Horse's mane going very thin.

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Joanne4584

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Hello. In May Bertie's mane started going very thin. There are no signs of him scratching it. It's only the top half and his forelock. Three vets have looked at it and don't know what's caused it. When I say looked I mean peered at it and said they've never seen anything like it.

The same thing happened last summer, then it grew back in during the winter. He's always had a thin mane but this is taking the mick! Has anyone seen anything like this before?



 
Looks very similar to my mare: this year her mane is drastically thin, especially where rugs can make contact with it at wither and poll; I put it down to rugs having to be on for so much longer this year than previously; I did also worry about mineral imbalance causing some hair loss but I can't see anything in her diet which is to blame (iron is kept to a minimum, selenium levels are OK, she gets a good balancer and her hooves are looking great). My horse's mane has always been fine, but has thinned out quite a bit year on year since she arrived from Europe in 2010 - her forelock has always been a bit of an apology. I'll be interested to read other's comments. Coat is luxurious, as is the tail - it's just the mane which is poor. With this dreadful weather, am even wondering whether lack of sunshine might be contributing!!
 
Hen said:
Looks very similar to my mare: this year her mane is drastically thin, especially where rugs can make contact with it at wither and poll; I put it down to rugs having to be on for so much longer this year than previously; I did also worry about mineral imbalance causing some hair loss but I can't see anything in her diet which is to blame (iron is kept to a minimum, selenium levels are OK, she gets a good balancer and her hooves are looking great). My horse's mane has always been fine, but has thinned out quite a bit year on year since she arrived from Europe in 2010 - her forelock has always been a bit of an apology. I'll be interested to read other's comments. Coat is luxurious, as is the tail - it's just the mane which is poor. With this dreadful weather, am even wondering whether lack of sunshine might be contributing!!
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Bertie is the same, his tail and coat are lovely! The vet did say it might just be a form of alopecia. I was worried Bertie was the only one :o
 
My WB/TB has a mane like this, not quite as thin but not far off. It's quite thick in the middle but the top third is very fine and the bottom third, unfortunately gets rubbed by his rugs in winter, then grows back like the top third. His tail is positively luxurious and his coat is great too. I have to keep the mane very short or he looks ridiculous and his plaits never look very nice. some time ago he spooked and I grabbed a handful of mane to keep my balance and it all came away in my hand! I now use a neckstrap when schooling. I've tried Magnatek but it doesn't seem to have helped.
 
I rode my friend's horse earlier this year who is an ID. She has so much mane and my hands kept getting tangled up in it, I just wasn't used to there being anything there! Bertie's has always rubbed away where his rug has been and left nothing bless him.
 
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