Seven horses were castrated at the Tacoma Equine Hospital's low-cost castration clinic held on Dec. 31, 2010. With funding from the Unwanted Horse Coalition's Operation Gelding, the clinic provided financially strapped owners an opportunity to change their horses' lives for the better.

Geldings, or castrated males, are more manageable and marketable than stallions. Castration also prevents accidental breeding, one of the contributing factors to the current unwanted horse problem.

Not long after information about the upcoming clinic was released, Tacoma Equine Hospital was flooded with calls. The hospital gave priority to those who would not otherwise have been able to afford the surgery. Many owners who applied had been hurt by the economic downturn, suffered recent health problems, or had already stretched their resources to rescue horses from auction.

The colts and stallions gelded at the clinic ranged in age from 5 months to 7 years. They represented a variety of breeds, including Miniature Horses, Quarter Horses, and American Paint Horses. Some were recent auction rescues destined for the slaughterhouse, while others were beloved family pets. Two no-cost castrations were awarded to qualified applicants