The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.
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39 March 2018 THE HORSE TheHorse.com or clippers to keep the coronet band hair trimmed is worth the effort and time saved in daily grooming. In addition to keeping this area tidy, she removes the long hair, or "feathers," from the pas- tern area regularly to reduce the risk of pastern dermatitis (aka scratches), which trapped dirt and moisture can cause. "I use No. 10 blades and go with the grain of the hair," she says. "You don't want a clip that is too close. It's more tapering than shaving." And, of course, picking hooves is a dai- ly must-do, says Lenher. "When you pick feet, you are running your hand down the leg and catch cuts, scratches, and 'stuff' on the legs," she says. "You cover a multitude of areas by picking the feet. It lets me know if the feet smell, if there is any swelling on the legs, etc. There is a lot covered just picking the feet every day." The Nether Regions Cleaning a male horse's sheath (the pocket of skin that protects the penis) elicits mixed responses. "Cleaning sheaths makes me want to gag," Corcoran says. Some people, however, become obsessed with the idea of needing to keep the area clean. Lenher has observed some horse owners cleaning their geldings' sheaths every week. "That is too often," she says. "Once a month at the very most. But three to four times a year is fine." The most important reason to clean a sheath is to check for a "bean," which is a collection of smegma, or accumulations of dirt and secretions, in the space at the tip of the urethra called the urethral fossa. A bean can cause pain and even infection. Some horses end up with debris and smegma coating the inner sides of their hind legs, which is often what drives horse owners to overclean sheaths. Lenher's horse falls into this category; while she describes the messy legs as "disgusting," she doesn't clean his sheath regularly. Instead, she cleans his legs. For horse owners who do clean sheaths routinely, she recommends using a mild soap such as liquid Ivory dish soap. Com- mercial sheath cleaners are available and designed to cut through the greasy dis- charge. However, she has observed that these can cause irritation in some horses, especially with zealous use. Not all horses are amenable to this task, either, and might kick in protest. For these sensitive horses, Lenher encourages owners to save the chore for their veterinarian. "The veterinarian can sedate him for the procedure," she says. "Many horse owners have their horse's teeth done once a year. When they are sedated for that procedure, it can be a good time to clean the sheath, too." "If all of this is making you queasy, a once-a-year clean- ing with the vet is more than adequate," Lenher says. Mares' nether regions are far less complicated to clean than geldings or stallions. Hosing the teats and perineal area when you rinse or bathe your mare is a good starting place. As far as soaping and clean- ing these areas, you can do so as long as you're gentle and your mare is congenial to it. Just be sure you rinse the area thoroughly after. "Some mares are very sensi- tive in this area and will kick, just like the boys," Lenher says, noting that feisty mares might even need sedation. "So go slow to see what your horse tolerates." These areas need to be hosed off or cleaned three to four times a year or more, depending on the individual. But recognize that you can go overboard with mares, too. With breeding horses, mares and stallions alike, a different hygiene proto- col applies, so work with a veterinarian to determine the best frequency for them. Other easily overlooked areas on your horse's body include his elbows, under his jowls, and the midline of the abdomen. Keep an eye out for dirt or scruff here due to dirt accumulation or insect sensitivity. Billowing Tails Regardless of whether you ride com- petitively or recreationally, a horse's tail needs attention. "Nothing makes me sadder than horses with tree branches and debris in their tails and manes," Lenher says. "Even if you don't ride, they still need TLC." Tail care is largely based on personal preference. Lenher once rode with a trainer that forbade clients to brush out tails. "We had to hand-pick the tails so they didn't break and stayed full," she says. This approach is especially beneficial for horses with thin tails and manes. De- tanglers and hand-picking keep it clean, tangle-free, and full. Some tails are even prone to dreadlocks. Frequent brush- ings keep unruly locks from becoming Male horses need their sheaths cleaned a few times a year to remove dirt and secretions. PAULA DA SILVA ISABELLE ARNON When trimming a horse's tail to your desired length, place an arm under it and run your hand down to the point of trim to avoid a crooked cut.