mare urinating in her tail = smelly mare ..

[china]

My mare has a beautifal thick bushy tail when i have the time to go through it! It dreadlocks up within a day and is a nightmare to brush! it took me 20 mins today to work my way through it.
problem is she urinates in part of her tail which then gets onto her legs! she smells awfull some days! her back legs and tail have to be washed every other day! but even when i wash her tail it still doesnt come clean, it is almost stained. any tips on getting the bugger clean.
she has to have baby oil through it just so i can get a bloomin brush through. its a pain!

the white is the staining in her tail! sorry if its big, i did resize it.

 

[PonyFeet10]

No tips on getting it clean other than to keep washing it.. but plaiting it may help to keep it clean and out of the way of her pee! If its too thick for one big plait, do two or three plaits and then tie them together

 

[intouch]

I've a mare that does that when she's in season - dribbles down her tail and back legs - yeugh! Wash it off and slather her in liquid paraffin/baby oil, it'll condition the tail and make it easier to brush, too.

 

[horseless jorge!]

Tried a tail bag? Could be useful for when she's going to be really bad (i.e when she's stabled etc.)
Plaiting sounds like a good idea too.

 

[Tnavas]

MAres can be so disgusting - mines waddling around peeing at every gelding she can see - such a slapper!

She has a tail suitable for at least 4 - murderous to brush out so is often left to do when we go to shows. Fortunately baby chewed off mums tail so there is little there to wash at the moment. Currently being sprayed with a deterrent so hopefully mum has her tail back for the show season.

Wash really well in hand hot water. Slather in a bottle of the best conditioner you can get for dry/coarse/rebellious hair leave for 30 mins before rinsing out. Then keep in a tail bag.

 

[Allie5]

I would echo what others are suggesting re: tail bags. Really if it's not just when she's in season (squirting at boys is different to proper urination) but all the time the only way to prevent it is to protect her tail. I'm lucky in that my mare carries her tail high anyway so neither pees or squirts on it. She does squirt all down her legs when in season (tart!) but I can live with that as its only every few weeks!

 

[Leah3horses]

I have this problem..with a thick SILVER/ WHITE tail :/ I find 7 Day Mud Away by Net Tex is great for protecting tails from stains/wee/poop/being a strumpet

It must have a bit of silicone in it as no material sticks to the tail when I use it..and it does what it says, works for 7 days,but doesn't make hair greasy.I swear by it in winter too, to prevent 5kgs of wet mud coming in on each hairy leg!..My silvery white few spot horse loves being out in the worst weather but if I spray this on her all over the mud just brushes off really easily.

So..as above, a good wash and condition, spray liberally with 7 Day Mud Away as insurance if her tail bag comes off..it makes tails much easier to groom anyway, it prevents knots and tangles. Best of luck!

 

[china]

thank you everyone, will try all of these! unfortunatly, its not just when she is season, its all the bloomin time ;-) lush! she smells really bad if she hasnt had her legs and tail washed for a few days. such a delight owning a mare ;-)

 

[Tnavas]

Just a thought!

Check how much protein you are feeding as excess protein is excreted in the urine and makes it very smelly.

8 - 10% is fine for the majority of horses.

 

[Honey08]

I've noticed this with my mare this year. Previously she has always had a pulled tail, but I let it grow out last year when she was at stud, and left it this year as I'm injured. When it was pulled it was barely a problem! I'm wondering about doing an actual tail plait for in the field to see if that works! (As in plaitting the bit near the dock) Not sure about the plaitting the bottom idea, as they need their tails for flies at the moment..

 

[OneInAMillion]

Put a tail bag on it!