27/06/2024
The worst beans we have seen over the years have come from horses that weren’t cleaned because of the misinformation surrounding sheath cleaning.
These ‘beans’ as we call them, build up inside the head of the p***s, in a pocket called the ‘urethral fossa’. They form because we have domesticated horses and they are not covering like they would in the wild, hence why you will find regularly covering, domesticated stallions do not have as much of an issue.
We’ve been to a startling number of horses over the years on the verge of being put down due to behavioural issues that no one could find the answer to. Does that mean every horses behavioural issue is down to a bean? Of course not. But many of these owners questioned other professionals or friends about beans and were told ‘horses don’t get beans, it’s a fad’.
Guess what? in every case we have personally attended like this, they had a monstrous bean and the changes afterwards were significant, in a very positive way.
We also often find sheath cleaning is the last ditch attempt to find an issue and normally the physio is called before us but we would always recommend getting your physio out AFTER you have had your sheath cleaner. This is because your horse can often (but not always) hold themselves in an uncomfortable position whilst they are harbouring a bean, once this is removed they we will feel much more comfortable, hence the recommendation you call out your trusty physio after.
As always when choosing a sheath cleaner, make sure they are -
🐎Fully insured.
🐎 Highly recommended.
🐎Always wear gloves and fresh gloves are used between each horse ( shocking that this is something people don’t do, I know).
🐎 That they DO NOT use baby oil, fairy liquid, soap or - god forbid - a bar of soap used on multiple horses?!?
🐎 And do not let a hygienist ever diagnose anything untoward, any professional sheath cleaner will recommend you contact your vet if they find anything that may seem unusual.
