Best remedies to prevent mud fever?

[MontyZoom5]

Hi guys,

another message about mud fever, I'm just determined to not let my horse get it as it seems to be a right pain when they have it!

luckily he hasn't got it yet but I was wandering what your opinion is on the best ways to prevent it?

I have been having a look at Keratex Mud Shield Powder

&

Sulphur & Pig oil

what are your opinions on these? Any good?
And how do you apply them?

Thanks for your help

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

Forget all the expensive stuff - just use pig oil (about £6 for a ltr) sprayed in a garden sprayer (£1 for Asda) on feathers and bottom of legs and then rubbed in with fingers 3 times a week. Don't hose legs, that makes them chapped and sore. Just leave them, the pig oil stops mud from sticking to the skin or clinging to feathers. Wonderful stuff - stopped all my horses in the past ever getting it. I swear by the stuff.
Good luck

 

[JillA]

I use neem oil on any I think are at risk, because not only is it an oil but it is antibacterial and anti fungal as well. But there is now a suspicion that copper and zinc deficiencies can predispose to it, so that could be worth looking at. If you don't have mud fever by now I guess you are doing something right though!

 

[rosie-ellie]

I used mud shield powder - it was OK but found wasted a lot on the floor :-( . Now I use pig oil and sulphur - cheaper and it does the job brilliantly with not much wastage

 

[MontyZoom5]

I used mud shield powder - it was OK but found wasted a lot on the floor :-( . Now I use pig oil and sulphur - cheaper and it does the job brilliantly with not much wastage

Thank you, rosie-ellie how do you apply the pig oil and sulphur? X

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

Thank you, rosie-ellie how do you apply the pig oil and sulphur? X

I have posted how above!

 

[Janee]

Another here for pig oil and sulphur, but make sure you do a parch test first as some horses have a bad reaction.

Ours are out every day and have to go through a swamp to get to the field and back. Dont wash the legs as a matter of routine, let the mud dry over night and keep brushing legs to a min, then once a week (or more if you get chance) I saturate the lower legs, use an old clothe. Last year we struggled, but think we weren't as religious about it, this year they have had an odd bit, but cleared within a week. That is 2 TBs and a full feathered cob (cobs the worst to do and never sure I ever get down to the skin with her)

 

[MontyZoom5]

I have posted how above!

Thank you! Do you mix the sulphur in with the pig oil and put it in a spray bottle?

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

Thank you! Do you mix the sulphur in with the pig oil and put it in a spray bottle?

I tend to just use it on it's own and it's effective. Found sulpher turns socks yellow.

 

[MontyZoom5]

I tend to just use it on it's own and it's effective. Found sulpher turns socks yellow.

Oh ok, that's interesting thank you x and it works fine on its own without the sulphur? X

 

[Janee]

Do you mix the sulphur in with the pig oil and put it in a spray bottle?

Gold label do a ready mix, put on how you and horse find easiest - hands, clothe spray - just put plenty on and PATCH TEST

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

Oh ok, that's interesting thank you x and it works fine on its own without the sulphur? X

I've never used it with the sulpher and I've never had mud fever on a horse in 18 years, ranging from TB's to big hairy cobs.