Cleaning horses' bits - no, not those kind of 'bits'

I clean when they need it. I think cleaning it too often will do more harm than good- they don't really need to be cleaned out every month- it's borderline harmful unless you have a VERY dirty horse.

Also, WEAR GLOVES when you do it...that smell takes forever to get off your hands.

My gelding LOVES it, and he loves getting his butt scratched too. I haven't attempted it with our new horse yet... so I don't know how he'll react. We usually we clean as they need it, but at the least, 2 times a year.

To be honest I had never done it. But my horse dentist cleaned my fullas out on there last dentist trip, since they were sedated... made it easier.

She said Foxy had a huge amount of.....build up .....proberly had never been cleaned out in his whole life ( I had only had him like a year by that point ).
And Boo had a small amount.

I have never had problems with not cleaning them there. Altho I must admit it was deffinetly alot better for Foxy after his was cleaned.

I guess I figure no one does it for them in the wild..... so why so nessisary in capitvity.
But every now and then certainly wont hurt.

The reason they don't need it done in the wild is cause in the wild they are stallions, which means they breed with mares and it gets cleaned that way.
I clean my geldings about twice a year.. pretty much cause I don't like doing it in a public place cause it takes about 20mins and someones going to see you and its not the nicest look. So I wait till we move of pony club grazing and then jut before we move back on pc again haha.

I usually check my filly's "bits" (lol that's cute) every couple of weeks or so, it can get a little crusty in the teat area sometimes. When I had my gelding I did a sheath cleaning every six months or so.

Back when I was a teen in Pony Club, it was necessary to clean my gelding before each event because it was checked. He was never very bad but I think I own 2 of the grubbiest guys ever! Even my vet said he's never seen a horse who produces so much gunk. My pony and my draft cross get gunk on the insides of their hind legs from when they hang out and I clean them at least 2 times a year...... our paint isn't too bad which is good because he can get testy about me being so familiar..... I usually put on a glove and grease them up with KY jelly or baby oil a day or two before I plan on getting to it and that does help soften things up, then use Excalibur or Ivory/Dove some other mild soap. My POA developed a squamous cell carcinoma on his "bits" about a year ago and had to have it surgically removed. In researching it, I found studies that said a dirty sheath was a cause and then other studies that said that wasn't a cause...... so I don't know but I figure I want to keep checking him for a recurrence so it's a good idea to clean him regularly.

I clean my old mare's "bits" about twice a month, but she gets really dirty (old, fat, etc). I haven't tried my gelding's (Soda) yet, but I've been getting him acclimated to me handling him around that area. Not quite sure how he'll react. I'd like to get my friend to help me (I bought him from her) but he doesn't really like her.

...AND done that! We haven't covered the dreaded "bean" here yet, have we?

I had too much fun reading all the "descriptions" of the anatomy...haha..
Also, I being male, it looks even worse when I have to do it...Hard to not get a laugh from those who accidentally wander by... I usually reply to him..."QUIT SHOWING OFF!"...then it takes the sting out of the situation...ah well...What we won't do for them....

At my riding school they don't unless they get really bad, but I think it's a good idea to clean regularly. I think you can put them in the dish washer.

OMG. I laughed so hard.

Oh wow. Just the mental image...

"bits" not bits.