How Do I Care for a Mare’s Udder Properly?

Without taking proper care of your mare, you may be subjecting her to a host of issues. These include reproductive infectious diseases like CED (Contagious Equine Metritis), endometritis, bacteria growth, inflammation, and more.

Mare udder care is a core component of horse ownership. Not to worry; we’ve compiled a few tips so you can start giving her the attention she needs.

BATHING

Yes, your horse needs to be bathed. Not as often as dogs or other pets, and not regularly. In fact, regularly bathing your horse can discourage naturally produced oils that keep your horse clean.

However, during warm weather months and following workouts, hosing your mare down is a good way to keep your horse comfortable and clean. Horses do groom each other, a process important for both cleanliness and bonding. But there are places that prove more difficult for a horse to self-regulate. Sweat and grime can collect in your mare’s udder, just as it does in a gelding or stallion’s sheath, so help your horse keep those hard-to-reach areas clean. 

Another consideration is fly bites, which can localise on your mare’s belly or udder. If you live in an area where horseflies are common, these bites can be particularly painful and irritating to your horse. You may find them consistently asking to be scratched or rubbing themselves against rough surfaces. A brief hosing can help attend to the discomfort of bites and even small wounds or scrapes.

So, what do you need to bathe your horse?

It depends on the intention of the bath. Are you bathing your horse simply to cool them off or promote comfort? Perhaps just a hose and your horse’s preferred brushes and mane/tail combs will suffice. Just water can remove light buildup of dirt or sweat.

If your goal is to properly wash your horse, you may choose to use a few different products. Many horse owners opt for shampoo, conditioner, and a cream rinse. This can be coupled with a sweat scraper, shedding blade (or curry comb), hoof pick (be sure to always check your horse for rocks in their hooves before and after riding), combs, and any other preferred brushes.

Getting to know your horse’s bathtime behaviours can be a process. Don’t let it be dangerous. 

First, test their acquaintance to water. Like humans may deal with stimulus activated trauma, some horses fear triggers like sprays, crops, or water. Using any of these tools can be dangerous if not approached incrementally. Try simple splashes or sponging before moving on to a hose. 

Always be gentle with your horse’s face, as this is the area many horses have difficulty with getting sprayed. Sponge or scrub your horse’s face, watching for eyes. Don’t forget to brush out their forelock.

UDDER CLEANING

Your horse may be used to baths, and can perhaps withstand tougher settings on your hose. These conditions must always be abandoned when cleaning your mare’s udder.

Start gently. Like faces, udders and sheaths are sensitive areas for horses. They are not used to these spaces being touched, especially by water and soap, so start slowly. Try sponging around the area first and on legs to acclimate your horse to the familiar feeling of the sponge. 

If your horse starts becoming jumpy or nervous at any point, take a break and see what scary stimuli you can remove from the situation. Loosening your horse’s lead rope or changing the cleaning tool can help. Furthermore, taking breaks to speak to your horse and calm them down, offering them a familiar face and a reassuring tone may calibrate them. The main thing to avoid is spraying or rinsing directly into your mare’s udder without warning.

The area between your mare’s teats can accumulate sebum, “a black, waxy substance similar in appearance to smegma” Over time, this can become crusty and irritating to your mare, be sure to look out for this buildup.

When finished with this process, let your mare shake out the water and lead her into her stall so she doesn’t indulge the urge to roll as soon as she has freedom again. 

SECRET WEAPON: UDDER BALM

As mentioned above, consistent bathing is not necessary (and can be harmful) for your horse. Consider keeping horse udder balm around. 

Horse udder balm is known for its usefulness in calming irritation from fly bites, which tend to accumulate in the udder and sheath area on horses. Balms like Be:Loved’s Horse, Human, & Dog Fly & Midge Soothing Balm are a great option, as they simultaneously condition the coat and last for up to 7 hours. Our balm is also made with natural ingredients like shea butter, vitamin E, and essential oils. It lasts throughout trail rides, sweat, and all your horse’s day-to-day antics.

When applying udder balm, gradually move from your mare’s udder exterior into irritated areas. As with bathing, her reaction to the balm needs to be tested before quick applications can become the norm.

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