Blossom gets...

[Debbie]

...her udder cleaned tonight LOL

Following Zelda's thread under Horsey Chat, I decided it was high time for me to double check between Blossom's udders just to be sure she hasn't gotten ticks lodged. Neither of us were best pleased with what I found this morning

Soooo, tonight I duly headed out with her evening feed, replete with her new favorite added ~ peppermint tea ....and a bottle of mineral oil. Of course she wanted to smell the puddle of mineral oil in my hand first...and then when I went to reach back along underside ! Let's say that girl's got some amazing moves....how a pony can leap four feet straight into the air, pivot and do it all without knocking me for nine, or touching me at all leaves me amazed.

LOL...of course there were lots of snorts and suspicious expressions because I wasn't budging from her beloved bucket, and I had the opinion of 'I've got all the time in the world, honey. You want your bucket, you'll just have to deal with it'.

I did back off after the first explosion and watched the flies that have been harrassing her. She loves her tum being scratched anyways, so scratched her tum with the mineral oil. Then rubbed down her legs for good measure. I don't know if the flies will stay away completely, but they sure didn't appreciate the oil!

Ever so gradually I worked my way back towards her udders, and she did some more spectacular broncing work, and the holding up the leg 'just in case'. I don't blame her one bit, I wouldn't overly care to have someone doing the same to me, so I just took it ever so slowly, and boy did she get PRAISED when I finally got the mineral oil between her udders!!!!! What a GOOD GIRL!!!! Positive reinforcement works the absolute best with Blossom, so she knows she 'got it right'

LOL...yes, its the extremely simple things in life, but I figure she'd better get used to it, because I'm NOT having her gunked up back there.

Oh, and sorry, no piccies....hands were rather ...well Thankfully dishsoap takes off most of it

[harveydales]

Ah, what a good girl...........in the end! Well done, quiet patience usually works with most things!

This brings me to another question. Why is it neccesary to clean the "gunk" from between a mare's udders? The oils must be produced for a reason and would remain in a wild horse? When I bred my TB mare, almost 30 years ago, I had no idea you were supposed to "clean" there but right from being a few weeks old, Alex would lift a hind leg up high and indicate with her head that she wanted me to clean in there. So I did but had no idea why or what I was doing. This carried on right through her life.

[Debbie]

It might be different for different ponies/horses round the world. Technically 'wild' horses are found in an environment vastly different than where Blossom's living currently. I mean a wild horse would be living in a very dry region, so I'm not sure the 'gunk' would build up like it does living in a humid, high temperature region.

When I was growing up, no one cleaned anything on their horses...udders or sheath! It wasn't til I hit college that they 'educuated' me as to the cleaning.

With Blossom, I've been checking between her udders because we do have ticks, and I don't want her to get one lodged there. This was the first time I've reached back and encountered real gunk like this, though. But its not overly surprising. Its been truly hot and icky, sticky humid outside.

...edited to say Lady Bear did the same last year ...she'd lift legs and get into all sorts of contortions ;D Blossom watched, absolutely stumped.

[shiatsudales]

Auntie Rose says she's joined her niece and now has nice clean lady bits

I think with her she gets gunk up between them as she's got saggy boobies from having babies and obviously not doing her post-natal exercises of wearing the right bra

If I don't clean up there every now and again she gets very crabbit about me handling anything past her last rib and in front of her stifle, the whole lower, back belly is a no go area so it must be uncomfy.

Many thanks for reminding to do this Debbie and what a good girl Blossom was.

[Debbie]

shiatsudales said:

If I don't clean up there every now and again she gets very crabbit about me handling anything past her last rib and in front of her stifle, the whole lower, back belly is a no go area so it must be uncomfy.

Blossom was like this when I was trying to check for ticks, so figured it was time to check between the udders. Yep. The nice bit, is that the mineral oil appeared to be 'self cleaning'.

Awwwhhh.....well done Auntie Rose I bet she feels much fresher now

[Debbie]

You should have seen Little Miss Suspicious last night as I was applying the Celebration (anti bug oil). She was sooooo sure I was going to attack her 'bits' again Took me ages to get the oil on her legs....I think I absorbed more than she did.

Hmmmm.....a bit more working on that I think

[leannwithconnie]

Do you know...I don.t think I have ever looked between Connies teats... Eerrrr CONNIE come here a minute please...........

[Debbie]

LOL.....if she's anything like Blossom she'll be in the next county!!!


Let's hope she'll be more like Lady Bear who adored being handled back there Honestly the contortions she'd get into just to have 'just the right spot' itched

[dalesponyrider]

D just LOVES having her teats cleaned or scratched. In fact I use it as a reward!

[greydales]

I've never attempted it with either of mine! Not sure what they would have to say about it (especially Cherry) lol!