Weird goo

[Whinny_the_Pooh]

My gelding tends to get a buildup of dark, sticky grossness on the inside of both hind legs, above the hocks and below the patella (gaskin area I think). It’s stickier than dried sweat, and hard to remove. I’ve tried damp cloths and rubber grooming mits gently. What is this stuff, and what’s the best way to remove it in wintertime, since I don’t want to soak his legs?

I’ve had geldings before but never noticed something like this. He doesn’t go around with his “equipment” out, so I’m not sure what’s causing it. He also doesn’t sweat hard enough to get really lathered back there. Maybe it’s sweat + urine ?? (Vet confirmed it isn’t rainrot.)

[LCDR]

My gelding as well. Vet advised me to start cleaning his sheath way more frequently. The black stuff smells pretty bad too. Luckily he actually seems to enjoy sheath cleaning, but I cannot keep up with the stuff forming.

I am pretty sure it is sheath-related, as it also forms in the belly hair right in front of his sheath. Just way more on the insides of both upper back legs. We have ruled out laminitis and Cushings, as there are reports of this tarry smegma on legs associated with both, at least anecdotally.

[Simkie]

Have you ever cleaned his sheath? Checked for a bean?

As a mare person, I was surprised how gross they can be inside despite looking fine when they drop.

[Whinny_the_Pooh]

I’ve cleaned his sheath once or twice in the past year, so I could definitely do it more often. I’ve owned him for a year. I suppose if I’m careful not to splash water around, I could do it in wintertime.

[Whinny_the_Pooh]

“Tarry” is exactly what it’s like. Sticky and smells more pungent than just sweat.

[punchy]

It happens when they lay down. My gelding’s sheath gets greasy pretty quickly, I clean it about once a month. I actually think it’s worse on the winter, since they’re not getting hosed off regularly. You don’t need a ton of water, so winter sheath cleaning is no problem (though I avoid it when it’s below freezing)

Though if it’s really cold for a long time, you can just use wet paper towels and wipe inside the top—that’s where most of the funk is forming.

[lorilu]

@punchy, try using baby oil. It loosens the grossness and makes it easier to remove.

[IPEsq]

Some horses just have more greasy sheath goo and others get more crusty or flaky. It gets on the legs when they lay down. I have one that is like this. Exercise actually helps. Rinsing if possible if he gets really sweaty or the conditions have been especially dusty. I think cleaning can actually stimulate more production of it. And he is not into sheath cleaning at all anyway without some good sedation.

[Whinny_the_Pooh]

I just cleaned his sheath, and he definitely needed it. I did find a small bean. I guess I’ve never had a gelding who needed to be cleaned more than a couple times a year. They’re all individuals, I guess!

[Weezer]

It happens to my gelding occasionally too -
Doesn’t seem to matter how often I clean his sheath. It will be an issue for a couple months, then fine for several months to a year or more - regardless of how often I clean him. But definitely less of an issue if cleaned every couple months

[SharonA1]

I hate to be the one to offer this, but… this happened with my gelding, and the vet said that he was… well, that in the privacy of his stall/the dark of night by himself he was… well. You know.

[Whinny_the_Pooh]

Well, as long as he doesn’t develop behavioral issues, have at it, I suppose

[Weezer]

That is SO FUNNY!! But, hey, they gotta do what they gotta do.

[LCDR]

All these years and I never learned that male horses masturbate! Stallions 6-8. times daily but geldings also do this and it is considered a stable vice. It is done by the horse slapping his penis against his abdomen. I have seen this but never knew what I was watching.

[victoriakent]

I learn something knew every day! I mean, I knew mares did, but I never really thought about it with a gelding. My mare has uhh… shown more than one gelding how their equipment works before, much to the gelding’s initial confusion, but I never really thought about it more than that!

[Whinny_the_Pooh]

I knew stallions did, but not mares! Fun Fact of the day, I guess.

[demidq]

OH yes! My daughter’s POA was the sexiest thing, seemed to be in heat all summer and would rub herself against fence posts, trees, stall wall… In retrospect she probably had some hormonal abnormality but her behaviour under saddle or while handled was never "mare-ish. She was a great child’s pony, but boy, anything on the farm with a Y chromosome was excited by her.
My current mare rubs her tail when she is in season, we’ve ruled out other causes. She always has a ratty-looking dock by the fall.

[RedHorses]

I tried the oil trick once… never again! It turned the smegma into a really nasty, sticky, slime that I couldn’t get off him. I think his just had too much grease already.

I usually use KY jelly to get in and get the crud off these days.

[2tempe]

I can vouch for the 6-8 times a day…My stallion is 22 and this is a regular event. Often when grooming prior to ride, often after the ride, especially in the wash rack. Sometimes when being hand grazed. Sometimes when i put him back in the stall. I’m only there around 2.5 hours and that leaves plenty of time for the remaining 4-6 times. I swear he has a magazine stash in his stall…

[cilla1]

Lol I can always learn something new on COTH! Both my geldings do that, I never thought they were…you know…I thought it was and unwilling movement.
@2tempe I must check for those magazines too