Horse coming in from field covered in strange lumps.. hives?

A

AGAGE

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 April 2009
Messages
241
Location
norfolk
Visit site
When I got my old boy in from the field on Sunday night he was covered in lumps ranging from 5 pence piece sizes to 3-4 cm in diameter..all over his back and flanks. Although it looked awful , he seemed completely un-phased by me touching his lumps and grooming him. When I got to him in the morning the lumps were gone. My initial thought was that it looked like hives or nettle rash, the images for hives on google look very similar to his lumps and bumps. None of his food etc has changed he is still on the same turnout, that he has been on for the last few years...

Yesterday he came in from field lump free, however when I got him in today he was covered in lumps again. He doesn't seem to be in any discomfort and appears otherwise well. Our land is covered in buttercups at the moment, which has happened in the past but this year there is also less grass. So I'm suspecting that he might be eating more buttercups, dock leaves and nettles than usual.

I've looked up the symptoms of buttercup poisoning and it doesn't fit, as he doesn't have excess saliva or colic type symptoms. It has been quite warm recently but not really hot, so don't think it could be a heat type rash. If he comes in with the lumps again I will obviously get the vet out, but I don't know why he is getting these awful lumps, he seems his usual self just with horrible lumps.

Could it be buttercups?Are there any common causes or allergies that it might be?
 
My mare was the same about 2 weeks ago. Quite spectacular - she came in looking like hairy chestnut bubble wrap! As OP says, totally unfazed by it, absolutely normal in every way except for the bubble wrap look. Didn't ride her while she was like it because I thought it would have been uncomfortable under the tack and didn't want to turn harmless hives/urticaria into a zillion broken skin spots. Slowly went down over 3 days, no treatment whatsoever and she was ridden on day 4. No recurrence so far. Allergy to something but no idea what!
 
The first day I put my chestnut TB on summer grazing, he came in covered in bumps all over, varying in size. They were not itchy and I felt pretty sure it was a reaction to something he had grazed on - they were all gone by the next day.
 
My 5yr old mare loves nothing more than snoozing in nettles... I often bring her in covered in lumps from them I just rub some wondergel into the area and leave her be and they are normally gone the next day.
 
As you can't be sure of the reason for this, I would try a rain sheet if you have one, provided it will not cause overheating as these things can be aggravated by sunshine, plus it would help whether he was eating or lying in something, its more likely to be eating something.
As buttercups and other weeds are taking up space which could be devoted to grass and good herbs you could spray them, as long as you have an alternative field. I quite like a few thistles and would keep a few nettles.
Also spray horse with fly spray.
 
Last edited:
My youngster used to do this the day after a shower of rain on spring grass. It lasted for a couple of days then disappeared. I decided that the rain had caused a flush of sugars in the grass and this was the cause. Has it rained or showered recently where you are?
 
Thanks for all your responses. He came into day still lumpy but not as bad as yesterday. He still seems his normal self. We did get some brief showers over the weekend and prior to that we hadn't had rain for around a month; so could be related to lack of water and then heavy showers affecting grass sugars.Will keep monitoring his bumps, but obviously if gets worse will call vet. Just hoping the lumps disappear soon, as it looks horrible.
 
Four horses at our yard have had the same thing, looks like nettle rash. With the first horse they thought it was straw mites but two that are living out have it. Oe horse is covered at the moment some are small and others are huge!!! Has come up all over face this morning.
 
Mine comes in like this from time to time. Vet was out last week for something unrelated and said he'd seen four that day with the same. He seemed to think it was a pollen allergy but as it wasn't causing any discomfort said to leave it alone...
 
My horse also came in last night absolutely covered in lumps over his entire body with his muzzle and lips also swollen. I can't see that it is a nettle rash as he didn't have any part of his body that wasn't affected. It must be something ingested. He seemed fine this morning. I wonder what it is affecting them all. The pony he shares grazing with was absolutely fine.
 
My horse has moved to summer grazing. He has never had these lumps until other day. Does anyone no of any antihistermines? How long should I leave it until get vet out. I did speak to the vet they weren't concerned if he wasn't bothered by them just look horrible. Should I not ride? So paranoid
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top