Help - My horse is going bald! :(

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LansdownK310

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I've had my horse 4 weeks now, he's rising 5 and 7/8ths TB. He was a little underweight when I picked him up but the weight is going on him and he’s building muscle tone and looking fab, however…

Probably 2 1/2 weeks ago he lost some hair on the side of his face, only on the right hand side. Initially it was put down to his next door neighbour biting him as it developed overnight when he was stabled.

I've been hibiscrubing it and putting on sudocream as the area was scaly but not scabby.

Over the weekend I noticed that he’s got patch baldness on the inside of both hind legs where his tail would brush and leg straps sit, again not scabby just hair loss. However this is worse after he’s been exercised and is hot – it gets raised and is more prominent – almost like a heat rash.

Again hibiscrubing it.

Noticed yesterday that his hair is thinning on the top of his legs, girth area and his sides (all where he’s clipped – he has a trace clip) and on the inside of the hind legs and still on his face but now starting to develop on the left hand side – it literally runs all the way up his head where the bridle sits and on his cheek.

He’s been quite scurfy but has a shiny coat and is moulting at the minute. Doesn't seem to be itchy.

Diet changes have been addition of sugarbeet, more grass and hay instead of haylege. He’s turned out on his own, is rugged and I regularly poo pick in his field. I keep and my tack as clean as possible and always sponge off after exercise as he can get quite warm. Vet is coming out this afternoon to have a look as I’m at a complete loss and really worried.

Any ideas/similar experiences? Can’t see any critters moving around and doesn’t look like ringworm.

He does have a few white flecks in his coat on his neck and face – in similar places so I might ring previous owner to see if any skin problems she hasn’t told me about!!!
 
When I first got my appy she used to lose patches of her coat, some times she would lose big areas too. It used to happen when she got stressed or run down when she was poorly. When she was well and not stressed it would all come back. The vet gave me a bottle to dilute and bath her withech time she started to loose it.

I can't remember what it was she had, because it is over 20 years ago now!! But if you have only had him 4 weeks. He will probably be under stress from the move etc.

The other thing she has always done is dump her coat to quickly and when she was is work areas where her tack went the hair would rub off so I used to had to cover her saddle and bridle with wool covers as they were against skim before her coat came through.
 
Sounds like it could just be dip in vitality over the change of seasons and mault. Or it could be signs of a cereal intollerance. You could move to a fibre based diet i.e chopped grass or alfa a with a vit/min supplement to ensure the horse is getting all it needs, and an oil based supplement such as saracens equijewel to help with energy, coat, and weight.
 
I am worried that it could be ringworm, although his hair loss is not consistent, some areas scabby, others just bald. He was moved to a new stable 3 weeks ago which had been used as a tack room previously.

But then again could be stress - he's on a larger yard than previous home but he's alot more settled in himself than when he arrived and is loving work.
 
I have just got my pony back from being out on loan and have noticed she is quite patchy all over where the fur is much thinner (she is fully clipped out) There are no scabs and her skin looks fine. However she didnt come back in the most amazing condition, had lost alot of muscle and was very lean. I was putting it down to lack of condition and also possible stress of moving. She is on the road to recovery now so am hoping the summer coat will just grow through.
 
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