Clinics are a way to reduce the future horse population
The National Equine Resource Network’s (NERN) low-cost gelding clinic program was launched in 2011 to reduce the future equine population of the state of California. Clinics were held that first year in communities such as Salinas, Cottonwood and Oakdale. The clinics are conducted in partnership with local veterinarians and other non-profit equine welfare organizations.  NERN brings horse owners and vets together in a central location to geld horses that might not otherwise have the opportunity due to cost and other circumstances.
“We are creating a template that can be used by local equine veterinarians, equine rescuers and other advocates,†Ms. Puga said. She commented that the program in California is designed as a model that can easily be used anywhere in the country. NERN wants to make the low cost gelding clinic model available to all interested parties, along with the necessary seed money to implement local programs.
More recently, NERN has partnered with RVETS to expand the reach of the clinics. The mission of Rural Veterinary Experience, Teaching and Service (RVETS) is to promote quality and affordable veterinary care in underserved rural areas in the USA and abroad, by providing veterinary students with practical experience and training in the medicine and surgery of horses and other animals. â€Working with Dr. Davis this year allowed us to expand our clinic offerings, with more clinics, additional procedures, and greater flexibility, beyond what we could have otherwise provided,†Ms. Puga said of the partnership with RVETS.
In 2012, NERN clinics castrated nearly 300 horses. This total was an increase of 200% from the previous year. Traditionally California based, NERN also expanded out of state for the first time, offering clinics in Nevada and Washington.
The Elk Grove Clinic will be held at Hoofbeats Equestrian on Tuesday, March 19th, 2013. Hoofbeats Equestrian is located at 8790 Mecca Road in Elk Grove. Stallions must be halter-broke and healthy. A limited number of cryptorchids will be accepted and castrations must be scheduled in advance.  Cryptorchids will be $150 and Castration will be $75. To give an example of the value of this clinic, a cryptorchid (only one testicle has decesended) can typically run $1,500. There is limited space available for the clinic so you are encouraged to schedule your space ahead of time.
If you are unable to attend on the 19th, NERN also has upcoming clinics in Red Bluff, Lathrop, and Santa Rosa.
For more information, please contact Shirley Puga at National Equine Resource Network at (760) 419-2462 or by e-mail at nationalequine@gmail.com.
You can also visit National Equine Resource Network’s web page at http://www.nationalequine.org
To learn more about RVETS, please visit their website at http://www.r-vets.org
Hoofbeats Equestrian can be reached at (760) 436-9327. A map to the facility is below.
Sunday the 28th of October brought almost 500 teams to compete for all the cash and awards. The cattle were great and competition fierce, as you would expect for The Cow Palace! Thanks to all our participants, and if you missed it, make plans to attend next year!
The third video features Dr. Jose Garcia-Lopez of Tufts University Hospital for Large Animals outside Boston, the first minority and first Hispanic veterinarian to be profiled in the series. The story follows an appointment where he diagnoses and treats injured show horse Matador.
Lena won multiple championships in both the American Quarter Horse Association and the National Cutting Horse Association. Under Skipper’s ownership, Poco Lena won the AQHA Honor Roll and from 1959 through 1961, was the reserve chamption in the NCHA’s world standings. Skipper, died in a plane crash on his way back to the ranch in 1962 and as a result, Poco Lena was left by the road side in a trailer for four days without food or water. After already having foundered in 1961, she foundered again after the incident. However, she was sold to Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Jensen in California and after being nursed back to health was able to produce two amazing horses with the historic sire Doc Bar in Dry Doc and AQHA Hall-of-Famer Doc O’Lena. Poco Lena was the first horse inducted into the NCHA Hall of Fame. In 1991, she also became the first mare inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame.
Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 57,000 people and thousands of animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the international Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive and the Animal Center Education Services program, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world. For more information or to make a donation, visit 
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