Pedigree Query

I have a full horse, 7yo, in training who runs creditably in top UK handicaps.

He has very large balls which may be hampering him slightly. The front 3/4 of his body are superb but the back 1/4 seems to be just that little bit lacking. He doesn't appear to be in any obvious discomfort.

I just wondered is there was anything that I might try to help him.

Someone suggested a "jock strap" type contraption.

This is a serious post and serious answers would be most appreciated.

I once knew a horse with this problem. The solution for him was gelding, and he seemed MUCH more comfortable after the procedure. Ran better, too. Before that, he'd break well and then drop back and act uncomfortable.
Other than gelding, I have no idea. I've never seen an equine jock strap anywhere, but maybe you could make one?

Not too keen on gelding him at 7.

If I come up with an idea that works I'll post it.

Retire him to stud.. he maybe gifted for a reason.

You can sponge him with ice water in the saddling paddock and try to get them to suck them up. We had limited results with this though

I've seen a horse run in a jock strap (or something strapping in that general area in) so they must exist.

Thanks for all your replies

crystal - without black type he wouldn't get many mares, even though he's a grand looking sort.

austique - that sounds like a good idea....I'll try that.

KamiBrooks - thanks for confirming that they do exist.

If you don't want to geld because you want to use him as a potential stud down the road, then ignore my post.

But, if you don't want to geld just because he's older, don't worry about that. My old man was gelded at age 7 and he has retained stallion-like behavior to this day (at age 27), but behavior doesn't seem to be the issue with your guy. If the issue is testicles that cause pain or get in the way, gelding will most definitely take care of that.

Roguelet....that's interesting. Personally gelding him would be my preference. He's such a pussycat that he's probably the easiest horse to tack up, and most of our horses are geldings.

How long was yours off work, and did it improve his racing ability...which is my aim.

This particular old guy is an Andalusian, not a racing Thoroughbred, but he wasn't laid up at all... just kept doing what he was doing without missing a beat. He's a tough old bird though... he's 27 and still acts like he's in his prime, and to this day he has no idea that he's missing his "man parts."

When you geld, they NEED to keep moving, so he shouldn't really miss any time as far as training goes. If he's sore he might not want to give 100% for a few days, but that shouldn't last long. We just gelded a 3YO in training a little over a week ago, he was back on the track literally the next day and his mind is already more into his work, according to the trainer.

We gelded one as a 4YO because we thought he just wasn't extending his stride in the back as fully as he could, and thought maybe his testicles were causing that. It improved his racing slightly but didn't make a huge difference in his case. We did it right after a race when he would have a few days off anyway, just some jogging around to keep him moving, and he didn't miss any time at all... he was able to race again a few weeks later just like we would've done anyway.

Roguelet: thanks for that.....we have a 36yo mare who still "sprints about"
She's still an interesting ride

The other thing you can try is greasing them with baby oil. Means they move smoothly no pinching

even the best get gelded as you know , if you want him to run at his full potential you have to geld him if your going to use him as a stallion stop running him because your not going to get his best form ever as a racehorse in the track. Tuff decision .

Bill Mott use to "chill" a horse to get him to suck up than put a rubberband around to scrotum. I had questioned if perhaps this practice may have had an impact on Cigars fertility issues though. But it did work in getting the horses with this "problem" to run more comfertably though.

Just want to add...I bought a QH gelding years ago who had only been gelded 2 months before I bought him. He was 13. He went on to become quite the accomplished event horse