Cleaning Mares

[ShadowCat]

Is there any technique to cleaning a mare's udder? How often should it be done? Also, do I need to clean my mare's, erm, reproductive organs at all?

[Imp]

I'm a new horse owner and asked my Mum (experienced horsey bod :rolleyes: ) about this and she said to clean that part as you would any other part of her or yourself... My mum's in her 60's now and we never spoke of 'those things :o ' at home out loud so I'm still in the dark when it comes to mares :rolleyes:

Watching this space as my girl has only had a wet sponge and a dandy brush whisked around down there as yet :o :eek:

[domane]

Cherry is fine with being cleaned with "all areas" under her tail but God help me if I get near her udders. She will let me gently brush right round them, I can virtually climb in between her back legs to brush the inside tops of her legs but if I touch those udders I'd better watch it. The first time I gently tried to wipe them I got a stamped back foot, flat ears and head shaken at me. I actually jumped away and apologised and she continued to stare at me with the ears back as if to say "How VERY dare you!" I have tried the softly-softly approach (too tickly?) and the matter-of-fact quick wipe over (too rough?) - same response for both.... so just at the mo, they get a visual once-over!!! :D

[Unbridled]

I use a soft damp cloth to clean Sugar's udders. She doesn't seem to mind at all; however she won't let anyone but me do it. If you have a new horse I'd start out slow...just get her used to being handled in that area before you try to clean it.

Imp, isn't a dandy brush awfully stiff for that area? Sugar only allows me to use her soft finishing brush down there. Or have I forgotten what a dandy brush is? (I was told that they are the same as what we refer to as a "cowboy" brush here.) :confused:

[LMS]

Dandy brushes come in different types of bristles just like body brushes.
The dandy is long & has no strap on the back of it. The body brush is oval & has a strap.

[ShadowCat]

You actually brush the mare's reproductive organs? The most I do is hose them off once in a while. Also, when cleaning a mare's udder, should I use soap?

[LMS]

Yes you can use soap, just make certain you rinse it off really well and then pat it dry. If not it can irritate the skin.

Regarding brushing it off with a soft brush: I guess if the mare's areas get really dusty & flaky you could. Right now my mares are like that but I use a damp wash cloth.

My mare Heidi enjoys having her udder brushed with a soft brush as she seems to get dirtier than my other mare.

[Unbridled]

Dandy brushes come in different types of bristles just like body brushes.
The dandy is long & has no strap on the back of it. The body brush is oval & has a strap.

Thanks for clearing that up. I'm not great with the technical name of anything. :p

You actually brush the mare's reproductive organs? The most I do is hose them off once in a while. Also, when cleaning a mare's udder, should I use soap?

I don't brush Sugar's udder or underneath her tail, but I do brush the crease on the inside of each thigh because she has hair there. But I have to use a really soft brush for this. For her "womanly parts" I just use a soft, damp cloth.

I never use soap when cleaning udders because I find it's too drying; Sugar lives out unless it's bad weather and I try to prevent stripping the oils from her skin and coat. But soap isn't really harmful as long as it's mild and you rinse well.

[amandal]

Baby wipes are great for this. ziz didn't like a sponge but almost relaxes with the baby wipes.

[Jessey]

I clean my girls udder about once a month, but she seems to get really dirty up there. I just use a little baby oil (warmed first) and massage it in all around and in between and the nasty black gunk just comes away, Bless my girl she goes all gooey and in her element when I do this.
I haven't ventured as far as the other in a while, once it warms up I will give it a good wash :D I won't use soap, some thing like Betadine (surgical scrub) would be fine though.

J x

[Mimi + Me]

How do I clean my mare's udders? VERY carefully, she's a bit of a grumpyfuttuck (oh dear that looks really rude) at the best of times.

I only clean them in the summer as they get crusty and attract flies, I just do it with a sponge and WARM water not that it makes any difference, from her reaction you'd think it was ice cold :eek:

[Mardy_Bum]

I use tea tree oil shampoo and warm water for my mareys udders. And just a wet(and warm!) sponge for under tail :)
Must admit though, I dont do it half as much as I should :o

[KarinUS]

RE: private areas
Our mare has fairly bad conformation in regards to her reproductive parts. She has a caslick but it doesn't help much. When she is in season she gets messy and if we don't wash it off it irritates her skin to the point where the hair comes off and gets skin irritation. :(

To wash her we use DJ's sheath cleaner gel. It's very mild and gets the crud off without irritating. Since it is designed to be used on a sheath where you may not always get to flush everything off it also works really well for this application in sensitive areas. :)

After she gets her bath we dry her off and then apply Diaper Rash ointment like Desitin. It looks kind of funny having her walk around witha white bum but once she figured out the drill she has been really good about it. I think it feels better to her as well.

Since it's DH's horse he is the primary person responsible for this job... what a guy! :p

[kirstie]

I can't even get to the back of amba without getting kicked so there i probably could only clean around the udders but not actually clean themselves, do you have to clean then i wash them with a hose every few times (summertime only) but i normally dont touch them :o she doesnt seem bothered bu me not cleaning these areas but i was just wondering

[Portia]

baby wipes to all areas (warmed first for the udder, please!) - doesnt irritate, leaves a mild emollient on the skin and none of this 'different sponge for the face' fiddle!

we came an agreement regarding her udders (ie i agreed not to do too much!) - a gentle wipe whilst being glared at, followed by a polo bribe for not kicking me !

[Rips]

I can't believe there are so many people whose mares get dirty there? Mocha is always spotless? Its not greasy or flaky or anything... I wipe it with a sponge just the same as I'd do her dock, but the sponge always wipes clean. She doesn't mind. Sometimes I find the sides of her dock right where her tail meets her dock and her hindquarters gets a bit greasy, the creases on both sides. the only place shes particular about now is the loose skin around her stifles on both sides, just finds it tickly being touched there. Its so hard to clean it because the skin is so loose!

[janette carter]

Buffy was so bad about having her teats touched I called in a Natural Horsemanship instructor who showed me how to work with an artifical arm to desensitize her. I worked with her all over last winter and by summer was able to CAREFULLy wash her udder and apply fly repellent/barrier cream to help with the sweet-itch.

:( Unfortunately didn't keep it up over the winter and now with all the upset of a yard move am back to square one and will have to start all over again:mad:

[Laura+Phantom]

Wow I feel like an evil horse owner now, i've had my 2 geldings and 2 mares for 10 years and i've never cleaned any udders or sheaths! Actually I tried to clean Phantom's sheath in the summer but there was nothing up there, compared to the irish draughts I did where I worked, he gets done weekly and it was disgusting! Loads of black gunk..

I've never even considered my mare's udders needing cleaning, no-one's ever mentioned it to me in the 12 years i've been dealing with horses! :eek:

[KarinUS]

:) We don't clean udders either. ;) Wish she wouldn't be so messy about the other parts but got no choice there.