what is the best way to do it? should i use soap? how often do you clean your horse's sheath? if anyone wants to get me a step by step guide that would be great.
Having bought most of my horses from youngsters, thankfully no-one has ever started messing around with their sheaths and upsetting the natural oil balance, hence I don't need to either. I do check all of my geldings for the bean once every few months but none of mine have ever had that either, so no intervention has ever been necessary.
Not sure why you feel the need to do this, but in answer to your question, no, never ever use soap!
i have never done his sheath also thought it was best to leave the natural oil as they should be . however i can smell his sheath when i stand beside him, so i think it needs cleaning.
What type of smell? Like there is something wrong? If so, probably best to have your vet pop out to take a look as he may have an infection and require antibiotics.
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What type of smell? Like there is something wrong? If so, probably best to have your vet pop out to take a look as he may have an infection and require antibiotics.
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I heard you should because in the wild they would be stallions and so getting cleaned naturally *cough cough wink wink*
But I don't
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Believe me - stallions STILL need cleaning! During the covering season my chap is cleaned before and after every mare (for the sake of the mare's hygiene - dirt and germs going in means no pregnancy) - and during the winter he still needs cleaning at least once every 4 weeks or he gets DISGUSTING!
if my share horse's sheath is looking mucky I squirt some baby oil on it. This loosens all the muck up without touching it, and makes it pretty clean. Definitely don't use soap.
Yikes! I'm with Tia here. I think sheath cleaning is one of those pony club myth things that we get told we must do.
IMO there really is no need to clean a horse's sheath at all really. If you must, or if he is a covering stallion, please just use warm water and NOTHING else.
When I had geldings I would do it when ever the show horse had a pre show bath (probably once or twice a month in the summer, rarely in the winter). We didn't want him to get too relaxed infront of the judge and showing us up, lol. I used a specialist sheath cleaner, or just water with a bit of vaseline maybe the day before if it looked bad.
Bear always gets a smelly willy in winter, I think its cos he has so much belly hair, it gets stuck in there and irritates, I just use warm water and cotton wool.
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Bear always gets a smelly willy in winter, I think its cos he has so much belly hair, it gets stuck in there and irritates, I just use warm water and cotton wool.
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Haha! That actually made me LOL then! Just after everyone had been so tactful...
Cairo as he got older did need a bit of TLC down there, black gunk down the legs. Vet said some old geldings do need cleaning as they get less active.
Chancer has from the age of 2 needed cleaning out every 2 - 4 weeks. He started to rub his belly (mild SI) and fills the sheath with mud and grit, then produces a lot of black smeg which then coats his legs and feather. Getting this out of long hair is a horrible job.
Luckily he normally dangles his todger when eating and does enjoy me cleaning him rather noticeably
. Most of the time I just gently rub it with my hands to get grit and grubby crust off, inspect for beans - he gets these frequently, but by getting them out before then get big, they are easy to pop out.
If he starts to get greasy, I flush his sheath out with warm water in winter (I use a cleaned old squeezy bottle) and shove the hose up it in summer, then proceed to rub my hand round to get the black gunk out and then rinse again and rub again until all is clean inside.
I may in spring use a little sheath cleaner if he is particularly greasy as often it has not been done for a few months as he is not rubbing his belly. However, normally just water and my hand is more than sufficient. I have never used oil, soap or hibscrub as some say to do.
I do on occasion notice he is a little ripe smelling, particularly when he is hot after work - old cheese and know it is time to get out the water and hands.
Vet said nothing wrong with him, some geldings are just made that way. I am very lucky that he does not object to my squeezing bean and cleaning him.
Having Farra reminded me of just how easy mares are, quick wipe down the girly bits and between the boobs and done.
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Bear always gets a smelly willy in winter, I think its cos he has so much belly hair, it gets stuck in there and irritates, I just use warm water and cotton wool.
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Haha! That actually made me LOL then! Just after everyone had been so tactful...