Odd patchy skin on horses back

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HenryandPeta

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I realise I should have photos and will try and get some if I can, but can anyone help?

I have a semi retired cob mare, she's 28. She came to me as a companion about a month ago and has settled in well. On her back she has patches of dry and dead skin, in places the hair has come away from her skin and left bald patches. She doesn't (and won't!) wear a rug and yes her coat is a bit grubby but she gets groomed etc... i rode her last weekend and she didn't seem sore or at all fussed by these patches.

Could it be rainscald? I've never seen that in real life.
 
Certainly does sound like rain scald, especially if she won't wear a rug. In rainscald, the skin and hair roots look sore and crusty and the hair will often come away in little clumps if you tug gently at it. If it's a new infection it may not have reached the sore scabby stage yet. It's relatively easy to get rid of but you may need to teach your new girl to get used to a rug. To treat rainscald, first gently pick of as much of the scabs and crusty stuff that you can or that she will let you. You need to do this as the bacteria lurk UNDER the crusty stuff. Then make up a solution of Hibiscrub (as per bottle) and rub it well into the sore area. Rinse gently and let dry. For persistent infections, you can make up a dribble of weak Hibiscrub, rub it well into the coat and LEAVE IT IN! The problem is that it may return if she continues to regularly get wet. The bacteria live on the skin, just waiting for it to become softened and weakened by continuous exposure to rain and damp (sweat can do it too). I'd teach her to wear a well fitting, lightweight rug. Could you start by just 5 mins wearing it while she has her head in a bucket and build up from there? Good luck!
 
Thank you so much Box of Frogs, I will try the hibiscrub.

I managed to get a pic on my phone yesterday:

bonniesback.jpg


Does that look like rainscald??
 
Sorry to but in but my horses have terrible skin. I found mud fever stop. Its not just great for mudfever but I use it on dry skin patches. http://www.mudfever.net/. It softens dry scabby skin and has all the important bits to control and remove bacterial skin infections. I must admit I was dubious but it seems to work for ours.
 
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