SMEGMA - update

[J Swan]

Now that I have your attention, can any of y'all tell me why this young horse of mine has an overabundance of this vile substance?

He's a nice young healthy Perch/TB cross and I swear he may be the messiest dirtiest horse I have ever seen in my life.

I clean his sheath - it seems like a month later I gotta do it again.

Last night I yanked what I thought was a clod of dirt off his belly hair.... EEEWWWWW....

There is no infection, he drops, he's not tail rubbing, nuthin'. He's a happy camper who is more of a pig than the pig is. My vet just laughs at me when I complain.

My other horses are normal - in that, you know, you just gotta give their winkies a bubble bath a couple of times a year. This young horse is almost twice their size, eats more, poops more, trashes his stall more.... and accumulates smegma like it's going out of style.

Oh - if you decide to do a google search on the subject before responding - be careful how you phrase your search request. You have been warned. :eek:

[eqsiu]

I think some horses accumulate more than others. My old gelding stayed almost spotless with one cleaning a year, but my friend had one that was just horrible. Nothing wrong, just lots of smegma. The vet told her that pink skin usually means more smegma? Don't know if it's true, but her horse had nasty reddish goo whereas mine had black. Icky.

[Equibrit]

It would be interesting to do a study on smegma aroma. All my guys smell different and they all share the same diet!

[Nezzy]

i have found that White hair, Pink skinned horses have Awful smelling nasty sheaths. they are the worst to clean, and they smell before you know it. is your horse a white/Grey and does he have pink skin? my dark horses never had issues like the pink skinned did.

[Trees4U]

I'm curious too.
Our TB would get dirty in less than a month (like tree bark) but our TBx stayed smooth and pink for a year.

I can't believe I just said that:eek::eek::eek:

[RiverBendPol]

OHHHHHHHH BOY, here we go!!!

Maybe you aren't rinsing well? What do you use to clean? I find KY Jelly to be the very best. Maybe his grand opening is larger and floppier than those of the other fellas', thereby gathering in more crud as it passes by during rolls in the dirt? My TBs are all spotlessly clean for months on end EXCEPT for 1. He is a grungy guy and likes to be spruced up monthly. If he isn't, he starts grinding his tail into the walls.

[2hsmommy]

My horse gets nasty after 2 months. Ugh.

[Irish Ei's]

Call yourself lucky...
Mine is apparantly very, very relaxed at night, all warm and snuggy cozy in his blankie....
So YOU can beg and scrape and pull the stuff off his legs, OK???

He also seems to have , um, alot of substance in a small package...
Won't drop it, makes you go looking for it, too...

[Frank B]

...it seems like a month later I gotta do it again.

Consider yourself lucky, lucky person! I had to do my grey's almost weekly -- sometime more.

[fargo]

My youngster of 4 seems to have this issue too, he produces much more than my late horse that I had from his 10th to his 18th year. Could this be a juvenile thing?? Let's hope so. It was the first time ever however that I actually found a bean 2 weeks ago. That was a completely new experience, and I was quite glad that I found it because I thought perhaps that was the reason he was becoming so dirty so soon :eek::D:eek:. I haven't actually tested that whether the removing of the bean has made a difference... will let you know..
My horse is dark brown and the stuff is black was really shocked to see that our old chestnut had pinky orangy stuff brrrrr.

[chaltagor]

It would be interesting to do a study on smegma aroma. All my guys smell different and they all share the same diet!

I know this is going to keep me up all night thinking about it. Question for the ages.

[Lieslot]

I've got to do my grey one every two weeks.
Thank God, he kind of, ehm enjoys it. He drops immediately and let's me do whatever. He often even lifts a hind leg away from his body to give me, ehm better access, dunno :o.

I never thought he smelled nasty. It's of course a peculiar smell, but not that bad that it puts me off.

He's funny, when I'm done with him, he loves to smell my fingers, dunno why. Funny horse.

I also think greys produce more of this stuff then other horses. ;)

[J Swan]

I think what y'all are telling me is that I have been blessed with clean geldings for the past 30 years and now it's all come crashing down upon me.

The horse is black, not grey. If greys are worse than that is reason number 243 to never own a grey horse again. (Getting the stains out of their coat is reason number 1)

He's black, the smegma is black, it is produced in prodigious amounts - and it stinks.

I was cleaning stalls today and thinking about his hygiene problem and may have come up with a new product for the equine market.

Smegma douches.

You heard it here first.

[Equibrit]

Dick dips!
Foreskin fondue!

[Sakura]

He's funny, when I'm done with him, he loves to smell my fingers, dunno why. Funny horse.

I can't believe I am about to share this... A little off topic, but sort of related.... I have a mare that loves to smell my hands after I clean her udder crud... Weird horse.

[citydog]

We had a black Perchie who was cleaned *weekly* and the gop came out by the handful. Nasty. While I think lots of people overdo the sheath cleaning, he also accumulated good-sized beans within the week, too, so just letting him stay dirty and maybe normalize just wasn't an option.

I've had my gelding for almost five years, and cleaned his sheath (there was nothing on it to clean, really, but I felt like I was supposed to do it) *once* about six months after I got him. He just doesn't need it.

[J Swan]

Equibrit - you ain't right in the head, you know that? :D:lol::lol:

Tell you what - you market the product to the Western riders and call it Dick Dip. Just make sure it's clearly marked so the guys don't think it's chaw and put it in their mouth to chew on.

We'll market the product to the DQ's as "Foreskin Fondue" (we'll get Stiffen Peters to endorse it). And charge double, of course. Because it's for dresssaaaaaage horses.

I'll market the smegma douches to the eco-conscious - organic of course.

We'll make millions, I tell you. Millions.

[BeastieSlave]

I know what you mean, I'm getting ready to go after my weaner's weiner :lol:
He's just gross! I find smegma on his back legs too often. I think the weather's warm enough - maybe Friday or Saturday will be his 'first time' :D
Where is that song.....

I've been so happy having just mares for the last five years or so! They're easy to clean :yes:

Mr. Studly is pretty messy, but he's always happy to see Mr. Hand. In fact, he was at the vet school today and from past experience I had to clean him up before the trip. He has some sort of thing about that place (maybe he likes pain?!). He loves to let it all hang out there and the first time he was so gross I was ashamed. Since then, I make sure he's squeaky clean before he starts parading around in fron to all those vet students :cool:

[J Swan]

Yeah - I'm like dude - what on earth are you doing with yourself out in the field. The stuff is everywhere. I'm worried he's going to go blind or grow hair on the soles of his hooves.

Tomorrow is going to be a nice day and had big plans. None of them involved stinky horsey smegma. Bleh.

[BeastieSlave]

Yeah - I'm like dude - what on earth are you doing with yourself out in the field. The stuff is everywhere. I'm worried he's going to go blind or grow hair on the soles of his hooves.

:lol: OMG, the images that brings to mind... :lol: It must be that teenaged boy thing :lol:
I guess that makes Mr. Studly a dirty old man. He is 20 and should have a little more decency than to be doing all that in public! :eek: The poor vet tech was so funny the first time he was, ummm, enjoying himself in the middle of having his bad hock flexed. She asked, "Does he like this, or is there something about me?" I had to admit that he seems to enjoy the pain :rolleyes:

[wildREDhorse]

I can't believe I am about to share this... A little off topic, but sort of related.... I have a mare that loves to smell my hands after I clean her udder crud... Weird horse.

Yeah.. udder crud.. I'm OCD about cleaning that.. I try to clean it whenever I remember.. Except it's not the mare that likes to smell it, it's her neighbor/brother/boyfriend gelding that loves it's stink. mmmm :eek: Maybe we should start our own thread.. Except I'm not sure we would have much to say about udder crud as the smegma group has to say.

[BeastieSlave]

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=123721&highlight=sheath+cleaning+song

[wildREDhorse]

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=123721&highlight=sheath+cleaning+song

haha.. Oh my... I will have to break that one out at the barn party tomorrow night... After a couple glasses of wine that is...

[BeastieSlave]

There's another one - I'm looking...

[RydArab]

Yeah.. udder crud.. I'm OCD about cleaning that.. I try to clean it whenever I remember.. Except it's not the mare that likes to smell it, it's her neighbor/brother/boyfriend gelding that loves it's stink. mmmm :eek: Maybe we should start our own thread.. Except I'm not sure we would have much to say about udder crud as the smegma group has to say.

Mine, too. And she loves to sniff afterwards, as well. :eek:

When my gelding was alive he was never too dirty down there. He was nearly white at 15 years old. He didn't like anyone to look at it it for too long though. He always seemed to know when I was contemplated a cleaning and would cock 1 eye & ear back and slowly lift the the nearest hind hoof to let me know that maybe wasn't in the mood for that after all. He never kicked but he definitely "communicated" his opinion.:)

S.

[jn4jenny]

***Flame suit firmly zipped. Please keep in mind that I DO clean my own gelding's sheath twice yearly with KY Jelly and remove a very small bean at least once a year.***

What exactly is so bad or dirty about smegma? Every mammal on the planet, including humans, produces it. To my knowledge, there is no credible scientific evidence that it is dangerous, and there's even some evidence that it's an antibacterial and antiviral substance (sort of like ear wax). If smegma were really so toxic and awful and bad, then why aren't wild stallions getting sheath infections en masse? And before you say "Because they're cleaning themselves off by servicing the mares", wouldn't that mean that the MARES should be getting infections en masse from that "dirty nasty smegma"?

I would like to see some legitimate proof that I need to clean my horse's sheath. Frankly, I'm concerned that it does more bad than good. I clean only with KY Jelly because the thought of subjecting that sensitive skin to any kind of soap kind of freaks me out--that's a dermatitis event waiting to happen. A part of me wonders if this is like the people who constantly clean ear wax out of their ears even if they don't have excessive ear wax.

Flame away. I'm just honestly wondering why so many of us blindly accept VERY frquent sheath cleaning--as some of you admit, as frequently as every week--as being beneficial for the horse.

[FoxChaser]

One of my three geldings gets tons of gross goop that has to be cleaned very, very regularly. In his case, I think I know the cause. He LOVES to scratch his belly on the ground when rolling. It just grinds the dirt up in there, then it gets all the... smeggier?? Ugh!!!

[pintopiaffe]

Oh - if you decide to do a google search on the subject before responding - be careful how you phrase your search request. You have been warned. :eek:\

:lol: :uhoh: :lol: Don't ever search "homozygous stallion" either without putting in more key search words! :no: :no: :no:

You know you can just keep a little KY jelly up there most of the time... might help. Might collect more stuff. Might help.

[Amwrider]

Dick dips!
Foreskin fondue!

I think I just threw up a little.

[Amwrider]

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=123721&highlight=sheath+cleaning+song

I wrote that song, I don't remember when I originally posted it though.

The other song is the one to Hello Mother Hello Father.

[wildREDhorse]

I wrote that song, I don't remember when I originally posted it though.

The other song is the one to Hello Mother Hello Father.

How does that one go? I need encore material to liven up the barn xmas party tomorrow night. :lol:

[amdfarm]

I guess I'm lucky in that my boys (gelding and stallion) are self cleaners. I have never cleaned my gelding's sheath and he's coming 22, had him going on 16 years. I will admit if one of the boys are dropped and I see a flake of something there I will pull it off, but that's my cleaning extent.

I'll never forget the first time my stallion was collected though. He had bred a few mares L/C, but it had been a month or so between then and collection time. My vet normally cleans the stallions before collecting (this was not to ship, but just to practice collecting and check the semen quality) but for whatever reason (she gets a major adrenaline rush when she collects, especially the newbies, it's hilarious) she chose not to... think she was just anxious to collect him... first draft she'd ever collected... AV fit and such all had to be taken into account. She got him collected all right, but then noticed that she probably should have cleaned him a bit. He wasn't totally filthy as the semen wasn't bad and she was able to sift it out anyway. All went well and he was successfully collected and shipped later that month, again w/out cleaning but he was fine and the mare took on the first try after ovulation. I was pleased and my vet doesn't require him to be clean upon arrival. She'll probably forget next time he comes.

[JohnDeere]

***Flame suit firmly zipped. Please keep in mind that I DO clean my own gelding's sheath twice yearly with KY Jelly and remove a very small bean at least once a year.***

What exactly is so bad or dirty about smegma? Every mammal on the planet, including humans, produces it. To my knowledge, there is no credible scientific evidence that it is dangerous, and there's even some evidence that it's an antibacterial and antiviral substance (sort of like ear wax). If smegma were really so toxic and awful and bad, then why aren't wild stallions getting sheath infections en masse? And before you say "Because they're cleaning themselves off by servicing the mares", wouldn't that mean that the MARES should be getting infections en masse from that "dirty nasty smegma"?

I would like to see some legitimate proof that I need to clean my horse's sheath. Frankly, I'm concerned that it does more bad than good. I clean only with KY Jelly because the thought of subjecting that sensitive skin to any kind of soap kind of freaks me out--that's a dermatitis event waiting to happen. A part of me wonders if this is like the people who constantly clean ear wax out of their ears even if they don't have excessive ear wax.

Flame away. I'm just honestly wondering why so many of us blindly accept VERY frquent sheath cleaning--as some of you admit, as frequently as every week--as being beneficial for the horse.

I have a mare that gets really dirty really fast then rubs her tail. So while I cant say why to clean a gelding, since I dont, I do no why to clean a mare. MUCH easier too. Ill put up with mareishness all day long if I can clean her that easy!

[Renn/aissance]

Yeah, J Swan, I hear you. I have to clean my boy every two weeks or so. I wouldn't care about the smegma so much if there wasn't a decent-sized bean in there too. :sigh: Don't spray baby oil up there to loosen things, it'll make it smell worse. I use just a little bit of Ivory soap in a lot of water, along with gentle scrubbing with cotton or a glove. (I use nitrile gloves- they tend to have a little more texture than the latex, plus are safer to use with DMSO. But, um, not at the same time.) Then rinse well. Very well. Then rinse again.

Jenny, I do agree with you that many people over-clean. If it weren't for knowing several horses who, when their sheaths were left too long, had extreme difficulty urinating, I'd think it wasn't such a big deal either. My horse has enough troubles going in public- he feels he has to hide behind a tree or the horse trailer. Beans the size of marbles or larger are just not really supposed to be up there, I don't think, and the horses do seem to agree.

[Dreamboat Annie]

I am dreading doing my mini gelding, he's only 3 years old...and I have noticed the sticky stuff on the inner hind legs :( I can see me now, on my knees trying to introduce Mr.Hand . ROFLMAO! I sure hope he don't mind it, I don't want to get kicked into next week! ;)

[thumbsontop]

I have 3 geldings - a 5 yr old, 1 1/2 yr old, and 8 month old ...and I've never cleaned any of them. No one ever seems uncomfortable, and I've never "seen" anything hanging off. Gross. I think I'm nauseous now. I'm really thankful.

Aroma study? I feel ill just thinking about that. And to think I had to cut open a sac during foaling just 8 months ago...

[J Swan]

Oh - I don't know that it's beneficial to the horse as much as it's beneficial to my mental health.

I usually clean the other horses just a few times a year and it's a quick winkie wash. This gelding could just break the world record in smegma production and I have just never owned such a dirty horse.

His whole demeanor is one of a homeless person. He stinks, he's hairy, he's always covered in mud, every blanket is ripped (one is currently held on with baling twine), he trashes his stall, gets his forage cube mash in his ears, and likes to scratch himself on my fences and gates - breaking them. A few months ago he knocked a tree down by scratching his butt on it.

He's scruffy and the other horses are clean, clipped, have pristine blankets, don't wear their food on their face, and poop neatly in one corner.

Bam bam poops on the walls and smears it.

I like to use Ivory soap to bathe them - but I was thinking that Dawn might be useful in this case? It's used to get oil off of wildlife - I bet it would do a better job of breaking down that stuff than Exalibur or oil or Ky. Can y'all think of any products that break down oils/grease that can be used on skin? Dawn is the only thing that comes to mind.




***Flame suit firmly zipped. Please keep in mind that I DO clean my own gelding's sheath twice yearly with KY Jelly and remove a very small bean at least once a year.***


Flame away. I'm just honestly wondering why so many of us blindly accept VERY frquent sheath cleaning--as some of you admit, as frequently as every week--as being beneficial for the horse.

[Penthilisea]

MY word, at least I am not the only one with a total P. I. G. PIG!
My tb(bay) could be cleaned every other day and he still builds up crud all over his legs etc! My QH (chestnut)on the other hand hasn't been done in memory, but he drops and looks squeaky clean, so I don't worry about it!

[fargo]

I use the Johnson baby soap that isn't supposed to irritate the eyes of the baby and doesn't include real soap I think. That is very mild and seems to do the trick quite well. With Whiz I haven't actually soaped him up yet, you can get a lot of the stuff out by just feeling around :cool:.
But because I have had him since he was little I think it will be easier to wash him because he is more used to me being "up" there than fargo used to be and I was able to wash fargo too. By the way I used a douche/shower thingie that is used for "internal female human cleaning" (whatchacall these things) to get the water really up there to clean him up afterwards. :eek::o:lol: That seems to work real well..

[monstrpony]

I always get a big reaction when I mention this, but the best thing I've found for getting smegma off of your hands is ... rubbing alcohol. Having discovered that, I've been known, in warm weather, to soak a paper towel with rubbing alcohol and use it to help me get some of that stuff out of there. My guys don't have any skin reaction to it, though I realize it IS sensitive skin and could be a problem. But they'd tell me if it was. At least I'm confident that all of the alcohol evaporates eventually and it's not getting left behind.

(ducks and runs before someone freaks)

[Amwrider]

How does that one go? I need encore material to liven up the barn xmas party tomorrow night. :lol:



"THE SHEATH CLEANING SONG"
(Sing it to the tune of "Hello Mother, Hello Father" from camp song )

How's it hangin'?
So much cleaner.
Aren't you glad I
washed your wiener?
I'll admit it's
kinda creepy
that I had to stick my arm up in your pee-pee.

It was sticky.
It was gunky.
It felt icky.
It smelled funky.
It was cruddy,
it was crusty--
when you stuck it out,
it creaked like it was rusty.

After half an
hour of toilin'
and of squirtin'
baby oil in,
you're as fresh there
as a daisy.
Either this means I love you or else I'm crazy!!!




Then there is the mare cleaning song that was written by someone here on COTH but I don't remember who but she indicated she was at work writign it on company time. Maybe she will chime in or someone will remember.

Is it clean now
Near your udder?
Is it smooth now
Smooth as butter?
It's a chore that
I'm not keen on
I'm either something to be kicked
Or else to lean on

There's much crust there
'Tween your teatsies
More disgusting
Than your feetsies
I'll admit it's kinda scarey
To be reaching under you where it's not hairy.

It is black and kinda peely
Sometimes chunky, but ideally
It's a good thing, all in all
So you don't rub your tail raw upon the stall wall.

Now the mare folks
Have their own diddy
About cleaning their mare's titty.
Hope you've had some slight enjoyment
As for me I might be facing unemployment!

[ChocoMare]

True musical classics. Where else but COTH? :lol:

[wildREDhorse]

"THE SHEATH CLEANING SONG"
(Sing it to the tune of "Hello Mother, Hello Father" from camp song )

How's it hangin'?
So much cleaner.
Aren't you glad I
washed your wiener?
I'll admit it's
kinda creepy
that I had to stick my arm up in your pee-pee.

It was sticky.
It was gunky.
It felt icky.
It smelled funky.
It was cruddy,
it was crusty--
when you stuck it out,
it creaked like it was rusty.

After half an
hour of toilin'
and of squirtin'
baby oil in,
you're as fresh there
as a daisy.
Either this means I love you or else I'm crazy!!!




Then there is the mare cleaning song that was written by someone here on COTH but I don't remember who but she indicated she was at work writign it on company time. Maybe she will chime in or someone will remember.

Is it clean now
Near your udder?
Is it smooth now
Smooth as butter?
It's a chore that
I'm not keen on
I'm either something to be kicked
Or else to lean on

There's much crust there
'Tween your teatsies
More disgusting
Than your feetsies
I'll admit it's kinda scarey
To be reaching under you where it's not hairy.

It is black and kinda peely
Sometimes chunky, but ideally
It's a good thing, all in all
So you don't rub your tail raw upon the stall wall.

Now the mare folks
Have their own diddy
About cleaning their mare's titty.
Hope you've had some slight enjoyment
As for me I might be facing unemployment!

THANKS!! Nice smile to wake up to this morning! I better get to memorizing... I am tempted to leave one on the wipe board each day... 12 days of Christmas.. Maybe change my handwriting so it's like a phantom did it... Too bad it's a small barn... Eh, worth a try right?

[BeastieSlave]

YAY Amwrider!!! :D You found it!! That's my favorite :yes:

[J Swan]

clapclapclapclapclap

Bravo, Bravo!

I'm printing it out and will serenade the gelding today. We're in for some nasty cold weather and today might be the only warm day for a while.

But I'm procrastinating.

[BeastieSlave]

Sing it sister! I'm right there with you. I do believe the weaner's weiner will be meeting Mr. Hand this afternoon. I'll be singing :D

[vineyridge]

My old man is always clean, but I did pop a bean once. My first bean ever. I posted about it.

My colt (2 1/2) creates black, waxy smegma by the bucketful. So far he'll let me clean it by hand without complaints. Haven't found a bean yet, though. When he drops, he's nice and clean, but his sheath is just nasty.

My sister had an old horse who had to be cleaned very regularly. He made the yellow, oozy stuff, and would get maggots up there. It was seriously gross and has made a lasting impression on my horsekeeping.

[kookicat]

Oh - I don't know that it's beneficial to the horse as much as it's beneficial to my mental health.

I usually clean the other horses just a few times a year and it's a quick winkie wash. This gelding could just break the world record in smegma production and I have just never owned such a dirty horse.

His whole demeanor is one of a homeless person. He stinks, he's hairy, he's always covered in mud, every blanket is ripped (one is currently held on with baling twine), he trashes his stall, gets his forage cube mash in his ears, and likes to scratch himself on my fences and gates - breaking them. A few months ago he knocked a tree down by scratching his butt on it.

He's scruffy and the other horses are clean, clipped, have pristine blankets, don't wear their food on their face, and poop neatly in one corner.

Bam bam poops on the walls and smears it.

I like to use Ivory soap to bathe them - but I was thinking that Dawn might be useful in this case? It's used to get oil off of wildlife - I bet it would do a better job of breaking down that stuff than Exalibur or oil or Ky. Can y'all think of any products that break down oils/grease that can be used on skin? Dawn is the only thing that comes to mind.

Thanks J Swan, for the best laugh I've had in a long time! :winkgrin:

[J Swan]

(Sing to the tune of, "Leaving on a Jet Plane")

All your sheaths are clean,
Could find no bean,
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to go back in to clean the spore

But my bladder's burstin', from too much tea
The pig is gruntin', he gets antsy
Already, I'm so dirty and gummy

So miss me, and wave to me
Tell me that you feel for me
Hold my beer cuz my hands stink real bad

'Cause I'm leaving, in my dually
I don't know if I'll be back by spring
Hope to take up golf, and miss the snow....

[ChocoMare]

Way to go J! I see a recording contract in your future!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Amwrider]

(Sing to the tune of, "Leaving on a Jet Plane")

All your sheaths are clean,
Could find no bean,
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to go back in to clean the spore

But my bladder's burstin', from too much tea
The pig is gruntin', he gets antsy
Already, I'm so dirty and gummy

So miss me, and wave to me
Tell me that you feel for me
Hold my beer cuz my hands stink real bad

'Cause I'm leaving, in my dually
I don't know if I'll be back by spring
Hope to take up golf, and miss the snow....

:D

[pearl's mom]

Oh My!! Have been building up the nerve to tackle my gelding's Willie. Always had mares for just this reason. Will be singing this diddie as I go. Actually it's my daughter's horse, but she turns ashen when I bring up the subject.:eek:

[wildREDhorse]

Ok, for all that care... I rounded up all my courage and sang 2 smegma songs, Thanks to You Guys! tonight at the barn party tonight.... I ran to the computer drunkenly, and wrote down the lyrics, and serenaded the BO, BM. Farrier, fellow boarders, trainees, etc... I think they enjoyed the lyrics.. Probably not so much the singing... As I was wretchedly off tone, But thanks for adding a fun song to our Christmas Barn Party!!

SERIOUSLY, I SERENADED 20 people!! WHOOO!:eek:

[BeastieSlave]

So miss me, and wave to me
Tell me that you feel for me
Hold my beer cuz my hands stink real bad


:lol:

[the_other_mother]

Wow, THREE pages on smegma. Not sure what that says about us, but..... Interesting, folks! :D

[llsc]

My old pony was like that when I first bought him and I rubbed some yeast infection cream up in there for a week and I barely ever have to clean him now. It made a world of difference.

[smegma]

I don't understand what all the fuss is about.

[J Swan]

My old pony was like that when I first bought him and I rubbed some yeast infection cream up in there for a week and I barely ever have to clean him now. It made a world of difference.


I'll have to put that on my shopping list. :lol::lol::lol:

8 tubes of bonus size yeast infection cream
Large tubes of KY Jelly
Latex gloves
Beer

Ooo - big night planned at the Swan household!!


Reminds me of the time my my uncle had to go by some tampons for my aunt. He plops the box of tampons on the counter, and the young female clerk gets to giggling.

He replies, "You see, I get these terrible nosebleeds....."


Seriously though - the yeast infection cream does make sense, and I'm happy to try it.

However, I think I am going to have a bit of fun with the task and send Mr. JSwan out to the store to buy it. Lots of it. :D

[redhorse5]

These are great for sheath cleaning.

on't have anything particularly funny about this to add except that I have a gelding that is so dumb that when I clean him he holds up the opposite side leg to kick me. Of course since he has never exhibited any talent for crossing his legs this doesn't scare me.

[matryoshka]

...smegma aroma...This tickled my funny bone!! Aroma? How about stink!!

I'm another one who has to clean BOTH geldings about once a month (one actually needs it every week or so, but I don't want to "over clean"). One is an OTTB, the other a Warmblood. The WB has soft, gooey smegma that makes me gag. The OTTB's is not as noxious.

I'm not sure I'll have to clean the WB anytime in the near future: my recently weaned foal has been trying to nurse from the Warmblood! And he's letting her try!! :lol::eek:

[matryoshka]

I've been thinking about this myself, especially since I foster rescue horses and make sure they get cleaned. The horses that aren't built for warm weather seem to sweat more, and their smegma is worse and more abundant. Two of the worst have been my husband's WB and a QH we had in. I dreaded doing those two, since it was always gooey and gross, and I'd actually gag while cleaning them.

The TB's seem to get more that is drier and stuck on there. Not as gross for me to clean. Beans seem to depend more on the shape of the opening than on the breed or type. I clean the sheaths for one of my trimming clients (she's got bad arthritis and can't do it herself). One of those horses gets a bean that is easily the size of a golf ball. I was shocked when I dug that thing out. Oddly, he doesn't get dirty often, so I've only had to do it once in 4 months.

For the question of "Why do we clean?" I think about those hardened chunks of smegma in there and wonder whether it causes discomfort. I take my horse trail riding regularly, and I wonder whether the jouncing around for 15 miles or more would cause him irritation if there is a lot of smegma in there. So, when I plan a long ride, I make sure I clean out the large pieces. I don't hunt for a bean often on him, because he doesn't get them much. For the other horse with softer smegma, I don't worry about it much even though he produces more. He likes to have the hard stuff taken off and even drops for me, so I figure he's more comfortable when it is gone.

I don't use Excalibur often, maybe twice a year. For regular cleanings, I'll either pick it off without using any solution, or I'll use plain water. Human products concern me because I don't know how thoroughly they can be rinsed. I know that if I don't completely rinse shampoo or soap on myself, I get itchy. I don't want to do that to my horse!!

[vineyridge]

My colt has been on heavy duty antibiotics for his jaw infection for about ten days.

Thanks to this thread, I checked his sheath last night and there was NO smegma. No hard chunks of black, waxy stuff by his willy.

Coincidence? I wonder. :confused:

[Mia412]

When I got my first horse I was 11. My mom tried to convince my dad that he should clean my gelding's sheath since it was a "guy" thing. My dad told her it was my horse & I needed to be responsible for any care he needed.

He thought it was a good argument for years, especially after he got his first horse - a mare. Many years later he's changed his story! Now his current hunter is a gelding. It's still my job to clean sheaths . . . because I'm "better at it." :eek: :lol:

[wateryglen]

Ya'll just aint right........:lol: I have Bams filly cousin at my place!:yes: Big dumb bunnies they are!!

As a nurse; I'm compelled to weigh in here with an attempted clinical explanation of this phenomenon:cool:.......it's cuz he's BIG!! B-I-G!! Big animals do everything bigger! Draft crosses are big & messy! M-E-S-S-Y!!! Big honkin' horses make big amounts of.....well....I can't say it - you know what!!! :eek::D BIG amounts of poo-poo, pee-pee, wreckage etc!!! (aren't ya lovin' my clinical sounding language here?!!)

AND I've heard that the more you clean it; the more he'll produce it. It IS a protective, waxy substance meant to lubricate, waterproof his.....well....I can't say it!.....you know....so my suggestion?!!
FOHGETABOUTIT!!! Don't bother! You won't win; he won't die. I mean, wild horses don't die of smegma poisoning!!! or beans!! :eek: It's "natural" "organic"!! ;) Just leave it!! Only remove those chunks that make it outside! I stopped on my gelding and guess what ? No more problem. I think we need a support group started....hmmmm...what to name it?? hmmmm.................."hello, I'm wateryglen, and I'm a ______washer or _______dipper......." :lol::lol:

But this is why I love this board; such interesting info gets shared! Laughed my butt off!! Keep up the good work JSwan!

[J Swan]

Well, the horse may not die but there ain't enough beer on the planet to get me to put up with filthy winkies. In any species. ;) It was like axle grease up there. And on his belly. And on his legs. I know what he's been doing and he's going to go blind - yessirree - that's what the nuns told us when we were kids.

And I'll have you know that my beloved field hunter is half draft and yet is very clean and neat. Even his winky.

Hmmm.... middle aged male, very neat and tidy.... uh oh - maybe he's a wee bit lavender.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

This horse is just a P I G pig. I'm hoping he grows out of it.

[UT]

I use 100% aloe vera. it leaves no residue and keeps the sheath moist. I do rinse with water very slightly, to get loose junk out

[StrawberryFrosted]

JSwan! Loved the part in your post about his big old butt knocking down a tree! LMAO! :lol:
I just cleaned my guy's with Xcaliber...didn't work so well...so I'll go w/ KY next time.
In between my big cleanings, I just use unscented baby wipes....works without getting my hands dirty!

[Irish Ei's]

Well, the horse may not die but there ain't enough beer on the planet to get me to put up with filthy winkies. In any species. ;) It was like axle grease up there. And on his belly. And on his legs. I know what he's been doing and he's going to go blind - yessirree - that's what the nuns told us when we were kids.

And I'll have you know that my beloved field hunter is half draft and yet is very clean and neat. Even his winky.

Hmmm.... middle aged male, very neat and tidy.... uh oh - maybe he's a wee bit lavender.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

This horse is just a P I G pig. I'm hoping he grows out of it.

Mine is 17 years old..I just don't have the decades left to wait for him to grow out of it, damnit....
Leg lifting??
I don't know if he's thinking about kicking me or giving me a better, um, view....

[matryoshka]

AND I've heard that the more you clean it; the more he'll produce it. It IS a protective, waxy substance meant to lubricate, waterproof his.....well....I can't say it!.....you know....so my suggestion?!!
FOHGETABOUTIT!!! Don't bother! You won't win; he won't die. I mean, wild horses don't die of smegma poisoning!!! or beans!! :eek: It's "natural" "organic"!! ;) Just leave it!! Only remove those chunks that make it outside! I stopped on my gelding and guess what ? No more problem. I think we need a support group started....hmmmm...what to name it?? hmmmm.................."hello, I'm wateryglen, and I'm a ______washer or _______dipper......." :lol::lol:I've seen this theory before and tried it in case I was contributing to the problem. OMG! I'm not sure how the horse was even able to drop--in fact, I think he stopped dropping to pee. I had horses for years that I never cleaned, and they were okay, never seemed uncomfortable, never stank, never seemed to get a big buildup. In fact, the WB was never cleaned until he was about 5 years old. If a horse could have turned around and said "Thank You," that was the response I got from him. Now when I go to clean him, he obligingly drops for me and tolerates the cleaning. He doesn't "get into it" the way others describe their geldings' reactions. In fact, if he doesn't need to be cleaned, he'll pull up and I leave him alone.

[cinder88]

I'm seeing a pattern here...my new gelding is a member of this club AND a Percheron X! Coincidence? I think NOT!

Not once did I ever connect the goop on his back legs to the goop on/in his sheath!

So...it's chilly out there...leave it until it warms up in the Spring or is there a way to give him a //oops... I was going to say.."A licka and a promise until Spring", but that would be just WRONG , soo...is there a way to do a "once over lightly?" without having to use much (cold) water?

Cinder

[petitefilly]

Well, the horse may not die but there ain't enough beer on the planet to get me to put up with filthy winkies. In any species. ;) It was like axle grease up there. And on his belly. And on his legs. I know what he's been doing and he's going to go blind - yessirree - that's what the nuns told us when we were kids.

And I'll have you know that my beloved field hunter is half draft and yet is very clean and neat. Even his winky.

Hmmm.... middle aged male, very neat and tidy.... uh oh - maybe he's a wee bit lavender.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

This horse is just a P I G pig. I'm hoping he grows out of it.

LOL :):):):):) You kill me! Going blind is he? You'll have to put a big rubber ring around it and see if he keeps banging his self all up. :)

My guys are different too, one has white chunks, the other black smeary sticky crud. They both need a cleaning in the summer with a hose! I stick the hose right up in there and shoot the water till it comes out clean. Blast it off! Be nice if the hose came with a tool to do this---- I see Farnam coming up with the Crud Buster, a big nozzle with a thousand spray holes in it, something only a Ukranian horse would enjoy. :):):):):):)

I hear the Serb horses like a solid stream for their weany blasts. :)

[MaresNest]

I don't understand what all the fuss is about.

LOL!!

[Sing Mia Song]

Years ago, I bought a 3YO QH gelding out of the Friday night,just to have something to fool around with while my mare was recovering from EPM. He hadn't seen a farrier, a pulling comb, or the sharp end of a needle, so do you think he'd ever met Mr. Hand? :no:

I draw up some Ace and give it to him, then bathe him while it kicks in. Horse gets relaxxxxxed. I don my gloves and reach up there.

"OOOH!" :eek: Boca says.

"OHHH?" :confused: Boca says.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" :p Boca says.

Axle grease about sums up what was up in there. I had to clean that horse at least twice a month, preferably weekly. And I never had to Ace him again. He'd go in the wash stall and let it all hang out in delicious anticipation. :rolleyes:

The only explanation (other than body chemistry) that I could come up with was that he was terrible mover and he just flung dirt right up in there. And of course, I wasn't providing him with any incentive to stop that, now, was I? :dead:

[Renn/aissance]

So...it's chilly out there...leave it until it warms up in the Spring or is there a way to give him a //oops... I was going to say.."A licka and a promise until Spring", but that would be just WRONG , soo...is there a way to do a "once over lightly?" without having to use much (cold) water?

A bucket of hot water, and several water bottles with squirt tops. Fill up the water bottles with hot water. Squirt up there to moisten. Dump your cleaner of choice (I like Ivory) into the bucket of hot water and clean away. When you're done, squirt off with the hot water.

Or you can just kind'a pick at it.

[Frank B]

We have a stallion at the barn that gets smegma so bad it runs down his legs. To get the cleaner "up in there" we use a 50cc hypodermic syringe with a short (4") length of soft clear plastic tubing epoxied over the nipple (where the needle would lock on). Tractor Supply has the syringes and Lowes the tubing.

We fill the syringe with KY, slide two fingers into the sheath, insert the tubing between the fingers and squirt in some cleaner. We do this on both sides and the bottom of the sheath. We work it around a bit and then ride him.

We use a brass hose nozzle with a 4' length of 1/2" OD tubing held in place with a small hose clamp to flush the sheath afterwards. A shutoff valve between the hose end and the brass nozzle makes it easy to control the water flow. Lowe's carries the components in the Lawn & Garden department.

Lacking warm water, the wash bottles mentioned above work.

[horsegirl520]

My boy needs to be cleaned monthly... he's gross. I swear he could be done weekly, but I refuse! I use the rubber gloves that are supposed to be used around the house (the yellow ones) that have a slight texture to them... helps get the grunge off.

My horse is weird -- he doesn't mind getting cleaned when he's tucked up, but if he's drugged and dropped, you'd be crazy to try to clean him then. He'll try to kick your head off!! And this horse NEVER kicks.