Heat lumps on my horse and how to deal with?

[SAL66]

I think the lumps he has are heat related, he has quite a few on the underside of his neck, shoulders.They appear as raised areas of fur and then a small scab appears, TBH they look a right mess.They don't seem to bother him and probably more prominent at the end of the day.

I have started to leave him naked in the stable at night, although I do rug him up in the day time , I am just going to turn him out today in a summer sheet, the covering up is more for my convienence if I'm being honest- he's a mud magnet!.

I am going to wash the areas with diluted hibiscrub to see if that makes any difference, but just wondering if you have any other ideas on what to do, or if your horse has these?.

When I next get the vet up I will get him to check these out, but they do come and go so I'm not unduly worried.

 

[melv1lle]

Not sure if those are heat lumps so agree you should get the vett o check them out. My horse gets heat lumps round his girth area which are under the skin and disappear when he cools down. There is no scabbing or anything. If they are just heat lumps then making sure you wash him off properly after work seems effective with mine - and I am also using a sheepskin sleeve on his girth to make sure there is no rubbing. But would be interested to hear what your vet says about them.

 

[Abbeygale]

I agree with SCostello - my old mare used to get heat lumps - if I rode her using polypads or similar or if she had a rug on that was too thick for the weather. She never had scabby bits on them. When she did get them I would rug her lightly (she only ever seemed to get them in the winter) and wash her off well after riding. Oh and only used thin cotton numnahs

 

[AmyMay]

I wonder if it's weather beat rather than heat rash. How well does the rug fit around the neck - is there a chance that the rug could be letting in water? Is it a heavy type rug that could be rubbing???

 

[SAL66]

He had them with his combo so not sure if it is a rug related issue, but thanks anyway.
I have just come from the yard and there were much better than last night, and I have brushed these raised areas with a old brush and the scurf /scabs that comes from these areas is incredible and that is with only a soft brushing.

I have washed them with hibiscrub and will take another view later.
Before clipping he had these "lumps" and taking his coat off seemed to help, its only when his coat grows do they appear again.
I did think at first it could be food related but after the clipping they disappeared for several months - tis very strange.

But thanks for your comments and I will more than likely get the vet to have alook at it probably tomorrow.