Difference between RAIN SCALD and RINGWORM?

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Ive got a 5 inch patch on my horses back, (where the saddle goes) of dry flaky skin. Its scabbing and coming off in flakes with hair in, so the underneath is bald.

Touching it doesn't bother him and the skin underneath looks ok, not pus filled or raw, thankfully. This made me think it is ringworm.

He is fully clipped, lives out but is rugged.

I know the best way is to get a vet out to take a swab but I wondered if any more experienced people know?

Also, could I treat for both somehow to be sure? I know both are a fungal skin problem.
 
Ringworm patches are slightly raised, and generally roundish in shape, whereas rain scald can be all over the place. If he is rugged, how can he have been exposed to the rain and the bacteria (not fungus) of rain scald?
You could try an over the counter anti fungal treatment like Canestan or athletes foot cream, and you will have to deal with any fungal spores on the rug, as well as anything else that has come into contact with it, such as saddle cloth, brushes etc.
Rain scald is bacterial so something like sudacrem should deal with it.
 
It doesn't sound at all like ringworm. If it's not bothering him I'd try sudocrem for a few days but if that doesn't do it or it gets any worse, get a vet to have a look.
 
Rain scald is a term like mud fever they do not have to be in rain or mud to get either, often a rain scald type of reaction on their back can be caused by being too hot and damp under a rug, it is less likely to be ringworm as they usually pick that up in an area not covered by a rug as there needs to be contact, muzzles are usually the first place they get ringworm.

I would treat it as rain scald, ensure he is not too hot under the rugs, then look into his diet as having poor skin can be related to poor nutrition, it would be a good idea to change the rug and get the current one washed before using again.
 
Thank you. I should have said that I have only had him 2 weeks so he was probably living out before as the dealer had him for only a bit and he was not clipped until she got him.
 
Could it be where the saddle is rubbing him? Their coats are weak at this time of year as they start to moult and I know of a few horses that are getting thinning hair either where the saddles goes or under the rider's boots etc.

Obviously I've not seen it so it might not be this at all but it just made me wonder with you saying it's just the one patch and under where the saddle goes.
 
Thats a good point, though I would have thought that rubbing wouldn't be so flaky. Im treating for rain scald now so I hope it clears up.
 
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