Those of us who love and ride male horses occasionally have a dirty job to do - and most of us put it off as long as possible. The dreaded job of cleaning the sheath. The sheath is a protective tube of skin that surrounds the penis. A waxy secretion full of dirt, dead skin cells, and bacteria can accumulate in the folds of the sheath. This black, foul smelling gunk is called smegma. Most male horses have at least a small amount, but large accumulations can lead to difficulty urinating and/or infections. I train my horses to allow regular washing of the sheath, rinsing it out as part of their regular wash after exercise, but you should check your horse at least once or twice a year to see if he needs cleaning.
All you really need is a bucket of warm water, a hose, rubber gloves (if you don’t like smelly hands), and soft towels. Some experts recommend using a mild soap. However soap can remove the naturally occurring flora of organisms, which may increase the chance of infection. There are commercial products available, but if you rinse the sheath regularly just use warm water. If build-up is very dry and hard try using K-Y jelly instead.
Plan to wash your horse after exercise as he will be more relaxed. Place one hand on his back keep your washing arm tight up against his belly as you begin to wash with a warm wet towel. Don't try to look! If he kicks you don't want your head in the way!
Be patient and gentle. Don't be in a rush. Never be rough with your horse's genitals, or you may get hurt. Slowly wash and peel away the waxy, black build up. Continue to rinse the towel and keep feeling around until you have removed all the big pieces. Then rinse thoroughly with a hose using warm water and moderate to low pressure. If you do use soap rinse completely.
You should also check for a bean, a ball of smegma, in a small pouch just inside the tip of the penis. Beans can be painful and interfere with urination. It will feel like a small lump in about 3/4" in from the opening. Removing this bean is easiest by "rolling" it out. Here is where getting your horse used to being handled is most important. Be gentle! And keep lots of K-Y Jelly close to hand. If you encounter a bean too large to be removed easily, contact your vet for assistance.
If your horse has been cleaned before, he might have "dropped" for you to make it easier to clean his sheath. If this is his first time, he might have been a little apprehensive, but with patience, soft hands and warm water most horses come to truly appreciate the assistance. And with rubber gloves you won’t be permanently harmed by the experience either!
