Sheath Cleaning - Keeping your gelding healthy

What causes beans in geldings?

Ok, here's the scoop. Male horses secrete a lubricant from their sheaths called smegma. Some horses produce a lot of it while others seem to have very little - it's all on an individual basis. This is the "stuff" you clean off of his penis, though it's usually dried on it. Smegma is very thick, kind of like half-dried handcream (and smells NASTY). It can collect and get trapped in the groove around the urethra. Thus creating a "bean" because the shape of the groove also shapes the smegma.
"Beans" can be a life threatening problem. If allowed to get too large, they can shut off the urethra. They can also cause infections making the sheath swell and again, cut off the flow of urine. It is important to check them every so often, but you don't want to clean a sheath too often. Cleaning too often can cause irritation and similar problems to not cleaning enough. Also, in the case of a breeding stallion, you must be extremely careful what you use to clean them with. Use only a mild soap such as Ivory (handsoap, not the detergent) as others can act as spermicides. One really good trick is to use mineral oil (baby oil). It softens up all the smegma and makes cleaning really easy. (I think Excalibur is made mostly of this). Remember the smegma is there for a reason - for lubrication. That's why I like the baby oil - it helps to keep their penis' from getting irritated.

As far as the willd horses or mustangs - when bred they do get cleaned. However the average mustang stallion is in a bachelor herd until he's around 7. It is unusual for them to have a harem at any earlier age (there was a huge study done on this in Nevada). Thus, they aren't "cleaned" for the first time, until a very mature age. Later, when a younger stallion takes over his harem, the old stallion once again returns to a bachelor herd. Any "cleaning" is very rare while one is in the bachelor herds.

Certainly a bean can create pain - thus one should check their horse often. However, one must keep in mind that smegma is a lubricant and was put there for a reason. Just as overwashing can cause dry skin, so can overwashing the sheath. It will dry, crack and get split skin - talk about painful. Not to mention the potential for infections. In her book "How To Be You Own Veterinarian (Sometimes)", Ruth B. James mentions that a gelding usually requires cleaning only once a year. There are also some very helpful hints on how to do this beginning on page 294. Many of my other breeding references say the same thing, but since Ms. James book is much easier to find in bookstores, I refer everyone to read it.

On "Cleaning the sheath".........
The penis is....what you are referring to as his hangy-downy thing! The sheath is the loose skin in which his "hangy-downy" thing goes into when it isn't hangy-downing. The bean (if there is one) is in the uretha, and I would not go searching for one if I were you! Let the vet handle this - removal of the bean if it exists, can be irritating and even painful to your gelding. We have a very easy going gelding, and he had to be tranquilized, twitched, and he still kicked out.

As far as cleaning, don't overdo it (Dr. Ruth's book will tell you this). Again, for first time cleaning, I would let the vet do it. And if he is difficult to clean, I would pay the vet to do it every time!

On the horse. Like I said before, some produce more smegma than others. I watch my stallions to see when they're getting dirty. (They are trained to allow me to check them). If you're breeding a stallion, you have to clean him of course before breeding, but many times just plain water will do.

If you're in doubt about how often your particular horse needs to be cleaned, have your vet check him when he comes out. The vet can best advise you on the frequency needed for cleaning your horse after seeing him.

Some Additional Tips

The first time Racer had his sheath cleaned he was twitched. He tried to kick the vet big time while twitched. I was not a happy camper and decided I would get this young gelding used to being handled. So this is how I started. EVERY time I groomed him- which was daily. I would tentatively touch his sheath. His leg would lift up, I would withdraw my hand, gradually, the touch to his sheath became firmer, but still gentle. After about 2 months, he would stand quietly while I massaged his sheath. DO NOT do this in view of nosey neighbors! LOL What they must of thought of me! I then started taking the softest curry I had and very gently (almost tickling him) I would run the brush down the inside of his back leg. By golly, he would drop his penis. We kept this up for hmmm, maybe 3 weeks. Now all I have to do is get the mineral oil and apply it inside the sheath. He stands quietly and does not fight me at all. It is kind of icky when you are up to your wrist inside his sheath. You do of course wear gloves. Then I tickle his leg with the curry, he drops, and I put mineral oil on his penis, and then just forget about it for 3 days. Then with warm water and sponge, I clean him. The smegma just falls off, there is no pulling of the skin and we both are happy. But looking for his bean- I think I will wait and let the vet do that search! I hope I have helped you a little.

Actually... Besides the training that MA suggested, I always like to have the vet out whenever dealing with a new horse, to give them a little tranquilizer for the first time they are cleaned. It can make the whole experience alot easier for them and you. When tranqed, the boys naturally let go and their penis' will drop on their own (I only give them enough to relax them, but they're still real conscious of what's going on). Truthfully, I think it would be a real good idea for you to have your vet come out to show you how to do this the first time. Even though we are going to post some photos, there is nothing like first hand experience. Really, a vet can explain to you what to look for and any abnormalities. Some horses can have penile warts or all sorts of other things, and it would be best to have a real experienced eye check your gelding out first.

Also, mares produce it around their udders. When it dries it sticks to her and can hurt when you try to pull it off. The best way to clean her bag is to soften the smegma first by using some baby oil or a rag with warm water.