Mares, as well as geldings, can suffer from 'beans' composed of dust, dirt and smegma stuck in the folds of skin around their nether regions. It can be very uncomfortable for them, so it's important to keep them clean and healthy to avoid possible behavioural problems which can result. In this video I'll show you how.
Many mares have a number of small pockets of skin just inside their genital areas which fill up with smegma and it’s really important to clean these out. It’s just like having a stone in your shoe, it can be a constant source of irritation. Some signs that your mare may have a ‘bean’ that needs removal is if she’s itchy and rubbing her tail a lot (but you know you’ve wormed her), or even bucking or kicking which is out of character. It depends on the individual mare as to whether you check her every six months or so, or much more regularly. Cleaning around the udder too is important – it’s all just a part of good hygiene for mares.
Please note: Some mares are not too keen on this kind of attention! It involves working in the kick zone, so if your mare is not calm and trustworthy, don’t try this at home but call your vet instead.
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