Mud fever and sandschools

[HarlequinSeren]

I heard once, a few years ago now, that it is a bad idea to use an outdoor (so potentially wet) sandschool to turn a horse out on instead of a field if they are prone to mud fever. Is this true, and if it is could anyone tell me why?
Thanks
HS

 

[HarlequinSeren]

Nobody?

 

[VioletStripe]

I've heard that sand should be avoided in general anyway as it can irritate the skin when it has mud fever? No idea if it's true, mine's never had it *touch wood* but I think I've that somewhere, am happy to be corrected if this is a myth xx

 

[Kat]

My friends horse seems to get a mud fever type thing from working in a sand school a lot.

 

[HarlequinSeren]

That's interesting. I thought it might be irritating for the skin if it's sore and cracked anyway, but I thought if the skin had healed up then it might be ok?

 

[whizzer]

I assume the theory is that the sand being fairly sharp could scratch the skin & allow bacteria in. However we had a few with mudfever a few years ago & had no choice but to use the sand school at our yard & it seem detrimental to it.