A statewide gelding clinic program will be conducted at various locations throughout California in 2011. This program is intended to help economically challenged horse owners castrate their colts and stallions at a minimum cost and to decrease equine breeding at a time when there is a surplus of horses in the United States.

Shirley Puga, founder of the National Equine Rescue Network (NERN), said the goal of this program is to geld 100 or more horses in California in 2011, while creating a template for these clinics that can then be expanded to benefit horse owners nationwide.

"The current economy has created a greater number of displaced horses and this trend will likely continue for at least the next few years," Puga said. "By gelding colts and stallions, we can help reduce the number of new horses coming into the world during these trying economic times. Hopefully, proactive measures such as these will go a long way toward alleviating this problem."

The gelding clinics are collaborative efforts with local nonprofit equine welfare organizations, and veterinarians who volunteer their time for this important work. The gelding clinics are scheduled throughout California on a monthly basis from February to June with additional clinics planned for October through December