Could your gelding be restricted?

Well the sun is shining and it’s actually starting to feel like spring 🌞

Just as we start to feel free from mud we now have the return of the flies 🦟

For that reason (and the fact that I have a bit of extra time on my hands at the moment) I decided today would be the day for my gelding’s annual willy wash 🧼

Not my favourite job of the year but definitely worth doing in order to make him more comfortable (removing the bean) and prevent flies from gathering around the area by removing the built up smegma 🤢

Whilst I was ‘down there’ it got me thinking about the ‘gelding scar’

When your horses is gelded, an incision is made into the tissues of course to access the testes.

When this incision is made this will penetrate the skin and the underlying structures. This includes the fascia.

As I have shared with you in previous blogs and posts, the fascia is one continuous web of connective tissue in the body.

So when this incision heals, and inevitably scar tissue forms a restriction is then permanently formed in the body’s fascia. This will not just affect the area surrounding the scar tissue, but also other areas of the body.

(If you have ever had an injury or operation you may well know how restrictive the scar tissue can feel)

According to Tom Beech, the Osteopathic Vet, a third of geldings will have some issue relating to the castration scar 😦

Quote: ‘It is down to the sheer fact that when the testicular chords and fascia have been cut and recoil into the abdominal cavity. Here the normal bleeding that occurs and the sealing of the free cut end of the deferent duct and chord can result in adhesions.
These adhesions can lead to tension as they restrict the normal, free motion of the surrounding structures particularly in the groin/inguinal ring.
The tension could therefore affect the nearby muscle, fascia and organs.
In some cases, due to the normal anatomy of the deferent duct being looped over the ureter, any strain on the deferent duct due to adhesions can put pressure on the ureter and affect the kidney.’

Sounds pretty uncomfortable right? 😕

This restriction caused by the gelding scar may display as the following behaviours in your horse:

▪️Bucking

▪️Difficulties changing gait

▪️Difficulties stepping hind legs under for collection

▪️Preference to travelling on one lead

▪️Difficulty with lateral movements

▪️Difficulty lifting legs over poles

▪️Intermittent hind limb lameness

▪️Lumbosacral pain

▪️Difficulty peeing

If your horse has been displaying any of the above issues and other causes of pain or lameness have been investigated it may be worth considering the gelding scar.

So, what can you do to help❓

🔹If you’re having your horse gelded, make sure to get them moving after gelding, this may minimize scarring.

✅ Movement is healing and may also help to prevent adhesions to other areas of tissue during the healing process, which would ultimately cause a more major restriction.

Your vet should be able to advise on this at the time.

With horses that are already gelded:

🔹If you suspect an issue with a gelding scar, first consult your vet for verification and advice to see if they can recommend any steps to help alleviate the problem.

Some vets may nerve block the area in order to see if the horse’s movement/behavior improves when the area is free from pain.

🔹Ask your Equine Massage Therapist to work on the area, to release fascia tension and increase mobility

🔹Ask your Equine Massage Therapist to demonstrate techniques you can use yourself to continue their good work in releasing the tissue between visits

I hope this post has been useful to you, if you would like to find out more about how Equine Massage Therapy can help your horse please do get in touch 📲