The Animal Humane Society (AHS), in partnership with the Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition and the Minnesota Horse Council, will offer a free, one-day horse castration clinic on May 15 at the Isanti County Fairgrounds in Cambridge, Minn., through the Gelding Project. The goal of the clinic is to reduce the number of unwanted horses in Minnesota.

The clinic is the second in a series that will take place in different regions of Minnesota through the Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition's Gelding Project. The project was launched in 2009 to educate horse owners on the care of their horses by providing assistance and education to current and potential horse owners and law enforcement. The Minnesota Horse Council provided a grant for the project.

Individuals who qualify to bring horses to the free clinic are those from certified equine rescues or stallion owners who can't afford the cost of gelding, have been invited to participate by their veterinarian, or have been referred by the AHS Humane Investigations team. Owners of male donkeys are also eligible.

Stallions must be halter broken, have two descended testicles, be in good health, and be held off feed for 12 hours prior to the procedure. Colts must be at least 4 months old. University of Minnesota veterinary students will perform the procedures under close supervision of area veterinarians