At least in the US, there are special sheath cleaning products, which do seem to make a difference.
As for dropping... from what I've observed, most do, but there are always the "shy." Not sure what to do about that, other than sedation.
Also here in the US, there are professional sheath cleaners who will do the job for you, for a fee.
(I have to admit, this is one of the reasons I have a mare. Cleaning udders is not nearly so bad, although some mares will kick. Feronia usually doesn't, and if I rub her just right, with a big damp warm sponge, she likes it :)
Luckily, he's perfectly well behaved about it all, so I don't have to worry about being kicked or anything. I'm not sure whether he is shy or if there is an underlying problem making it painful for him. I'm guessing that sedation may be my only option (*sigh*, more money!)
i'd spend awhile getting him used to being cleaner before heading for sedation, just b/c once you go that route you may be kind of stuck with it, and this isn't a big deal if you can integrate it into regular grooming. good luck whatever you do!
heh. i use gentle, premoistened, no-rinse hand-cleaning towlettes. you can also use mineral oil squirted up the sheath to loosen stuff up. if it's cold out i pop stuff in the microwave for a couple seconds first to bring it up to body temp, b/c icy cold down there probably doesn't feel very nice.
stjarni just started dropping whenever he felt like being cleaned (every couple weeks usually, less in the winter, possibly bc of the cold) after he got used to having that area worked on at all. (he's icelandic, he hardly seemed to know what a currry comb was when i got him ;)
So far as I'm used to, we do it every 6-12 months depending on the horse. Sometimes brushing the head of the tail and massaging the haunches with a curry comb can help encourage them to drop.
Make sure you get the bean out of the tip of his penis. If he has a big one lodged in there it could be causing problems with urination. It should just pop out if you stick your finger in and give it a good flick.
(cleaned 10 sheaths just last week. over being shy about it.)
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As for dropping... from what I've observed, most do, but there are always the "shy." Not sure what to do about that, other than sedation.
Also here in the US, there are professional sheath cleaners who will do the job for you, for a fee.
(I have to admit, this is one of the reasons I have a mare. Cleaning udders is not nearly so bad, although some mares will kick. Feronia usually doesn't, and if I rub her just right, with a big damp warm sponge, she likes it :)
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I'm not sure whether he is shy or if there is an underlying problem making it painful for him. I'm guessing that sedation may be my only option (*sigh*, more money!)
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stjarni just started dropping whenever he felt like being cleaned (every couple weeks usually, less in the winter, possibly bc of the cold) after he got used to having that area worked on at all. (he's icelandic, he hardly seemed to know what a currry comb was when i got him ;)
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http://jmatt.net/ElecEq/sheath.html
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So far as I'm used to, we do it every 6-12 months depending on the horse. Sometimes brushing the head of the tail and massaging the haunches with a curry comb can help encourage them to drop.
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(cleaned 10 sheaths just last week. over being shy about it.)
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Do you wear gloves? I'm thinking I thould do if I'm going to be digging around as I have quite long nails - ouch!
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Good Lord.
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