Cob with "greasy heel" : remedies?

[no_no_nanette]

Our ClydesdaleX has always had a tendency to "greasy heel" (although his is behind his knees) - white greasy scabs/dandruff, and sometimes the area is obviously a bit sore or itchy. Our vet said that cobs are incredibly prone to this, and not much we could do ... But I think someone on the forum has recommended sulphur/pig oil for something similar. Is this right? WHere do you get hold of pig oil and sulphur? (Don't think i'd have a hope of finding it in my local tack shop!) Have other cob owners found a good remedy for greasy heel? Advice gratefully received!

 

[Theresa_F]

I love pig oil and sulphur - spent a happy 20 minutes last night putting in on my two boys.

Our clydie is prone to grease just below his chesnuts but I can keep it controlled by P&S. If it does flare up and a hard ridge of crust forms, I find the following works very well.

1 tablespoon of sudocream, 1 teaspoon of sulphur, 5 drops of teatree oil mixed together and rubbed in every day for a week - looks very messy but works. After week, wash with a little warm water and drop of hibiscrub and remove any crust. Apply the sudocream mix and repeat. Normally completly gone within a few weeks.

If you have nowhere local, I have just bought 10 litres of oil - £24 and 3 kgs of sulphur- £10 plus postage which came to £48 from Heavy Horse Supplies.

Tom Brewster is very helpful.

http://www.heavyhorsesupplies.co.uk/index.html

If he has mites, the P&S will help to prevent them, but a good spray of frontline also works very well - do make sure you rub it well in.

P&S should be applied every 7 - 10 days- mix in a pot so it looks like a thick shake and brush from knee/hock to floor and then rub - make sure feather is well coated.

In the summer I wash out legs every two - three weeks and rub a few handfuls of sulphur into the skin - drys the leg and keeps mites at bay without oily feather.

I also do not wash out my legs from October to April - they look grubby but underneath all is clean and dry. Do check for any scabbing when you are oiling up.

To date I have not had any problems on Cairo, Chancer or when I had her, Jemima by using this method and they all have lovely full feather.

 

[no_no_nanette]

Thanks so much, this is just what I was looking for! Am off to order all the supplies.

By the way, don't you love Clydies/Clydie Xs? We discovered a stud in the US where they are (seriously) breeding from a beautiful Clydie stallion to create a line of "Olympic showjumpers". We may be watching this space for a very long time, but our Clydie X does jump like a stag, so who knows? He's also the funniest, kindest, easiest horse in the world

... we would always go for another Clydie X, even though some people are very rude about their looks!

 

[Theresa_F]

OH and I are clydie lovers - our clydie has an amazing jump - his backend is very powerful and crossed with TBs they make excellent hunters/SJs.

For us they are best of the heavies - very agile and more lively - if I was taller, I would have had another one instead of my gypsy cob.

I have yet to meet someone - even those not keen on horses who does not like Cairo when they meet him.

 

[Beanyowner]

I was once moved out of the placings in the Best Condition showing class because the judge thought that my cob MAY suffer from Greasy heel...the fact it was the middle of summer and he didn't have any symptoms showing was beside the point...needless to say I was annoyed with the judge. She made the assumption of the fact he has white back socks...GAH!

Anyhoo...Agreed with Theresa_F on treatment and management.

 

[Theresa_F]

What an idiot - did they part the feather to check for scabbing? Obviously someone who has no idea about heavy horses/feathered types.

Chancer to date has never suffered from mites, Jemima never did once I sprayed frontline and Cairo does get a small patch below his chesnuts from time to time which quickly goes with my sudocream, sulphur and teatree oil mix.

I have never had a judge put me down for "potential" grease.

The old remedies do work, but you have to put a little time and effort into regularly checking the legs and applying P&S - less time than washing legs and treating for mud fever in my opinion.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Hoof and Heel or Heel to hoof (not sure what it is called. White pot with green writing on, made by Barrier health (I think). Has cleared my mares in 5 days and she has had it for years (worst in the winter). I just rub it on at night, when she comes in, having wiped off the old with a towel. Scabs and hard skin started to soften and come off within 2-3days.