Gelding

[awelshandawarmblood]

I had the bean cleaner out for the first time ever last month as she was in the area - had mine both from foals & never been done before.
5 year old had 2 little beans.
18 year old had 2 huge rock hard beans, together probably the size of a ping pong ball! Which needless to say I then had to get the vet out to sedate for removal. He is SO much happier now its all out - not that he displayed any issue before, but he seems noticeably more relaxed & lets it all hang out when chilling which is something he didnt often do, so must have been uncomfortable. So will keep ontop with both now.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I just have a peek if its hanging out which is anytime we are together grooming or feeding or treats i just grab the kinda flaky bits if there is any but I dont pull it and wash it.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Sorry to drag this up, however where did the misconception that sheath cleaning was required actually come from?

I don't know any vets that recommend doing it, so why do people feel they have to do it?

Is this just a case of people being taught something by the Pony Club when they were kids and are now unable to accept there could be any other way?

Some get beans and it's uncomfortable I have one that does and one that doesn't so only the one with beans gets done.

 

[Cragrat]

Some get beans and it's uncnever has his omfortable I have one that does and one that doesn't so only the one with beans gets done.

My old homebred never has his sheath cleaned, and although I do check for beans now and then, there is never anything more than a grain of rice size.
I don't clean my ex-racer either, but I wonder if he used to get it cleaned whilst in racing, and that is why he does get beans - though they are getting smaller each time now he isn't getting washed.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Anyone with a gelding who doesn't clean the sheath? Was debating with a vet about the necessity of this, she gave the impression unless there's a problem to leave alone, I'm not so sure. What's your take on this?

I got myu boy done yearly.

We had one at the yard who got infection in his sheath due to the cleanness of it.

I got his done yearly

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

My gelding presented with very mild but odd symptoms; looking at his tummy and generally looking uncomfortable. Vet couldn't find anything but horse was unusually reluctant and guarded when it came to touching his tummy.

I asked vet to come back, sedate and clean. They found a large, odd shaped bean which had been causing discomfort.

After that I decided best to do it yearly but it probably didn't need to be that often as there were only ever small beans.

A friend with a grey ID gelding got him cleaned and checked yearly but for her it was about checking for melanomas. Cleaning identified areas of concern which she was able to keep a closer eye on and get vet intervention when needed.

 

[Merrymoles]

As previously mentioned I'm usually in the "leave it alone" camp.

However for the last week my gelding had been showing the odd sign that he was itchy, which usually presents as him backing up to his empty feed bucket and rubbing his legs on it. I rode him last night and then fed him on the yard and as soon he was finished, he went into full leg waving mode, by which I mean picking up his back legs in turn and opening his hips, so I thought I had better investigate. My WORD!!! A quick squirt of sheath cleaner later and I was pulling out lumps the size of droppings with the consistency of rock and they were endless. The poor lad must have been so uncomfortable I'm surprised he didn't buck me off. As I said to my friend, it must be like running with a bra full of sharp gravel.

He is much finer than my previous horses and I really didn't expect such a horrendous build up since last summer but the lesson I am taking from it is listen to your horse and investigate if you think there might be any discomfort. No two are the same. He was peeing normally but obviously feelling something wrong with the leg waving. Fortunately he is a saint to do and stood there gurning and lip flapping for the whole time it took to remove the lumps.