How to get rid of nasty matted dreadlocks on yearling..

[Twinkletoes]

Our boy although picking up condition significantly, has struggled to shed his winter coat, which was very poor and also was full of matted dreadlocks. Handling wise we are not yet at the stage of cutting them off unless he was sedated. He is groomed daily and accepts the shedding blade but we just cant loosen some of them. Although they dont look it, some just wont budge. Sorry to bore so many of you who have since november followed our plight - we are getting there!

 

[air78]

Why can't you just snip them off with the scissors? You won't be able to see the coat has been cut when he does change it

Good that you say he's picking up condition- so I'm assuming that you are feeding him a suitable youngstock feed, or at least a good vit and min supp.? All the other youngsters I've ever seen with a coat like that/ not shedding the coat have not been getting adequate nutritional support.

 

[shadowboy]

My boy had those when I bought him- his were stuck on with poo and were attracting flies so we really got to work on them, and massaged them off with a rubber curry comb and then a shedding blade, Hoie didnt seem to mind too much- if you really struggle trim them off- they do not allow the skin to relax as they keep it taught. Good luck

 

[Twinkletoes]

Thanks. air78 my many other (monotonous posts) about this boy explain. Without going into detail we in conjunction with our vets have been working on him since nov. Yes on a suitable hard feed, good grazing, see post re blood tests, he is hopefully going to be my rags to riches story, he is such a dear little horse. D&H Suregrow btw has shown to suit him much better on Spillers YM, he is still partial to his fenugreek in there too, and is due a second week of Vi Sorbin at the end of June

 

[Cahill]

even if you just cut them in half the rest will soon fall out.
i used a tail rake on one of mine about a month ago,he has lost it all now and looks normal.

the strange thing is,in the winter i could brush him with the plastic curry comb and he was `groomed` but it was when he started molting that it got matted and looked similar to yours along the belly.

what a sweet boy