Really necessary?

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vikkiandmonica

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Is sheath cleaning vitally important to do? I've had my gelding for 3 years now, and never done it. He doesn't get gunk on his legs, and doesn't smell around his sheath, nor does he have any trouble weeing, or doesn't appear to. When he gets "it" out, it doesn't appear gunky, maybe a little, but nothing bad at all. I don't think anyone at my yard cleans their gelding's sheaths either.

So, is this a necessary job to do? If it needs doing, I will, but he isn't showing signs of needing it?

Thanks :D
 
I've had my boy two years, and have never done it. I 'keep an eye' on it, it is always clean without any crusting, smell etc so I leave it be. Although it does get a hose when he has a bath!
I think it depends on the horse - my last boy had to have it done every 6 months maximum. I knew when he needed it doing, when we trotted it would make a funny noise a bit like people make sometimes when water moves around in their stomach!
 
I feel with this issue, as with most things "if it ain't broke don't fix it". My last horse had the worst smelling gunkiest sheath ever, so I cleaned it. Current gelding I have had since last spring, and haven't been near his bits and pieces as they are not smelly/discharging, and when he pops his fella out it looks fine :-)
 
Out of about 10 geldings that we have owned only one needed it done. It was actually making him a bit lame and we couldn't work out what it was and then we cleaned it and he was fine again.

I don't do it unless it needs doing.
 
use a name said:
I knew when he needed it doing, when we trotted it would make a funny noise a bit like people make sometimes when water moves around in their stomach!
lol,Dont all geldings get that when air gets trapped in their sheath.Thats what i heard anyway :)
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Yes they do....mine did when he got a bit stressy or excited......not through dirt
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Yep, If it isn't broke don't fix it.
I just keep and eye on my geldings. My old gelding (RIP) used to need it done lots! Never done my current geldings though.
 
Thanks! Glad to know I haven't been neglecting any jobs that needed doing. As for the squeaking, Wings does that when he gets excited!

PS: whenever it's warm and I hose him off if he's sweaty, or I give him a bath, I also give his sheath a bit of a squirt too :D
 
I've been told that sloshing, whistley noise was their stomach. (Maybe an RI being polite in young company). I've also been told it's air under the saddle. The sheath thing makes sense but Annie, a mare, was making the same noises in canter on Wednesday evening! A mystery indeed...
 
Vixen Van Debz said:
I've been told that sloshing, whistley noise was their stomach. (Maybe an RI being polite in young company). I've also been told it's air under the saddle. The sheath thing makes sense but Annie, a mare, was making the same noises in canter on Wednesday evening! A mystery indeed...
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how very strange!:p
 
I've never cleaned any of mine. One of them gets a bit gunky from time to time but it sorts itself out in a day or two and is fine again. I'm of the opinion that you should leave that area well alone unless absolutely necessary.
 
Speaking from experience i would personally clean the area and keep an eye on it for any deformaties that may be lurking beneath the muck; cancer of that area is relatively common (as I unfortunately discovered with my poor boy two years ago), and removal of any nasty gunk etc will keep flies away.
 
I keep an eye on it and squirt it with the hose from time to time but I've never cleaned it - and I can imagine the hysterical meltdown it would cause if I did, his man bits are firmly out of bounds!!
 
Taffyhorse said:
I keep an eye on it and squirt it with the hose from time to time but I've never cleaned it - and I can imagine the hysterical meltdown it would cause if I did, his man bits are firmly out of bounds!!
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Same with Wings, he sometimes gets it out after he's had a wee, but when I brush his legs/tummy, he doesn't whack it out like some do :p
 
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