KWHX
Member
The horse I share (Welsh Sec D) has come out in little lumps over his flanks and hind quarters, and I'm uncertain as to whether this relates to clipping or a change of feed.
I have clipped him since October 2011. I don't have my own clippers so I borrowed my friend's Listers (newly sharpened standard Lister blades), and gave him a full clip. I used Gold Label spray clipper oil. The clippers remained cool and result was great, no problems. I clipped again on 4th December with another friend's Heiniger Progress clippers (standard Heiniger blades, same can of spray oil). Again, cool blades and I was pleased with the result.
Then, on Monday 12th December, the horse's owner was given a load of Graze-On, Happy Hoof, and various supplements inc Echinachea, Devils Claw, Garlic, Mint, and Glucosamine. Annoyingly, she tipped the new feed over his existing feed (Saracen Slim Chaff) covering it and making it inaccessible. Subsequently, she suddenly changed him onto a complete new feeding regime on the 2 days I'm not there. He went from a handful of Slim Chaff with Equilibra to 'bowl scoops' of the new feed plus all the aforementioned supplements, with no change over period at all. By Wednesday 14th December (when i was next there) his flanks and quarters were covered in small, solid, headless lumps. They didn't appear to itch or bother him. I spoke to her on the phone and she agreed we should change him back to his usual feed, which I had to go out and buy. The lumps appeared to subside after a few days, although not all of them have fully disappeared.
Today I ran the same Heininger clippers (newly sharpened standard blades) with the same Gold Label spray oil over him and, unless it's my imagination, he had new lumps by the end of the day.
I have this weekend discovered that on the 3 days I don't go the horse's owner is feeding him not only 'bowl scoops' of Graze-on and Slim-Chaff (plus Equilibra) but has also been giving him haynets of haylage too! (He's a Welsh Section D remember).
Now I'm confused. Was his initial reaction to the change of feed 2/3 days before, and is now exacerbated by her 'secretly' feeding him so much feed and haylage? Or did he react to the Heiniger clippers 10 days after I clipped him and today's clip has somehow aggravated him again?
I would normally get treatment from the Vet, but firstly I don't own the horse, and secondly I wonder what is the point when his owner is so bloody minded as to feed a different regime 3 days a week (simply because the feed was free!) despite knowing there is suspicion of this feed regime causing the problem! There is no point in treating a problem whilst potentially causing it at the same time. I can't rule out the feed under these circumstances.
So I wondered if anyone else's thoughts/experiences could direct me somewhat?
I have clipped him since October 2011. I don't have my own clippers so I borrowed my friend's Listers (newly sharpened standard Lister blades), and gave him a full clip. I used Gold Label spray clipper oil. The clippers remained cool and result was great, no problems. I clipped again on 4th December with another friend's Heiniger Progress clippers (standard Heiniger blades, same can of spray oil). Again, cool blades and I was pleased with the result.
Then, on Monday 12th December, the horse's owner was given a load of Graze-On, Happy Hoof, and various supplements inc Echinachea, Devils Claw, Garlic, Mint, and Glucosamine. Annoyingly, she tipped the new feed over his existing feed (Saracen Slim Chaff) covering it and making it inaccessible. Subsequently, she suddenly changed him onto a complete new feeding regime on the 2 days I'm not there. He went from a handful of Slim Chaff with Equilibra to 'bowl scoops' of the new feed plus all the aforementioned supplements, with no change over period at all. By Wednesday 14th December (when i was next there) his flanks and quarters were covered in small, solid, headless lumps. They didn't appear to itch or bother him. I spoke to her on the phone and she agreed we should change him back to his usual feed, which I had to go out and buy. The lumps appeared to subside after a few days, although not all of them have fully disappeared.
Today I ran the same Heininger clippers (newly sharpened standard blades) with the same Gold Label spray oil over him and, unless it's my imagination, he had new lumps by the end of the day.
I have this weekend discovered that on the 3 days I don't go the horse's owner is feeding him not only 'bowl scoops' of Graze-on and Slim-Chaff (plus Equilibra) but has also been giving him haynets of haylage too! (He's a Welsh Section D remember).
Now I'm confused. Was his initial reaction to the change of feed 2/3 days before, and is now exacerbated by her 'secretly' feeding him so much feed and haylage? Or did he react to the Heiniger clippers 10 days after I clipped him and today's clip has somehow aggravated him again?
I would normally get treatment from the Vet, but firstly I don't own the horse, and secondly I wonder what is the point when his owner is so bloody minded as to feed a different regime 3 days a week (simply because the feed was free!) despite knowing there is suspicion of this feed regime causing the problem! There is no point in treating a problem whilst potentially causing it at the same time. I can't rule out the feed under these circumstances.
So I wondered if anyone else's thoughts/experiences could direct me somewhat?