HELP

[fizzywhizz]

My mare has developed a lumpy area almost like rain scald on her back where the saddle would sit on her right side. Any ideas what this might be?

She is not due a saddle check until November - could it be an allergy of some sort?

She has had a few days off but it does not seem to be going away.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

If it looks like rainscald, it probably is! Neds can get rainscald from a sweaty back after a long ride as well as from being unrugged in heavy rain. If your ned is rugged up, might be worth checking whether the rug is torn at exactly that spot. The other thing it could be is something stuck under the saddle or numnah eg piece of bramble. Numnah could have a thick seam at exactly that spot which has caused a saddle sore. Saddle itself could have a bit protruding that is poking through the numnah and causing a saddle sore. I'd check every piece of clothing/kit that goes on your ned about where the sore area is. Rub your hands very very hard over numnahs, rugs etc looking for something scratchy or pokey. Then ask yourself whether you have had to rush with your ned at all and she might have had a sweaty wet back when the rug went on. While you're doing this, you can start to clear the sore area up. I'd wash gently in warm water and hibiscrub. Gently pick off any scabs. Don't put anything on the area, just keep regularly washing and picking and put a spotlessly clean, dry rug on her. You'll have to drop riding until it heals to give it a chance to heal x

 

[fizzywhizz]

Many thanks - I did do an endurance ride weekend before last but am always careful to wash her off properly. I washed the numnah after the ride too. Sounds like it probably is rain scald but I have never seen it before so was not sure.

Thanks for your comments will check everything carefully and make sure she heals up properly.

x

 

[kerilli]

it can be caused if the numnah wasn't thoroughly rinsed, 1 of my horses was on loan and sweated in a saddlepad, the soap came out of it and poor horse had a 'rainscald' area that exactly matched the saddlepad.