Horse Skin Care

Itching, scabs, wounds: identifying the skin problem

• Is your horse rubbing, losing mane or tail hair? Sweet itch & itching
• Scabs on the pasterns after rain and mud? Mud fever & cracked heels
• A wound, a graze, a raw patch? Wounds & healing
• Flies, louse flies or ticks bothering it? Flies & ticks
• Dandruff, oily or very dry skin, a stained pale coat? Shampoos

The basics for healthy horse skin

• Groom every day to remove dirt, dust and debris.
• Check the skin and coat while grooming: injuries, parasites, bald patches, scabs.
• Don't over-wash: use lukewarm water and a gentle shampoo, as too much washing dries the skin.
• Keep things dry: muddy paddocks and poorly ventilated stables encourage skin infections.
• Protect pale skin and unpigmented areas from the sun.

Horse skin problems: when to call the vet?

Round patches of hair loss can be a sign of ringworm, a fungal infection that can pass to humans. Also call your vet for a lesion that weeps, spreads or doesn't improve despite care, a leg that swells and feels hot, or a horse that is dull or has a temperature.