mud fever

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littlelady

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2 February 2007
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england/spain
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my horse got mud fever from me washing her feet! i no longer wash them so it has gone but if i wash them for when the black smith comes or when i go out riding will it come back? and what are the best turn-out chaps to try stop the mud getting to her legs, also what can i put a french trotter to stud with coz i dnt want skinny legs or big legs and shes 16hhs??
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I never wash legs unless it's essential. He goes out straight from the field with wet legs, but as he doesnt need boots it doesnt matter.
he's bedded on soft straw so I can put him to bed with wet legs, if they're sopping I tend to just towel dry them and then brush off the dry in the morning.
The wprst thing you can do IMO is to make wet muddy legs even wetter. For the farrier you can always bring in earlier and leave them to dry.
 
If you really need to wash his leg (and we all do have to sometimes), the quickest way for me to get them bone try is to hose, lightly towel dry (don't rub), wrap dry fluffy handtowels round his legs, and then put stable bandages over them.

In about 30 - 40 mins his legs are totally bone dry
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I wouldn't personally recommend turnout chaps (but my horse's legs are very chunky). I bought equichaps and for me, they kept slipping down in the wet, I had to take them home and wash and dry them each night etc. More trouble than they were worth in my situation.
 
I never clean the mud off my boys legs and feet in winter because I don't have the facilities (no water in field) and I find it dries and comes off during the night anyway. I ride him muddy on the legs and feet too..
For the farrier I bring him round onto my driveway and he will be hosed then but that is the only time.
 
It is the damp conditions that allow the bugs to do their work.

If you have to wash them then dry thoroughly with towels and then use a hair dryer (on a safety cut out adaptor/plug).
 
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