by horse aficianado on November 18, 2009
A fly mask is often used as a solution to conditions such as sweet itch that are caused by flies. The biting midge, culicoides, travels down the long hairs of the mane or tail to get to the skin. This can cause inflammation and itchy skin that drives horses to rub against rough surfaces, such as fences, to get relief. The rubbing often causes loss of hair and skin, leaving nasty bald patches and self-inflicted wounds.
The first thing to do is to prevent the flies getting to the horse. One way to do this is to cover the target areas. A fly mask can can be quite effective in doing this on a horse’s head and neck. Unfortunately horses can be quite adept at removing their fly mask whilst in the field. The first time the mask comes off you probably try to put it on a bit tighter. This works partially because the next time you check he’s managed to slip it over one ear but it stays in place because the other ear has stayed in the ear hole.
The problem is that the fly mask is not attached to the rug. You could try sewing them together to see if that works. However, a better trick is to leave a field safe headcollar on. You can, of course, buy a mask that clips to the rug.
Follow up this preventive measure with treatments to clear up the sweet itch itself. A good non-toxic natural remedy is to use aloe vera products to clear up the dermatitis. First, wash off any pus or weeping from the wound. If you can get hold of some diluted aloe vera based soap this would be the best product to use. Don’t over-wash and make sure you dry the area well. You can get aloe vera in spray and gelly forms so apply these to the area. The spray is ideal if the area is very sore or there is an open wound because you can deliver the aloe vera without physically touching the area. Finally, if you can get hold of some of the aloe vera that you can drink then 250 ml of this in the horse’s daily diet will help to boost the immune system.
by horse aficianado on November 4, 2009
If your horse suffers from hair-loss caused by rubbing blankets, try these ideas.
Have you ever noticed a bald spot as you take off your horse’s blanket? It might be that you notice that some of his hair is disappearing from his shoulders. Unfortunately the severe version of this problem can even lead to the top layers of skin being rubbed away. So what can you do to prevent this happening?
First of all make sure that the blanket fits correctly. A blanket can be either too small or too big. If it is too small it can become tight around the shoulders where it rubs especially as the horse moves around. If a blanket is too big it can move and slip and then start to rub. Again, the shoulder might be affected if the weight of a loose blanket moves backwards and pulls as it slips towards the tail. Imagine how sore the shoulders can become when this happens, the poor animal won’t even want to walk forward.
Avoid these problems by making sure you always measure your horse correctly.
Just like human beings horses can be the same height but completely different builds. It is important to measure your horse from withers to tail and then from chest to buttock. Remember to also measure from chest to withers to get the correct size of the neck-opening. It can be a good investment to get a custom made blanket in preference to a ready-made one so that it is designed to fit your specific horse. You then have peace of mind when putting it on your horse. You know he will be able to move comfortably in it without it pulling across his shoulders.
If you’ve taken all these precautions and you find that rubbing is still a big problem then it is worth contacting some of the blanket manufacturers to find out how they line their horse blankets. If they use nylon panels around the chest area it can prevent rubbing. The great thing about nylon is that it doesn’t snag on the horse’s hair as he moves, instead it slides across the hair without pulling it.
Another effective method of avoiding hair loss is to use ‘under’ garments designed to fit under the blanket. The stretchy fabric gives freedom of movement whilst being held in place by velcro closures that go behind the forelegs. An alternative design is a bib style.
Whatever type of blanket and fittings you choose the most important thing is to make sure that it fits well. Finally, give your horse the best chance you can by keeping his blanket clean and in good repair.
