WHAT, for the love of horses, IS THIS!? Also questions on how to treat whatever it is and more....?

[Rammy]

Sheath cleaning. I squeeze KY up there the day before, then another tube before I dig in and start cleaning. This of course is the signal for Joe, (that's his eye in my avatar) to suck his pee pee up in the vicinity of somewhere behind his eyeballs. Undaunted, I pull on my inadequate latex glove and shove my hand up to my armpit, groping around for the shy, elusive ding dong. This annoys Joe, who lays his ears back and raises his back hoof, clearly stating, "You better let go of my ding-a-ling or I am going to kick your head off." Somewhere between snatching the prize and dragging it out, I lose my glove. How did THAT happen? Hmmm...… if I go fishing for it, I will lose my grip.....it can wait.

I have a bucket of warm sudsy water with a big sponge and rag, as I reach for it, Joe sidesteps. My arm goes with him aaaaand the bucket is out of reach. reckon I can "lead" him back over, closer to the bucket? I pull and he raises his hind hoof again. Maybe steady pressure will do it and I lean into it. Joe is more annoyed and starts stomping his feet, this inches me closer to the bucket. I grab sponge and rag and start scrubbing. Joe is cremello in color, pink skinned, purest white and blue eyed. His ding dong is gross, looks like corn flakes are stuck to it and HE is not the least bit interested in getting "all cleaned up". Nope. Not even a little bit. Somewhere in the process, the lost glove shows up. Fat lot of good that did me.

And then there's the BEAN! Must not forget the BEAN! That requires a delicate insertion of a finger in his pee pee to dig out uric crystals that form a white blob of grossness that can plug up his urethra and cause some real problems. Once again, Joe is not impressed. In fact, this is the last straw and he is really pissed off (literally).

Finally I get the water hose and wash the sheath out, making sure all the soapy suds are gone, and we're done.

The first time I read this, I laughed until I cried. I have sang this many a time to my Joe. It doesn't help his feelings one bit, but it makes me laugh.

The Sheath Cleaning Song
Author Unknown

(Sing it to the tune of "Hello Mother, Hello Father" from camp song)

How's it hangin'?
So much cleaner.
Aren't you glad I
washed your wiener?

I'll admit it's
kinda creepy
that I had to stick my arm up in your pee-pee.


It was sticky.
It was gunky.
It felt icky.
It smelled funky.

It was cruddy,
it was crusty--
when you stuck it out, it creaked like it was rusty.


After half an
hour of toilin'
and of squirtin'
baby oil in,
you're as fresh there
as a daisy.

Either this means I love you or else I'm crazy!!!

 

[Baymule]

@MatthewsHomestead while I certainly understand the desire to lead as pure of a life as possible, sometimes you gotta use what works. I have chemical issues to the point of using NO cleaning products, NO perfumes, NO air fresheners or candles, NO scented laundry soap of any kind. I can use Tide Free, no dryer sheets. I can use Dove original soap and Palmolive original dishwashing soap. That's it. I live a very organic life.

But I've been thinking about your poor horse and those sores. There is a product called Fura-Zone. You have to wear gloves and don't get any on you. But it will slap heal up those nasty sores in no time. It is yellow, slick and looks like a big jar of yellow snot. IT WORKS.

I was once given a paint filly that had an injury, she had a big hunk of muscle hanging out of her hindquarters and a big deep hole. It was an awful wound. It took 4 of us to hold her and clean it up, then apply the Fura-Zone. Next day, it took me and my husband, and the next. After that, I just rubbed it on her while she ate. She healed up and it DID NOT LEAVE A SCAR. Miracle stuff, I'll certainly use it again, if I ever need to.

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

@MatthewsHomestead while I certainly understand the desire to lead as pure of a life as possible, sometimes you gotta use what works. I have chemical issues to the point of using NO cleaning products, NO perfumes, NO air fresheners or candles, NO scented laundry soap of any kind. I can use Tide Free, no dryer sheets. I can use Dove original soap and Palmolive original dishwashing soap. That's it. I live a very organic life.

But I've been thinking about your poor horse and those sores. There is a product called Fura-Zone. You have to wear gloves and don't get any on you. But it will slap heal up those nasty sores in no time. It is yellow, slick and looks like a big jar of yellow snot. IT WORKS.

I was once given a paint filly that had an injury, she had a big hunk of muscle hanging out of her hindquarters and a big deep hole. It was an awful wound. It took 4 of us to hold her and clean it up, then apply the Fura-Zone. Next day, it took me and my husband, and the next. After that, I just rubbed it on her while she ate. She healed up and it DID NOT LEAVE A SCAR. Miracle stuff, I'll certainly use it again, if I ever need to.

i will certainly have to find some and give it a try! a friend recommended generic hemmeroid ointment. started using that yesterday. the good news is things are scabbing up nicely. thats a sign of healing. ill take it. definitely going to check into your miracle product though.

 

[Baymule]

Fura-Zone can be found at feed stores and where there are horse products.

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

So. I have never owned a Male horse before these two guys. Didn't know about the whole clean the sheath thing. That being said, I immediately Youtubed every clip I could. While I was thoroughly grossed out, I realized that Nature Boy, if not hoof trimmed or ridden in 3-4+ years, more than likely had not had this done in as long either. Well, today was the day. This is what I was able to get out.... mind you he started to get antsy and wouldn't drop (I now understand the behind the eyeball statement Bay)

Can we say EW! And he still has some crusties, not to mention all the little bits that fell into the grass. We will continue this lovely journey in a few days. Going to tackle Sully tomorrow. I did spread some Swat on him. He smiled and seemed a bit happier. (He is always happy)

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

Ill be making a feed run in a day or so, ill ask after it when i go. thank you a million for your help! i truly do appreciate your advice, and your humor!

 

[Baymule]

If you squirt a tube of KY in there the day before and again about 30 minutes before you get started, it does a lot to loosen and soften up the crud. Just don't get that cinnamon warming stuff.....he will get more than a little antsy! Did you try to get the bean out?

 

[Baymule]

Let me say that I am impressed that you "dug" right in there to see that your boy has the care that he needs.

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

lol. didnt have ky. but i am going to run 5 mins down the road and get some from the dollar general tomorrow. probably generic. he was so in there i couldnt thoroughly inspect/clean the "head". my boys were helping me and were absolutely grossed out by how deep my hand went. that sucker was sucked up in there good. how the heck do you get it to come out?

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

my hubby, poor fella, is so clueless. he looked at me like i was crazy for shoving my hand in there until he saw all the nasties i was pulling out