Hives

[horseforester]

I have a 21 year old new forest mare who in I have had for three years. In that time she has developed hives. Vet has confirmed. I have tried to eliminate food response, contact response and I have tried calavesse, various food suppliments, covering her, not covering her, fly repellents, no fly repellants but to no effect. It used to be just when I bought in for the winter but it is now all year round. She has them when she is only on grass in the summer. We have moved yards and she still has them. They do not trouble her but do me! She is often hot when the lumps are there. Whether the lumps make her hot, or the lumps are worse when she is hot is anyones guess. Any suggestions?

 

[Snowysadude]

With a horse on my yard at home that had hives (confirmed by vet) we actually found that it was the rich grass and haylage which caused them, was a right pain as they were all under the saddle as well as on other parts of the body so couldnt ride. The vet said that he had never heard of that before but when he went on restricted grazing and hay only the hives dissapeared

. But it worked, so dont know if you have considered something like that? Hope you figure out what triggers them soon anyway

 

[horseforester]

Thank you. I am not on haylage-tried that but made no difference. If might be richer grazing though. I have wondered whether it is the grass or some weed in it. Just not sure what to do if it is. I will not use steroids as the risk of laminitis too high for something which at the moment does not bother her. I will try the restricted grazing.