Equine Sheath Cleaning
| The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears. ~Arabian Proverb |
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Sheath Cleaning...A Necessary "Evil"
I have a feeling there may be quite a few horse owners out there, especially those new to
owning a Gelding, who may not be aware of some of the "100 mile tune-ups" our horses
may need. One such yearly tune-up is cleaning the sheath and checking for and removing
"beans".
Over time, a build up of normal body secretions and dead skin cells within the sheath may
start to accumulate into a waxy material within the folds of the sheath and is known as
"smegma". Depending on the coloration of the horse, the smegma may be black, grey or
even a cream color. Occasionally it may form into bean-shaped lumps within the fossa of
the urethra, the opening at the tip of the penis, and if it becomes large enough it may
possibly interfere with normal urination.
Every horse is different in that some produce very little smegma while others may produce
large quantities. It has been suggested that a yearly cleaning is sufficient to prevent
potential problems with smegma build-up yet this schedule allows enough time in between
cleanings so as not to disrupt the normal biological balance of the skin bacteria. If your
horse is prone to producing beans you will want to at least have him checked every six
months.
owning a Gelding, who may not be aware of some of the "100 mile tune-ups" our horses
may need. One such yearly tune-up is cleaning the sheath and checking for and removing
"beans".
Over time, a build up of normal body secretions and dead skin cells within the sheath may
start to accumulate into a waxy material within the folds of the sheath and is known as
"smegma". Depending on the coloration of the horse, the smegma may be black, grey or
even a cream color. Occasionally it may form into bean-shaped lumps within the fossa of
the urethra, the opening at the tip of the penis, and if it becomes large enough it may
possibly interfere with normal urination.
Every horse is different in that some produce very little smegma while others may produce
large quantities. It has been suggested that a yearly cleaning is sufficient to prevent
potential problems with smegma build-up yet this schedule allows enough time in between
cleanings so as not to disrupt the normal biological balance of the skin bacteria. If your
horse is prone to producing beans you will want to at least have him checked every six
months.
What We Will Do for Your Horse...
Through the use of Flower Essences and Acupressure we will attempt to relax your
horse enough to "drop" in order to give him a thorough cleaning. There are horses that will
still not drop with any amount of coaxing but the main purpose of the job can still be
completed. We use Excalibur shampoo which is specifically designed for sheath cleaning to
remove the build-up of smegma within the sheath and we will check for and remove any
"beans".
If requested ahead of time, we will also allow time to teach horse owners how to correctly
and safely perform a sheath cleaning on their own.
horse enough to "drop" in order to give him a thorough cleaning. There are horses that will
still not drop with any amount of coaxing but the main purpose of the job can still be
completed. We use Excalibur shampoo which is specifically designed for sheath cleaning to
remove the build-up of smegma within the sheath and we will check for and remove any
"beans".
If requested ahead of time, we will also allow time to teach horse owners how to correctly
and safely perform a sheath cleaning on their own.
Please NOTE:
We will make every attempt to work with your horse using natural methods. If your horse
is aggressive during the procedure he may require sedation by your veterinarian. If this is
the case and we are unable to complete the cleaning without the risk of bodily harm to
ourselves or your horse we will still expect 50% of the fee at the time services are
rendered.
We will make every attempt to work with your horse using natural methods. If your horse
is aggressive during the procedure he may require sedation by your veterinarian. If this is
the case and we are unable to complete the cleaning without the risk of bodily harm to
ourselves or your horse we will still expect 50% of the fee at the time services are
rendered.
