coalition and the Kentucky Horse Council’s “Save Our Horses” fund.

Applications for the December 4th clinic are currently being accepted until November 26.  The gelding surgeries are free to pre-approved owners who are financially unable to afford the surgery.  Stallions must be halter broke, in good health, with two descended testicles and be at least four months of age, with current Coggins and health certificate.

Please contact Sheila Forbes at the Kentucky Horse Park: Sheila.Forbes@ky.gov or 859-233-4305 for an application.

The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse.  The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet that hosted nearly 875,000 visitors and campers, as well as 15,000 competition horses in more than 100 special events and horse shows in 2009.  The park is home to the National Horse Center which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations. Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is the place to get close to horses. Open daily March 15 to October 31, and Wednesday through Sunday, November 1 to March 14.

Cindy Rullman, Kentucky Horse Park
859-259-4209 ext 209
Cindy.Rullman@ky.gov