[Appylvr]

I clean my mares regularly. Usually when I'm petting them I will rub the gunk out. If you do it often it never builds up very bad.

To get them used to it I stood close and rubbed their belly right above the teat. When they relaxed I just started moving my hand lower and they never had a problem. I have known mares that have, so be careful.

[blue-eyed-pony]

Our little mare loves it when you clean her teets. When I give her a bath is when I clean hers.

[Xiphias]

I have to do my mare, she has gotten mastitis twice now, plus it itches and makes them rub their tails....they get goopy smegma stuff between them if they have had foals, my vet told me to dip her teats in betadine after cleaning, to prevent mastitis....poor girl got it last month, and she was clean! I got some betadine scrub, to clean her with from now on, hopefully she won't get it again....maiden mares may not get like that, I know my filly did not get dirty...and I would just clean her with a soapy sponge when I gave her a bath...

Cathy

[AtomicTop]

Gee, looks like I'd better get cleaning. I have to do my gelding's sheath too and I've never done it before. He's a 16.2hh beast of a horse with hoofs the size of dinner plates and I have no idea what I'm doing. I might have to get someone to show me. I am particularly worried about finding the "bean". Any suggestions about "going in". Do I have to pull the "inhabitant" of the sheath out or will it do that of it's own accord and is my horse likely to thank me by imprinting his hoof on my forehead?

[Tami]

Originally Posted by AtomicTop

Gee, looks like I'd better get cleaning. I have to do my gelding's sheath too and I've never done it before. He's a 16.2hh beast of a horse with hoofs the size of dinner plates and I have no idea what I'm doing. I might have to get someone to show me. I am particularly worried about finding the "bean". Any suggestions about "going in". Do I have to pull the "inhabitant" of the sheath out or will it do that of it's own accord and is my horse likely to thank me by imprinting his hoof on my forehead?

LOL! Thanks for the laugh so early in the morning.

What guy wouldn't want his "inhabitant" cleaned? Red's easy (my 2 year old), he's always got it hanging out-especially when I'm grooming him. I pick the junk off and every once in a while grab it (very gently of course-lol) and check for this so called "pea". Sahki on the other hand is 30 years old, has never had his cleaned, and is still kicking up his heels.

[canadianlover]

well, im not really a big fan of getting the snot beat out of me by my horse so what I do is whenever I hose her down after riding (3 out of 5 times I hose her down along with walking her) and I just kinda shoot the water up there-

[irideazip]

I do Fancy's when it crosses my mind to do it and every time she gets a bath they get a good scrubbing. I'll just reach in there and kind of brush off whatever i feel, but when she gets a bath, they get cleaned real good all around

[Tatooed Lady]

Regarding cleaning the teats, I'd just see how far she'll let you go without laying her ears back or swishing her tail. Give her a general massage/rubdown, and while you're doing that, SLOWLY move back toward her udder. Best case, she'll let you "work your magic" and won't put up any fuss. Worst case, she'll let you know in no uncertain terms that the area is "off limits", and you'll have to find an alternative way to clean.
Actually, my 17hh mare stands for pretty much anything that I've tried to do to her. I've tried to make it a regular thing that I rub the underside of her thighs, her belly, etc. I also try to watch her ears while I'm doing it, just to see how she's feeling. Yep, I know, setting myself up for a good wallop, but I figure her ears will pin before her tail swishes, and I'll have to stop either way.
Anyhow, I've carried on stupid, running conversations with her the entire time, and she'll just flick her ears back to listen. She also gets carrots during grooming time, so I think she's half waiting to see how long before the next "bribe to be good".
Good luck!

[Deb]

My mare loves having her teats cleaned. That stuff just peels off. I do it at least once a week. She starts rubbing her tail is I don't keep them clean. That's one spot they can't itch on their own.

I have had some mares try to kick though so be careful.

[mtymouse]

My mini mare at first hated it and would try to kick you, I guess she had never had it done before, but now after just rubbing her belly and so on She actually loves it with nose up in the air an all. I guess she just didn't realize how good it felt to have no gunk up there.