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Sheath Cleaning!

7K views 26 replies 20 participants last post by  alexischristina 
#1 ·
About six months ago we had a lady come out to TRY to clean up both of our boys, try being the key word. She got the old boy done with a bit of a struggle, but as soon as my younger gelding had his turn he would have none of that and ended up breaking the lead and making a run for it, NOT FUN! She told us to wait until we had to put him under for some other vet check, and have it done then.

This morning we had the vet come out to do his teeth, so we decided 'Hey! Lets do it now,' so we talked to the vet and he agreed, did his teeth and tried to give him a good cleaning while he was still tranqued.
WELL! He was definitely still drugged up, but as soon as the vet (a VERY well qualified vet who definitely knows what he's doing) started, Tango (my gelding) lunged out and kicked the wall a few times and reached back to bite him. The vet said there was nothing there that could be bothering him, he wasn't that bad, and that we should just leave it because lets keep in mind he was still DRUGGED UP when that happened, can you imagine what he'd do without the drugs? =\

He told me (a little sixteen year old girl) that under no circumstances should I try to do it myself, and to just not worry about it because it's legitimately not safe...
Have any of you guys had experiences like that?
 
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#2 ·
Tom has no problem with it, i actually think he enjoys it too much little perv, but hey at least i do not have to fight him. Satin on the other hand reacts like no horse i have ever had when I even go near her teats, which is exactly why I told my mother that they need to be done and that Satin is her horse and she needs to either work with her and do it herself or hire a vet to do it, cause there is no way i am dealing with a horse that becomes that frantic when you touch her udder. She first lunges forward, and if that does not work cow kicks like a jackhammer, if that doesn't work, she bites, leans back, trys to step on top of you pretty much whatever she can to to stop you. I figured as a broodmare she would be sued to being handled down there but I guess not. I am not going to put myself in that kind of danger is the moral of that story...

And you shouldn't either, very good advice from your vet.

But you can just brush under his belly a lot, not near his sheath, but closer to his girth, pretty much where he is comfortable being touched, and just brush and pet on him and love on him and make it a good thing you are there. But I would not go any further than that. Some horses just do not want to be touched there and there is no use fighting him and getting hurt.
 
#3 ·
Can't help you there. My horse practically needs a cigarette after I clean his. Definitely don't risk getting hurt if he has that big an objection to it. If you do try to desensitize his tummy area, make sure to stand up near his shoulder so he cannot reach you with his hind legs if he decides to kick out.
 
#4 · (Edited)
I think you need to get your gelding better with it because sometimes they get hurt in there. My instructor told me she had to take a bee out of her studs sheath once. Luckily he was used to it.

That's kinda weird because our horses like it....Sam our TB actually lifts his hind leg and holds it up, while his neck is stretched out and his upper lip is wiggling cause he likes it. lol
 
#7 ·
Pretend to go for the gold and just retreat. Take baby steps, aim for a few centimeters each day if that. Don't go to touch him at all until you get to where you can touch all around it without him batting an eye. That is IF you even try to desensitize him to it, being you are a little girl9as you said in the op) you might to just want to leave him be and have him strongly sedated for his once a year cleaning...
 
#8 ·
I think the best thing you can do is work with him slowly desensitizing more and more. The problem with sedation is that it sometimes makes them more likely to bite or kick, kind of like removing their normal inhibitions about striking out at a human. You can't exactly put him under general anesthesia everytime you want to clean the poor guy! It is going to be much harder now that he has fought twice and "won", but with patience and time you should be able to get him to a point that he doesn't try to hurt you when you do want to clean him.
 
#10 ·
My horse started out not liking being touched -- he just "sucked it in" (amazing how far!). He evinced some mildly threatening behavior, but nothing like the kind of fighting you are describing. If your horse really is unsafe, have an experienced horseperson work with him or leave it for a vet. If one vet can't manage it, get someone who can.

My method:
I start by leaning against his flank/haunch (defensively so as to not get kicked -- close in can be safer, and watch that body language!!! And wear a helmet, etc.) while stroking him on his back and butt. The stroke must be firm enough to not tickle, but still gentle, slow, and soft. This is just basic grooming and petting, like you do every day.

I progress to the under-dock area (when he lifts his tail, he is enjoying it and submitting), then between the hind legs (soooo soft!) first from behind, starting at the hock and then up to the leg join, and then the same from the front. When he accepts that, I slowly move to the outer sheath. Just being able to pet the outer sheath and let it rest in your hand is a major step. I like to do this while my horse is eating hay or grass after a ride.

That progression can take a few minutes or several weeks depending on the horse.

When the horse is relaxed enough for me to get serious, I break out the old KY Jelly and start another progression from just barely touching the sensitive stuff on in. I've had my boy for nearly two years and only last week was I able to really get "into it". Putting a lubricant on the night before can help soften stuff up so it doesn't hurt to pull it off.

Take advantage of his letting down to pee -- don't stroke or clean at first, just let it rest against your hand or try a gentle hold. When he is comfortable, try a gentle (but not tickly) stroke with the back of the hand. Only then try to gently remove some dirt.

This sounds like a sex manual. How old did you say you are?
 
#12 ·
I just have someone else do it. I can clean around it when I bathe and everything but I let someone else go for the bean. My Hank is the calmest thing. Nothing bothers him. I tried to take his bean out and he tried to kick me so I leave it for when we have his teeth done. Our dentist does it for like 10 bucks which to me totally worth it. Even sedated he still tries to kick. Of course we did pull a bean out the size of a large peach pit. I would probably try to kick me too LOL.
 
#14 ·
I had never cleaned on before I got my gelding. I had done some reading and since I have a gently gelding, I said let's try. So for a few days, I rubbed between his legs- which he loves. I began to move my rub down. the first time I touched him, he tucked his leg up underneath him- as to say he what are you doing? The look he gave me was too funny. I just kept my hand there until he knew I was no threat. One day after a long brisk ride, we came back and he was resting. That was when I got a bucket of warm water and rubbed him down. He dropped his head as to say ah, that feels much better. Now, I can rub him down to clean it off- dry, I check him on a regular basis to see if he is dirty, and can easily clean him, even if there is no workout. Be safe, slow and confident.
 
#15 ·
gee I opened this thread hoping there WOULD be directions on how to do it as i just bought a gelding and never have had any experience cleaning them down there, but heard you had to do it. Only answer I get from 'horse people' is 'yeah you need to clean them down there....eww' with a shudder. After reading the 'directions' on how to do it...yeah, I think I will be paying someone else to!
 
#18 ·
When I first read the description on how to remove the bean, I started thinking I'd rather just get a mare :lol:. I've had about 8 months of house hunting to get me better used to the idea, and I think I might even be able to handle it myself now :shock:. Though a friend of mine thinks it's hilarious that I even think it's a big deal.

A great step by step guide is at http://www.equusite.com/articles/health/healthSheathCleaning.shtml. Scroll down to Part 2 The Cleaning Process... and get ready for a laugh (and probably a shudder or two if you've never thought very much about the process before :D).
 
#16 ·
I think it has to be the most embarrassing part of horse ownership. I have no problem with it besides the fact that Tom enjoys it a little too much, lie someone said, he practically needs a cigarette afterward lmbo. Mom freaked out the first time I cleaned Moonie's, thought I was funny in the head.

Then when I cleaned Tom's a few weeks ago, she flipped again cause I had Gracie with me... She said she is too young to know about that, I think it is better she know what I am doing and why I am doing it than to have to have someone else tell her. I figure she wants a horse of her own, she might as well learn now, besides 7 is pre sex thinking anyway, better to learn about it now than after she starts thinking it is perverted.
 
#19 ·
Ha! You haven't lived until you have your arm up your horse's sheath and you realize the FedEx man is standing there wanting you to sign for a package with his eyes bugging out of his head.
 
#21 ·
I love that story! I can't even FIND Sunny's... erm...part half the tme, it's so far in there! One thing...the smegma (the gooey, sticky, tar-like crud) smells to high heaven at times, and that smell does not come off your hands easily! rub as much hand lotion as your skin can take in then lube. Scraping a bar of soap with your nails helps keep it out from under the nail area.
I never did find a bean in Sun, I guess some horses don't develop them! You can see if there's a bean without touching the sheath at all. Look at the stream when he's peeing. If it flares out, is two streams, is fan shaped there is probably a bean in there.
I figure if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
 
#23 ·
One thing...the smegma (the gooey, sticky, tar-like crud) smells to high heaven at times, and that smell does not come off your hands easily! rub as much hand lotion as your skin can take in then lube. Scraping a bar of soap with your nails helps keep it out from under the nail area.

You can see if there's a bean without touching the sheath at all. Look at the stream when he's peeing. If it flares out, is two streams, is fan shaped there is probably a bean in there.
I figure if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
If you use rubber gloves or wash your hands with the agent (excalibar, dreft, etc) that you clean the sheath with - it comes off without any problems.

A flared stream of urine does not always mean a bean is present. Just as a normal stream doesn't mean there is not a bean present. You should check each time you clean the sheath for the health (and comfort) of the horse.
 
#22 ·
I would slowly try touching it with a training stick and get him use to that first. Of course first make sure he is ok with you touching the stick other places. So there is not a fear factor involved with it too. What would concern me is maybe he is reacting so explosivly because it hurts? Once it warms up you could try gently running the hose over it too and then maybe squirt some cleaner up there just to help break up anything that is hiding. All my geldings dont mind being touched there and they are not what I would consider well behaved so I would be a little worried that he could have a bean or something causing discomfort. Here is a good gentle cleaner I have used.
Excaliber Sheath Cleaner (Farnam) - All Products - FarmVet.com
 
#24 ·
I have three geldings and have never found the "bean". My friend cleaned my paint's before a show though and found several! Can there really be more than one?
 
#25 ·
Well I was talking to some of the ladies out at the barn the other day while waiting my turn for the hose. Talking about sheath cleaning and how I read on here about how to do it and I didn't think I wanted to. The one woman said 'well lets see how he is about it' and reached under there and was able to put her hand up in there and pull out a bit of crud...he didn't seem to mind one bit. So I'm thinking I could get over my squeemish-ness of it...I do some pretty gross stuff grooming dogs so I shouldn't think of this as anything different than a necessary part of grooming....my question is.... what is a 'bean'?? Every time I think I have it figured out by the context of a sentence, then someone else seems to use it in a different context!
 
#26 ·
^^HAHA! Your thoughts pretty much mirror mine. I mean, if I can deal with diarrhea, and vomit, and poop....I think sheath cleaning is pretty easy. At least in theory. My guy can't stand it if your hand comes within 10 feet of his package.

A bean is basically a little ball of smegma that gets caught in the groove around the urethra.
 
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