My horse has suddenly got loads of scabs

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lizzerazoo

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Today I noticed loads of little scabs all over my horse's sides (both sides of lower saddles and girth region.) She lives out and is not rugged (very hairy basically.) I've never noticed them before so they can't have been there long. Her hair is very thick. She's in good health otherwise and doesn't seem to be itchy.
Could this be from the snow?
 
Sounds like rain scald which will have been caused by having a damp coat in all this weather. Can bring horse in to treat? It would involve washing the infected areas with antibacterial shampoo, like hibbiscrub, but don't turn out until coat is completely dry and then rug to prevent it happening again. Search 'Rainscald' on the forum & you will find lots of info
 
Carlosmum said:
Sounds like rain scald which will have been caused by having a damp coat in all this weather. Can bring horse in to treat? It would involve washing the infected areas with antibacterial shampoo, like hibbiscrub, but don't turn out until coat is completely dry and then rug to prevent it happening again. Search 'Rainscald' on the forum & you will find lots of info
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Also caused by sweat if in tack area (my guess if still riding) or over rugged...
 
Se's not backed yet. She's a curly and therefore I believe shouldn't need to be rugged. I was always told a rug would negate the benefits of her curliness. But it seems she's succombed to what looks like a form of body mud fever
 
lizzerazoo said:
Se's not backed yet. She's a curly and therefore I believe shouldn't need to be rugged. I was always told a rug would negate the benefits of her curliness. But it seems she's succombed to what looks like a form of body mud fever
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For the areas you've said, has she been sweating up at all or lying down? Doesn't sound standard rainscald from areas said. Rainscald/sweatscald/mud fever is all fundamentally the same though - don't chuck any old cream on it, make sure it's anti bac if you treat. Ours are all out 24/7 naked. Occasionally get it but rarely treat it. Always leave if mild and clears itself up (on vet advice as creams give it a good environment) and if it doesn't budge or gets worse a day or two of pink lotion clears it.
 
Thanks for your help. It's mild in as much as she doesn't seem at all bothered but it covers a huge area from her withers all round the side of her belly - both sides.
 
From the colourthyme stud in Surrey. My husband is very allergic to horses which is why I bought a curly. She's a lovely pony and seems very hardy so I'm surprised this has happened in snow. It'll be interesting stabling her, she's not even been tied up yet although i catch her every day to feed so hopefully she'll be fine.
 
How cold has it been in your paddock? Has your pony have had ice hanging on her coat?

Have you investigated these scabs a bit to see if they are actually scabs or just lumps?

Your curly has a really dense coat eh? Lots of fine stuff next to the skin with a curly guard mat over the top?
 
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It's been very cold like everywhere in UK. Often minus with snow. There hasn't really been ice hanging on her sides, only on her fetlocks which I have been pulling off (legs are fine by the way.) They are scabs not lumps. Very similar to other photos on the forum with oily, yellow stuff at bottom.
She has a very thick coat like a native. Not sure what you mean about curly guard mat...? But she looks like a pony with cushings (she is 3 and is in fine health - or was!)
 
lizzerazoo said:
From the colourthyme stud in Surrey. My husband is very allergic to horses which is why I bought a curly. She's a lovely pony and seems very hardy so I'm surprised this has happened in snow. It'll be interesting stabling her, she's not even been tied up yet although i catch her every day to feed so hopefully she'll be fine.
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You don't necessarily have to stable. We never have, but you need to treat it if not mild. I've successfully treated very bad mud fever on a liveries horse which used to be stabled while out 24/7. Just keeping on top of it and with the right stuff. I've always found pink lotion to be good for the first couple of days (from vets, not much and not on broken skin as strong - steroid), use a clean dry towel to dry off before putting it on, then do the same with sudocrem instead after first couple of days. I did this a couple of times a day. Towel went in wash after each use, or in washing bowl with kettle over.

May not be the problem though as 1stClass says. It's just a guess.
 
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