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Eventing rider Bianca Bagge: Find the courage when you need to jump in the terrain.
Tina Bjerre Nielsen
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While some horses only pee in their own stall, others feel free to do it where it suits them. Even with a rider on their back. At times, it can be nice to know that the horse can figure out how to empty the bladder when it is in need. Even if it takes place right in the middle of the ride. However, it should also cause some concern when the horse does so. Overall, the urge to urinate can be a symptom of three more or less serious disorders.
First of all, the fact that your horse urinates a lot may be due to the horse having problems with locked lumbar vertebrae. It affects the nerves that control the horse's bladder, and thus the problem arises. It is not about the vertebrae being out of joint, but about them being locked in an inappropriate position. Thereby squeezing the surrounding muscles and nerve pathways. This reduces the mobility of the lower back, but also the nerve function in the surrounding nerves. Because these nerves, among other things, also lead down to the genitals, a horse that often urinates under a rider may also have a reduced ability to reproduce.
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In addition, the urge the horse may have to pee can also be a sign that the horse has developed a metabolic disease comparable to diabetes in humans: Equine PPID, also called Cushing´s disease. Because the disease is due to an excessive secretion of hormones, the bladder is affected. However, a horse with PPID will not only urinate often, but also consume a lot of fluid and sweat more than other horses. And then it will in all probability also have the long, curly fur - also in the summer. This is particularly characteristic of PPID horses. If your horse does not have it, then more than likely you should not suspect the urge of your horse to pee as a sign of this disorder.
A final reason may be that the horse has problems with water discharge due to dirt and so-called smegma. Over time this accumulates inside the skin folds of the stallion or gelding's genitals. As time goes by it becomes large, hard lumps, which press on the urethra and really hurt the horse. The good thing about smegma is that you can usually remove it yourself. The not so good thing is that it is both difficult and a little disgusting to get to. We recommend that you get your veterinarian to do this.
It is the experience of the editorial staff that it can be a good idea to get your horse to pee before the ride. We have experienced that it can be more comfortable for them to pee in their own stall or in loose housing. It is just a matter of letting them stand here for a short period of time while you do something else anyway.
