Daily Grind

Keep it Private

Happy Saturday, it’s Susan!

Although the bulk of our recommendations revolve around presentation and cleanliness when entering the show ring, there are some parts of the horse that must be cleaned and maintained to help our horses be show ring ready. We are going to go down under this week, and I do not mean Australia. This post will be a long one, and is going to hopefully prepare you on cleaning sheaths and teats for our horses, areas that can commonly be overlooked when we are fussing over our horses.

Understandably, this task can be somewhat of an unpleasant chore. When we brought Wimpy into the barn for lease last fall, I noticed some leakage. Yes, urine appeared to be leaking from our big brown friend. When I peaked under his belly to check out his “undercarriage,” I noticed some considerable swelling around his sheath and it appeared to look quite uncomfortable. He was vetted at the time of the lease, and our vet drugged and cleaned him up and removed two beans. I noticed almost immediately that the swelling dissipated, but to my surprise within about two weeks his leaking began again. I took a peek underneath, and despite having been professionally addressed, his sheath had returned to being puffy and dirty looking. It became clear in a very short period of time that Wimpy would be a horse that required sheath cleaning to be incorporated into the frequent grooming plan.

For those who are already up close and personal with all of their horse’s parts, I will get right into my favorite product before getting into the nitty ditty details. I have a product that I love to utilize for sheath cleaning. EcoLicious Smeg-U-Later has terrific ingredients that are natural, smell amazing, and are extremely effective in breaking through the sticky build up (also available at SmartPak). I write about other EcoLicious products often, and this product does not disappoint. USE GLOVES. Apply Smeg-U-Later liberally because it is effective in loosening the build up and cleans nicely without irritating very sensitive skin. You will then loosen the oil and residue with warm water that is flushed into the pocket. Keep in mind that this area is very sensitive so strong water pressure and aggressive scrubbing are not called for in this situation. My horse Wimpy calls for two pairs of gloves as a result of his messy bathroom habits, but I would not anticipate the need for more than a pair!!

Regrettably, many owners and kids have no idea of the dirt, debris, rocks (yes rocks), and arena sand that can land and accumulate in the “zone.” The tricky part of sheath or teat cleaning is not every horse loves you poking around in their undercarriage so you have to approach with some caution. Wimpy appreciates that I glove up and remove debris on a very frequent basis, and such regular cleaning keeps swelling and discomfort at bay. Some horses will give you a very clear signal that, in the absence of drugs, you are not going to handling their private parts. When handling a male horse, you need to understand the three anatomical parts – the outer sheath, the prepuce which looks like folds of skin, and the penis – and all three require maintenance. To keep the sheath lubricated and allow extension and retraction, horses naturally produce sebum. Unfortunately, sebum combines with dirt and dead skin and forms….prepare yourself…. smegma. Smegma is a sticky, smelly (sometimes really smelly) that coats the sheath and penis. We will circle back to the “sticky” stuff and the need for a product that simultaneously loosens and cleans the area.

The next logical question is: so what if their sheath or teats are dirty. Well, male horses can actually become LAME if their beans are not addressed. How? It is basically like running with a big rock in your underwear. Not pleasant… and if the rock is not removed it only grows in size. The dreaded “bean” can be found at the tip of the urethra and if not removed it obstructs the urine flow for your horse. Okay…so the next question is: how do I know if my horse could have a bean or require sheath cleaning? You have to look for some signs, including the accumulation of smegma which can appear on their bellies or around their sheath. Also keep an eye out for swelling of the outer sheath or a very unpleasant smell.

As far as mares go, well, the same caution has to be exercised when you first examine their teats. Honestly, even our mareish mares at the barn appreciate the clean up. Candidly, you will be surprised what can be tucked up in there. I know, I know…it’s gross, but if you have a mare that loves to roll – you might be shocked at the accumulation of dirt, stones, and mess that is in there. 

Sheath and teat cleaning should absolutely be incorporated into bath time. At a very minimum take a peek under there — I know this is less than a savory job but requires the same diligence as a long flowing tail