Bean's - what problems do they cause?

[Christmas Crumpet]

Bit random question really but new horse had his willy out when we got back from a ride and I had a quick peek and pulled out a bean the size of half my thumb. He was quite happy for me to manhandle him but just wondered whether a large bean can cause other problems apart from a sore willy. Bad behaviour for example?!! Has anyone found their horse is far nicer once the bean has been removed?

He does seem to wee far more than any other horse I've ever met - I saw him do a wee in the field this morning then he did another 2 long ones out exercising. Wonder if the bean has something to do with this?

 

[hnmisty]

I have a question to tag on to this... how can you actually tell if they have a bean? Having a good feel, or can you see them? I had a mare for 11 years!

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

Well he had his willy out and I was looking at his leg and then saw this black thing that looked a bit odd so looked closer and sorted of fiddled about and peeled his skin back and this huge thing came plopping out. It had a dark head so I was a little confused at first and only could see what it was when I peeled skin back and saw it was then yellow. Think I thought it looked odd at first because I'm so used to only seeing the little pink hole of the urethra (I think) that they wee out of. I was quite surprised to find this massive thing though!!

Have done some internet searching and various symptoms have come up that he has - tail rubbing, trying to wee etc. Am hoping the bucking stops too!!

 

[fburton]

One needs to distinguish between "The Bean" and other random bean-shaped lumps of gunk. The Bean, if present, is located in the urethral fossa, the cavity above (i.e. dorsal to) the end of the urethra when the penis is extended normally. It's usually light grey or ivory in colour. This can cause problems if the compacted smegma that comprises it becomes large enough to start interfering with urination. It's always worth checking for, even if you don't clean your horse's sheath regularly. Usually it can be removed by gentle manipulation, but may need a vet in the worst chronic cases and/or if the horse reacts badly to attempts to remove it.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

That's exactly where I found the big lump and its black on the end and then the rest is sort of ivory/yellow colour. Its solid and almost feels like very hard blu-tack. The more I think about it, he has had his willy out quite a lot in the field and in the stable. Its obviously been pretty uncomfortable for a while.

 

[fburton]

Yes, it can be alarmingly hard - so not difficult to understand why it might cause discomfort (and relief when removed)!

It is perhaps worth adding that it appears to be less of a problem in stallions compared to geldings, probably because of what stallions get up to in the spare time, even if not covering mares. What is commonly referred to as masturbation may well have a cleaning function, quite apart from anything else.

 

[tiga71]

Izzy had one recently taken out that was huge. I noticed it and he was fine with me having a look. It was also black at the top (I think where the air gets to it?) and then cream coloured. But I wasn't sure how to get it out as it was so big. Asked my YO to have a look who used to be vet nurse. She said we needed the vet to get it out as too big. Vet was quite impressed Izzy had light sedation just because it was so big.