Help - horses having to cross river in field - mud fever??

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HermanvonHalle

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I have just bought two horses for my husband and I - both are newly over from Ireland and have been living out. One is an Irish Draught and the other is a cob. They are both clipped but are rugged up well and are happy and warm living out together.

There is a small stream running through the field which they cross many times a day (of their own accord) which means their legs are very wet and muddy. They don't seem to have any problems with mud fever yet (although it is still early days - they have only been in the field for a couple of weeks).

The mud around on the river banks is getting very boggy and I was wondering if there is anything I can lay down to even out the land without polluting the stream which they drink from.

Also does anyone have any tips for preventing mud fever or cracked heels on these boys, considering they both live out all the time and neither have their feathers? Very frustratingly although I asked for them to be left on in both cases they were clipped off by the previous owners before they got to me :mad:

I have stocked up on all the normal remedies from the tack shop - malseb shampoo, hoof ointment, pig oil etc but have the words of warning ringing in my ears that its best not to wash the mud off and just not interfere too much.... but then I can't see whats going on. help!

Thanks so much for any help or advice...

xxxx
 
You could always build a small bridge. I bet they would soon learn to use it.

But don't get too worried, some do get mud fever, other's don't.

Pig oil and other stuff really needs to go on to clean and dry legs, so you may be a bit stuffed on that for this year unless you can bring them in for long enough for the legs to dry!
 
Temporarily divide the field, we are only a month away from warmer drier weather. then get to clean off legs and protect for the future. We have very heavy clay soil, I don't wash off legs on a regular basis but do like to get everyone clean and dry at least once a week.
 
Crossing the river might not cause the problems you expect, especially if the water is nice and clean. Horses aren't made of sugar... mine spend much of the winter knee deep in the river eating pond-weed!
 
Bits of Ireland are fairly wet too. Yours sound pretty used to getting their feet wet and if they're fine at this end of the winter I wouldn't worry
 
Thanks so much for all your help, feeling a lot less panicked now! Think I just need to hold out and wait for the weather to improve. Fingers crossed Spring and some decent grass are just around the corner xxx
 
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