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Private Parts
(some things you need to know about sheath cleaning)

Cleaning a horse’s sheath seems to be one of those duties horse owners think they should perform on a regular basis, but hardly anyone does.

That’s probably okay.

The sheath is a loose tube of skin that protects the penis. Male horses secrete a lubricant from their sheaths called smegma (Doesn’t that word just sound nasty?). Some horses produce a lot of it while others seem to have very little. Smegma is very thick, kind of like dried out hand cream. It can collect and, along with dirt, get trapped in the groove around the urethra. As it collects, it forms into a bean shape.

If a “bean” gets too large, it can shut off passage of urine through the urethra. It can also cause pain and infection. That’s why it needs to be removed occasionally.

One of the myths about sheath cleaning is that if it is done more often, it will be less messy for you and nicer for the horse. But smegma was put there for a reason. It acts as a lubricant inside the sheath. Just as overwashing will give you painfully dry skin, overwashing the sheath will lead to dry, cracked skin and the potential for infection.

The sheath is filled with friendly microorganisms that help to maintain a healthy environment inside. When you clean it too frequently, you upset that balance. Some experts believe this stimulates the horse to produce an even greater amount of smegma to replace that which was removed.

While the debate continues as to the usefulness of sheath cleaning for most horses, everyone agrees that it is important that your horse be comfortable with humans handling his genitals when there is an accident or abnormalities appear. This is something you should prepare for even if you’re not comfortable with cleaning.

Every time you groom your gelding or stallion gently rub in the area around the sheath. For safety reasons, you should begin with some sort of training stick, like those used by natural horsemanship advocates (available on line and in some feed stores). Avoid using a whip or other device that your horse may associate with pain. First, gently rub your horse with the tip of the stick to get him used to having someone touch him in the area. Once he is confident with the touch of the stick, begin to introduce your hand.

Don’t just go under there and grab…use approach and retreat with your hand until he is comfortable with having you in the area. Then gently touch the sheath…again approach and retreat. Watch your horse closely, some are very touchy about this area and will kick. If he reacts at all, back off and go back to stroking in the general area till you can lightly touch the sheath without any reaction. Then work up to the point you can massage the sheath more firmly…up to the touch you will use during a cleaning or examination. Depending on the horse, this process could take weeks or months.

Just as you get your horse accustomed to your touch, you should also train him to be comfortable with the feeling of water in that touchy area before you actually do the cleaning. Some people use a hose for sheath cleaning, but unless you are able to hook the hose up to warm water, that’s not a good idea. Imagine if someone shot cold water at your private parts. What would your reaction be? Your horse is likely to do the same….jump, kick, try to get out of the way.

The safest method is to use a pan of warm water.

I’m not going to include how-to directions here. You can find these on-line and in books. But if you’ve never owned a male horse, you will benefit by having the vet show you how to do sheath cleaning. Or ask an experienced horse owner to help you the first time. Nothing matches personal instruction from an expert.

To save time and money, some owners have their veterinarian clean the sheath during a routine visit when sedation is being used for some other purpose such as dental work.

Here are some other tips:

*Use thin latex gloves rather than dishwashing gloves.
*Use only warm water. Aim for body temperature.
*The horse should be held by an assistant or by your free hand, NOT tied fast to a post or to crossties. Allow him to shift around some so he doesn’t feel trapped.
*There are several products on the market specifically formulated for sheath cleaning. These products cut through the grease, have a pleasant odor, and make cleaning easier. Ivory hand soap also works, as well as mild dye- and fragrance-free shampoo. Do not use dishwashing soap, antibacterial soap or any other strong cleaning solution.
*Don’t do this just prior to an important event. Smegma smells horrible and if you get any on your hands or arms it’s going to take a while for it to go away.