Don't forget, mares need cleaning too!

[blackcob]

I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that mare's bits need regular cleaning too, re the gelding post below!

When my mare started scratching her bottom on the gate earlier this year I presumed it was a mild recurrence of sweet itch and treated accordingly. It was only when I went to sponge out her dock a short while later that I noticed she had a very crusty, irritated-looking bum and ladyparts.

Further investigation found large crusty deposits around her ladyflaps - it's amazing how deeply convoluted the skin can be there in some mares, and the inner bit where no air was getting to it was just asking to get sore. I felt terrible, as although I regularly sponged out her dock I never investigated any further than that.

She adored having it cleaned out - I'm just glad no one else was on the yard otherwise they would have seen me, hosepipe in hand, fiddling with a grunting horse's rear end.

And when I started slathering on sudocrem, well... it must have felt nice and soothing, that's all I can say.

Two weeks later her bumbits are healed up and she has stopped scratching. She now gets a daily once-over with a baby wipe (brilliant for getting into the tricky crevices!) which she loves. (

)

I don't know if it's just my mare that has weird deep ladyflaps but I'd caution all mare owners to check regularly just in case.

 

[shell1978]

Your post made me giggle, i just love your terminology 'LADYFLAPS!!!!!'

 

[peanut]

[ QUOTE ]
ladyflaps

[/ QUOTE ]

lol

I'm a great one for washing my mare's vulva. It always amazes me how few people wash their mare's or gelding's bottom

 

[blackcob]

[ QUOTE ]
Your post made me giggle, i just love your terminology 'LADYFLAPS!!!!!'

[/ QUOTE ]

Well what else would you call them?

Vulva is far too technical a word to be using when you're elbow deep up a horse's rear end and surrounded by used baby wipes, tubs of lubricating E45 cream and wearing a sheepish expression...

I suppose we could substitute good old 'meat curtains'...

 

[Theresa_F]

[ QUOTE ]
I suppose we could substitute good old 'meat curtains'...

[/ QUOTE ]

I was told they were "beef curtains"

I agree, with my mares I have always at least once a week wiped between their boobs and end of nipples and the rear end. In summer it is a sponge and water and in winter, baby wipes.

If you have had a mare that has foaled, they need more work but most of my mares have been maidens so very quick and easy to do.

Miss Delia was the worst - she had had three foals and had to be have caslicks after the last one so was a bit "twisty" in that region to clean out.

Jemima had had numerous foals and her boobs was very greasy (and milky) and she really appreciated having them cleaned up.

 

[Sprout]

Oh your post made me laugh - thank you!

I have geldings, so I have the joy of doing their hosepipes!

 

[Llwyncwn]

Sniggers

The Welsh terminology is 'foo-foo' or 'foof'

 

[HollyP]

I'm guilty .... i know i know its terrible but I dont think I ever have..... right note to self clean my poor princess' lady garden...!

 

[Tia]

Ah now my mares do have their bits cleaned on a regular basis; including teats and tummies.

 

[Halfpass]

Now i'm not too sure I agree on this. Lady bits (as you call them!!!) are full of their own natural good bacteria. Too much cleaning in that area can cause more harm than good. If iot becomes crusty then yes give it a clean - otherwise leave well alone. The same with gelding IMHO. Have never cleaned my boys / girls bits to this day.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Blimey, if I tried to get elbow deep in my mare's foo-foo (thankyou Llwyncwn) I'd be in the orthopaedic ward as we speak!

 

[CBFan]

[ QUOTE ]
Now i'm not too sure I agree on this. Lady bits (as you call them!!!) are full of their own natural good bacteria. Too much cleaning in that area can cause more harm than good. If iot becomes crusty then yes give it a clean - otherwise leave well alone. The same with gelding IMHO. Have never cleaned my boys / girls bits to this day.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have to agree!

The only place I do tend to check regularly is in between her boobies as this can get black and smelly and sometimes sore if left...

 

[HollyP]

Cleaned y.day but wasnt dirty and thats the first time iv done it in 2 years so think il leave it for a bit! she kept looking at me horrified!

 

[Bossanova]

My mare would have me pinned to the floor if I dared to touch her lady bits. She can live with crusty bits me thinks!!

 

[Persephone]

I must admit I have always clean my mares' floof and boobies along with her botty.

I wouldn't like being left dirty if I couldn't do it for my self.

Must admit, it's a good idea to pick your times carefully though! Poor love, she wouldn't want an audience, lol! She won't even wee in front of anybody but me!

Jo x

 

[Rosehip]

Melly loves her bits doing too!! Shes a baby wipe girly and she trumps the whole time her ladygarden is being cleaned - what a nice girl! She also loves her tittys being cleaned! My other mare was just the same - she died and went to heaven when you clipped round her bag and back legs! lol! x

 

[Minnies_Mum]

Thanks for giving me a good giggle- ladyflaps, LMAO! You are right though, they do need attention in those areas.

 

[RachelB]

[ QUOTE ]
My mare would have me pinned to the floor if I dared to touch her lady bits. She can live with crusty bits me thinks!!

[/ QUOTE ]
Ditto that with mine, and she's normally a really easy horse to do anything to!
This post prompted me to have a closer look at my mare, rather than just check her "between boobies" melanomas which I usually do. I noticed some crust so I tried to gently touch it to see how loose it was and got a squeal and a kick! Sod cleaning it, although I hope her melanomas don't develop as there's no way I can see her letting a vet anywhere near them

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

my mare adores having her bits cleaned, unlike my gelding who wont tolerate having his bits fiddled with and whose hosepipe is a source of conflict between us!