Hello There! I've heard many different opinions on this subject and I'm hoping to get some clarification. On very few occasions, my stallion was given 1 or 2 ml's of Ace. These were his average statistics last year: Total Gel Free Semen: 50.0 ml Sperm Concentration: 231 million/ml Total Number of Sperm: 11.6 Billion Motility % : 90% Total Motal Sperm: 10.4 Billion
Now, he has been on stall rest for about a month. Normally he is worked 4-5 times a week and is a perfect gentleman. However, because of being on stall rest, when I take him out to hand walk him, the poor thing just can't keep his feet on the ground.He snorts, blows, bucks, and rears. This is not NORMAL FOR HIM! After digital x-rays, and consultations with the best leg specialist in New England, I've been given the green light to start working him again. He obviously feels good. He is a 6 year old Arab that I show Country English Pleasure on a class A/Regional level. He is a total peach to handle when consistantly worked or turned out. Longing or turn out is not really an option,since he will get ripping around and possibly pull a shoe, which could be detremental at this point. I know once he gets worked again, he will be easy to handle as usual. At this point, he is still very well mannered in his stall, but I know when I take him out to work tomorrow, I will have a wild horse on my hands. Now, I have heard from many different vets and trainers/breeders on this issue. Some say it's ok to give a little Ace once in a while. Some say don't, ever. I know once I get him through his first time out again, he will be fine. I just need something to take the edge off...I have tried the so called natural calming stuff, it doesn't touch him. I like the fact that this horse has a ton of energy, he's a saddleseat horse, but I know he'll be out of his mind tomorrow-he's as fit as a race horse, he can't help it. Any suggestions? In two weeks, this horse will be sent back out for full time professional training as he is every winter. So, what is a safe MILD tranq for a breeding stallion?
Jos Posted From: 165.247.216.18
Posted on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 02:49 pm:
Whatever you may choose to use (and there really isn't a "mild tranquilizer" - it's either a tranquilizer or it's not), Do not use acepromazine!!
Acepromazine use may result in permanent paralysis of the penile retractor muscle in males - geldings included - and while it is fairly rare, if it happens once to your stallion it will be once too often.
Once there is permanent paralysis, the skin of the penis will dry out, crack, and pathogens will gain access with the likely result of gangrene. This will in all likelihood necessitate amputation of the penis, and a stallion without a penis is not much of a stallion...
Thank you for setting it strait for me! I have never given it to him, one particular trainer did, without my knowledge before hand. I totally respect what you have to say and will take it as the final word. Just to clear it up for me, the penis will drop, then become paralyzed? At what point of giving the Ace would this happen? Please forgive my ignorance-I'm trying to educate myself the best I can.
Jos Posted From: 165.247.217.2
Posted on Saturday, January 03, 2004 - 06:21 pm:
Generally a tranquilized male horse (i.e. geldings too) will relax their penis allowing it to "drop" as they enter the tranquilized plane - generally within the first five minutes after receiving the tranquilizer.
The trouble is, with paralysis, they don't withdraw the penis once the tranquilizer wears off! Again - I must stress - this can happen with geldings as well as stallions, so Acepromazine is contraindicated for all male horses.
I've heard the "no Ace" warning for years from vets, but never from a vet who could back it up as anything other than urban legend. From you, Jos, I give it more credence. Are you aware of specific instances in which this paralysis has occurred? Once, as you say, is too many!
In terms of starting the stallion back to work, what I do is just put the saddle on and start to work. My experience is that much of the "jitters" of the first day back on come from the rider/handler, not the horse. If the rider is calm and relaxed, the horse will generally pattern after this very quickly and things go great.
Our expectations with stallions tend to become self-fulfilling. That is, if we expect bad behavior we often get it. If we expect better work, we often find that our boys rise (at least partially) to the challenge.
If you know your boy well and the two of you have mutual respect, simply talk to him as you ride and I suspect he'll be a bit frisky but nothing really problematic. When our boys go back to work after a break, they often appear quite firey and frisky. But, when actually under saddle and working again that friskiness generally results only in animated gaits and lots of suspension - not so bad!
Conversely, the few times I've had really "exciting" schooling sessions with stallions really haven't been because of one specific factor such as time off previously. Those sessions, they seem to happen now and again and I'm not sure there is that much of a pattern. Most certainly, a stallion who is sore in his body will often be very erratic and difficult under saddle - this is the #1 thing I check when I see a stallion with nice manners who is suddenly ornery under saddle. Then again, it's the #1 thing I check regardles of the gender of the horse!
Yup. Without even straining my memory banks I can come up with multiple veterinarians specialising in equine reproduction who have performed penile amputations following paralysis as a result of phenothiazine tranquilizer use.
Interestingly, U. Pa (New Bolton) recently presented a paper on a "modified live cover" technique they had approved by the Jockey Club for a stallion they were working with that had penile paralysis as a result of tranquilizer use.
On top of that, the Acepromazine package insert cautions about the possibility of paralysis in stallions.
So... no... don't use it in male horses!!
Anonymous Posted From: 24.150.138.69
Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2004 - 10:32 pm:
Jos.. would love to hear more information about the 'modified live cover' technique...
Also, what mild tranquilizer would be recommended for use in stallions?
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