Mud rash that cant be mud rash?!

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LegOn

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My horse has a few scabs on the back of his heels and under his fetlock on his hinds that are very similar to mud rash, scabby and a bit sore but no heat or lameness. I cut away some of his hair and washed off the scabs with hibiscrub and have some Equicream on them but my thing is, he isnt turned out in mud!! Actually hasnt been in mud really at all - his paddock didnt get muddy cause when it was really bad they would turnout in the sand arena so I'm wondering is it a sand irritation?

He is ridden on a sand/fiber/rubber mix arena and I always wash his legs after riding. He is off grass about a month now and in a sand/rubber turnout arena.

Nothing has changed in his routine - nothing new introduced.

I thought mud rash was from a bacterial thing in the mud, so wondering what this could be? Anything different I should do to treat it??
 
Wet sand can contain the bacteria too!
Almost certain the sand is causing it, my filly was turned out in a sand pen for the first winter i had her and she had the most horrendous mud fever she's ever had.
 
If you are washing daily are his legs dried really well, it does not have to be in mud to get worse, once the bacteria is in the legs a warm damp environment will allow it to thrive.
Use cold water, warm will open the pores and allow it to spread further, I would remove as much hair as you can so it is easier to keep dry and only wash when you absolutely have to.
 
Black_Horse_White said:
Sounds like mites, my cob had the same thing until he had the injection off the vet.
Click to expand...

If it doesnt clear up I think I will be getting the vet to have a look alright incase it is.

be positive said:
If you are washing daily are his legs dried really well, it does not have to be in mud to get worse, once the bacteria is in the legs a warm damp environment will allow it to thrive.
Use cold water, warm will open the pores and allow it to spread further, I would remove as much hair as you can so it is easier to keep dry and only wash when you absolutely have to.
Click to expand...

Good point - he isnt very hairy but I will trim off some more hair and make sure they are dried through.

Thanks a mil for the replies - should I keep removing scabs? Luckily they arent oozing or no sign of pus or blood which I guess is good! It could be the combination of damp legs and sand :(
 
Has the feed changed at all? Some of ours will get scabs on their heels when their diet changes over from all grass, to having hay in the winter. We try to make the transition as gradual as possible, which has lessened the scabs but it still occurred. My horse got them from going from being out 24/7 to box rest. It wasn't mud fever or mites, it was the change in feed :)

Some get them, some don't. Could also be a allergy to grains? Worth cutting out of the diet to see :)
 
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