From the Australian Brumby Alliance Inc. (ABA) in regards to the idea of reducing wild horse numbers by gelding stallions (geld and release).
“There are three reasons why in our view this is a non-viable option (assuming gelded horses are returned to the wild).
- If even one stallion is left ungelded, that stallion will mate all other females, so full capacity breeding continues and more importantly quickly lead to in-breeding & associated complications.
- Geldings & stallions do not mix; stallions hassle and fight the gelding, the gelding has lost fighting edge after gelding so receives serious injuries.
- Gelding has infection risks, not to mention costs for trapping, vet bills, anasthaetic etc.
Fertility control for wild horses is important and likely the most humane way to manage excess Brumby numbers. To raise awareness if these issues the ABA hosted a Fertility Control seminar in Brisbane, Nov 2009. While PZP & GonaCon vacines still have a long way to go to cope with the vaste numbers and rougn terrain where Brumbies live wild, we can learn from USA mustang PZP vacines applied by remote dart on a proportion of mares (i.e. vacine enough mares to keep numbers static).
If anyone wishes to contact me please email me on pickjill@hotmail.com. “
(Jill Pickering, President ABA)
