Cracked Heals

[Young Rider]

My Hunter has got what looks like mud fever or a very nasty fungal thing on all four heels. He had it last season and I tried everything to get rid of it but it just keeps on coming back, getting worse with wet ground.
Anyone got any suggestions as to any magical potions I could try. I've already tried most mud fever creams, caneston, purple spray etc...

 

[Maesfen]

Did you try Protocon, that's excelllent as long as you rub it in, don't just smear it on?
Make sure he's on a good diet so that his skin is well too, you can always use a drop of oil to help.

 

[Young Rider]

No, not tried Protoco - is it an equine product?

Yeah - he's got pretty soft skin anyway, basically he's a wimp! But diet and all else is good...

 

[Maesfen]

PROTOCON, yes, made by Hydraphane. You can use it for any cuts and bruises too.
You could also try ziinc & castor oil cream (same as for nappy rash, £1 for a big pot)

 

[Rosehip]

I hunted my heavy coloured cob mare - clipped out - and found that the best thing to keep her legs free from the dreaded cracking was to oil her up (veg/baby oil etc) before we went out, and then wash her off with cold water to keep the pores closed, then bandages over gamgee to dry off and then oil again.... if there are any scabs then wash with warm water and hibi scrub, pick the scabs off and apply germoline or any anti-bac cream and keep em dry.. A pain but well worth it! My Fell suffered with horrendous scabs and cracking on her back legs (where she is white to the fetlock) and I did the above - took all the feather off - and it cleared up pretty quickly.
Good luck! x

 

[Theresa_F]

Pig oil and sulphur - mixed so it looks like a macdonalds thickshake and you can also use a mix of sudocream, tea tree oil and sulpur on the heels.

PM if you want the long PM I do on the stuff

 

[Rosehip]

Oh yeah, I totally forgot about that! We used that on the show shires to keep them from getting 'grease' and it was brilliant!!