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.
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