National Equine Resource Network (NERN), in partnership with Red Bucket Equine Rescue (RBER), is launching its Gelding Program by hosting a low cost clinic on Feb. 26 at Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center in Huntington Beach, Calif.

This collaboration between NERN, RBER, Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center, and local veterinarians Jenn Winnick, DVM, and Silvia Colladay, DVM, aims to bring affordable castration services to horse owners in the local community.

The cost is $75 per horse. Horses are to be dropped off at the equestrian center (located at 18381 Goldenwest Street) at 7:00 a.m. Stallions must be halter broke, in good health, and have two descended testicles. Colts must be at least 4 months old. Vaccination records are required.

NERN's program was created 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 an over abundance of horses in the United States. NERN anticipates holding 7-8 additional gelding clinics throughout California in 2011, and plans to expand the program throughout the U.S. in 2012