10/20/2024
The more we become aware of this issue and how it can be affecting our geldings ability to move, the more I appreciate The Masterson Method. MM can help relax the tension that builds in the hind end (and then elsewhere) as a result of the geld scar.
ABOUT GELDING SCARS:
When a stallion is castrated, his entire functioning body system is turned upside down. (The same applies to dogs, cats and other animals!) The flow of energy is interrupted.
Castration therefore represents a trauma for every gelding, both physically and psychologically, no matter how uncomplicated it is.
Castration changes a lot psychologically, especially in terms of gender-typical behavior. Removing the testicles reduces testosterone production. Testosterone is responsible for sexually motivated behavior, aggression and activity. This is why most geldings become calmer after castration. But castration also has an impact on the physical level - and this is often not even considered. Castration results in a scar. The inflammatory substances that are formed during the surgical procedure cause adhesions between the skin layers, muscle layers and the fascia tissue. This can lead to pain and tension.
The influence of castration on the pelvic diaphragm:
Horses have a very long lasting pain memory. During castration, the horse mentally separates itself from its hindquarters. As a result of castration, for example, it walks with its legs wide apart, very narrow, or it pulls upwards like a cat's hunchback. A gelding can have problems using his hindquarters correctly. Castration therefore negatively affects the function of the craniosacral system and the mobility of the pelvic diaphragm in the long term.
The pelvic diaphragm runs from the p***c bone to the sacrum and is connected to the organs of the urogenital tract. The front part of the pelvic diaphragm is the boundary to the abdominal cavity. This area is disturbed in its own movement by castration. The pelvic diaphragm also has a major influence on the mobility of the sacrum and caudal vertebrae.
If the mobility of the pelvic diaphragm is negatively affected, this can lead to a blockage of the sacrum and the lumbar spine and thus to imbalances in the movement sequence. A possible consequence would be inactive hindquarters. The blockages in the spine are the symptom. The actual cause is the restriction of movement of the pelvic diaphragm.
Always look at the body as a whole!
The sacroiliac joint is located directly under the highest point of the croup and connects the bones of the pelvic girdle to the trunk and transmits the forces and movement impulses of the hindquarters forward to the spine and trunk. The individual body parts are connected to each other, which is why they can never be treated separately from one another.
If the hindquarters are inactive due to a blockage in the sacroiliac joint or a tight pelvic diaphragm, the forehand is put under greater strain, which causes further blockages in the atlas, cervical spine, thoracic spine and sternum. This leads to pressure on the head and thus headaches.
It can also be the other way around and a blockage in the cervical area can lead to an inactive hindquarters.
If a bodyworker only looks at the hindquarters, the visible symptom will be remedied in the short term, but in the long term the problem will keep reoccurring until the actual cause, i.e. the blockage in the cervical vertebra area, is found and corrected. Cause and effect (visible symptom) are not always directly related.
Adjusting joints, as is often practiced by chiropractors, does not help if the castration scar is disturbed: When adjusting, an impulse is sent out that the body cannot implement. This is a shock for the body and it cannot sustain this change, which for example is caused by muscles being pulled apart. The muscle retracts again and the problem persists. Only when the actual cause is found can the problem be solved
Connection between the spine and organs:
Not only movement restrictions are caused by unresolved castration trauma, but also organic problems. If the body's natural flow, which consists of blood, lymph and spinal fluid, is hindered by restricted mobility, then the tissue is less supplied with blood. Metabolism is disrupted, which in turn has negative effects on organs and other structures in the body.
If the hindquarters are blocked, the movement of the internal organs is also disrupted. This leads to many metabolic diseases such as water in f***s, diarrhea, cough, etc.
Conversely, organ problems show up as spinal problems. Both areas should therefore never be viewed separately from each other.
The diaphragm is a large plate made up of muscles and tendons. It separates the thorax from the abdominal cavity. The diaphragm is the most important breathing muscle.
Changes after treatment:
After treatment of a gelding scar adhesion the posture often changes, the top line appears more even, and a potential cat hump disappears.
Also, many horses scratch themselves on different parts of their body because the energy flow, which was previously disturbed, is working again and all parts of the body are sufficiently supplied with blood.
After treatment riders notice that the hindquarters are more active, the tail swings more loosely and the horse appears more balanced.
(Stock image of a female cat to draw general attention to the topic of surgical scars, something more visible as most people don't recognise a gelding scar as such)
