Sheath cleaning: How to...

[Horsesforlife]

Hi! I just went on a sheath cleaning spree yesterday, since one of my geldings had some swelling there, and I wanted to rule out infection (even though I think it was due to lack of exercize resulting from a sore front leg). Anyway, I was wondering how some of you out there go about cleaning the penis. I have to clean it by reaching up in there and cleaning what I can feel, I can never get them to "drop". All of the articles I have ever read on this subject say "simply gently, but firmly pull the penis from the sheath to clean it." Yeah, right! All of the geldings I have had pull just as firmly up! My Standardbred, I can get to drop by brushing his flank area, but just as soon as I reach for it,"Where'd it go!?":eek:
This was a great way to gross out my helpful boyfriend, by the way! He didn't want to hold anything for me, just the lead rope. Ewww!:D

I would rather not spend the money to have the vet tranqualize them if I don't need to. Any suggestions?

[cvb]

hi

one easy way - do a search on this web site !

previous thread (http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13466&highlight=sheath)

is just one of the previous conversations on this topic....

(p.s. to really gross out the boyfriend, get HIM to read them !)

[rachelk]

Hi horsesforlife,
i have had a little experience in this area if you read the thread titled Please Help there is some info re this. I also found that my horse wouldn't drop his penis no matter how much i tried to persuade him. The article i read said that it isn't nessesary to have them drop it out you just have to follow it up there and clean it from the inside.
Good luck:)

[Horsesforlife]

Thanks, guys.
I did read the other posts on this subject and I found some useful information. And yes, Rachelk, I too just found a newer article that said that they don't need to drop. Thanks greatly for the help! :)

[snailspace]

For future reference when I become a horse owner, can someone tell me how often you should clean the sheath area? Thanks.

[galadriel]

For future reference, when you become a horse owner, own a mare! ;)

[snailspace]

ha, ha, very funny:)

my ultimate goal is to start a small breeding program. I suppose I could do it without any boys (buy semen, etc.), but frankly a barnful of moody girls without the calming influence of a gelding or two scares me:D I'm getting images of a college sorority. . .all the mares standing around gossiping about each other, getting into tiffs about whose mane is prettier:D Yeah, I know, I'm stereotyping!

[galadriel]

Hmm...I think you might well be best off with a stable of mares, unless you need a teaser. When you mix the sexes, you often get fights. The most successful turnouts I've seen involved mare pastures/gelding pastures (although I know Wally's experience belies mine! But I think Wally has an incredible sense of how horses will get along, or something). The mares were always happiest when the geldings weren't around, and vice versa. If you want to breed and don't have a *reason* to have a gelding, then I'd suggest you not worry about sorority-girl-symptoms and just let the mares be buddies.

And if you have a stallion for breeding, theoretically they "clean" their own sheaths. I haven't been around any for long enough to know ;)

[virtuallyhorses]

I think the 'drop' on command comes with trust - ie if you do it well\nicely the first time your horse will be more amenable the next (as with most things).

I have to say that I thought some of my fellow gelding owners conversations about sheath cleaning would definitely be 'edited for television' if you know what I mean, however while this is purely a cleaning task it helps if you have a good errmm technique with your male partner(s) to help your equine friend relax while you wash him... (I think I'm going to regret making that comment, but its true ;) )

[FinneghansMummy]

last time i cleaned my horses sheath my boyfriend walked up the yard and then went back down to the farm (where he works) and told all of the lads who work there!!!!!!

i have never been as embarrassed when i went to order my hay!

ani.:D