Heat rash under saddle?

[Christmas Crumpet]

Took horse hunting yesterday and had a new half wool nuumed numnah which I'd ridden in for 2 days beforehand.

He was pretty sore on his back when we got home and I wondered whether saddle had pinched him.

Today he has come up in lumps like a rash just below where the panel of the saddle sits. When I took saddle off yesterday all the numnah was wet esp. the quilted bit below panels. Could he have heat rash or something else from the quilted bit?

Will ride him in full sheepskin next time but very strange. Have put aloe vera gel on it. It was slightly noticeable this morning, nearly ok when I got him in and now is really quite noticeable. I changed his rug because I thought he might be too hot. Its only really on his near side. I've never seen anything like it before.

Any ideas? Also in NL.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

He could easily have got too hot under a new numnah. Sounds as if it might be the beginnings of rain scald, from sweat rather than rain. Sometimes areas of rainscald aren't uniform and have owners scratching their heads but there's always an obscure reason for it. I'd gently treat with Hibiscrub as if it is rain scald - can't hurt. If no better, rethink. You might have to not ride him for a bit to give it a chance to heal.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

Just been out to check him again and the lumps have moved. Last night they were further down his side. Today there are still some there but also some along his back where the panel sits.

Still only on one side though. I will wash with hibiscrub and see what's what. Will also ring the vet and see what they think!!

 

[teddyt]

Wool can absorb alot of moisture before it feels damp, so if the numnah was wet all over the horse probably sweated alot. It could be bacterial folliculitis, which is when bacteria gets into the hair follicles and cause raised bumps. It happens when a horse gets hot beause the pores open and is more likely to occur after clipping, if a numnah is dirty and if the horse was insufficiently cooled down. But it can happen without any of these! Oh, and removing the saddle from a hot horse, particularly with cold air, can contribute too.

I would also check your saddle fit, as soreness wouldnt usually start straight away from folliculitis, but several hours later. Although if the horse is sensitive it is possible. The saddle pressure could be uneven if the lumps are only on one side too.

If it is folliculitis you treat it with dilute hibiscrub. Cool horse down very well and dont remove saddle too quickly. Keep numnah very, very clean but only wash with liquid specially for wool (powder clogs wool fibres and they wont absorb sweat as well).