People with cobs

[Firewell]

What is the best way to keep their legs in winter?

My sister loans a cob who lives out 24/7 and has white, pinky skinned legs. He grows a lot of feather.

Now to prevent mud fever (it gets pretty muddy in his field, clay and chalk mix), is it best to keep his feathers longer or is it best to keep them well trimmed. Normally they are kept trimmed with scissors.

Thank you .

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Mine has never had mud fever but just because of the enormous amount of mud that accumulates in their feathers I clip her feathers of for the winter. They will be done this weekend - they grow back over the winter so are fluffy again by spring

 

[Feathered]

I'm in the keep them long brigade.

Last year we were on clay soil and the mud was horrendous, so glad we have moved in time for this winter! But no matter how muddy my cobs legs looked on the outside by the time you scrummage through all the feather to get to their skin it was clean and dry. Natures best mud barrier if you ask me.

 

[lara b]

Think a lot of people use pig oil and sulphur as a preventitive measure, if you do a search on here you should find more info (think it is best to test patch first) , oh and leave the feathers on with this method

 

[Bertolie]

I'm in the keep them long brigade.

No matter how muddy my cobs legs looked on the outside by the time you scrummage through all the feather to get to their skin it was clean and dry. Natures best mud barrier if you ask me.

Agree with this

 

[mymissmegan]

I use pigs oil and sulphur and swear by it. Was the only thing to cure her mud fever and as long as you follow directions I haven't had Any problems since!!

 

[AmyMay]

I'm with the keep them long and on brigade - they're there for a reason.

 

[mymissmegan]

But to add to my reply I take feathers off but that's a personal preference. When her mud fever was bad it was the only way I could see what was going on x

 

[starbar]

Leave them on. Pig oil and sulphur will prevent the feather getting bog burnt.

Natures best way of preventing the mud getting to the skin. I am on clay soil and don't even bother washing the mud out unless we need to be smart. Under the feather, which can be mud dreadlock-tastic, next to the skin is warm and dry. Its when you start messing with it that you get problems

 

[cider loving mare]

Yes I have also found if you keep feathers on it prevents any problem. Can also use babyoil or 7day mud away.

 

[Ellies_mum2]

^^^ This



I have a cob and her feather last winter had dread locks like you wouldn't believe but not a spot of mud fever and being on clay I think thats brilliant Didn't use any lotions and potions either

 

[MrsHutt]

H has very nice, long feathers at the moment and I have been advised to leave well alone. We are on clay here, but he is in a new field this winter, so I don't know how it will compare with last year. I think they were trimmed off when I got him (last December) - I can't really remember! (but it looks like it on the photos ) and he was fine.

I understand they offer protection, as other posters have said (and I think they look nice ).

 

[katherine1975]

I leave the feathers on, as others have said no matter how muddy it's been when I've checked her feathers her legs have been dry inside all the hair.

 

[jsr]

7 years I've had my lad and never had any problems with his legs. He is VERY feathered and I leave them alone!!! I never ever ever ever wash him down in the winter, I leave the mud to dry and give them a quick brush through (but not with a mane brush just a body brush) and check, he's got 2 white legs and 2 brown and neither have a problem. I do ride him on the beach quiet often so maybe the salt water helps but I'm a strong believer of leaving alone...those feathers were put there for a reason.

Woman on my yard who faffs and washes and put on lotions and potions always has problems....should tell her something when she keeps asking me why I never have a problem!!

 

[indiat]

Agree with everyone who says leave them alone! And get some pig oil and sulpher for some extra back up.

 

[K27]

I have a traditional cob with the long mane and feathers- he is only 2 but have never had a prob with mud fever etc etc so far- he's turned out every day in the winter. i use Deosect as a preventative to mites and if his legs get wet/muddy i just leave to dry and brush out. I have also used either liquid parrafin or aqueous cream to stop the mud sticking too.

 

[kal40]

I'm with the leave on and don't fiddle brigade. He is on wood pellets and rubber mats and I find that the sawdust dries his feathers and cleans some of the mud off anyway.

 

[Fatpants]

I'm in the keep them long brigade.

Last year we were on clay soil and the mud was horrendous, so glad we have moved in time for this winter! But no matter how muddy my cobs legs looked on the outside by the time you scrummage through all the feather to get to their skin it was clean and dry. Natures best mud barrier if you ask me.

^^ Same here - I have a white cob with pink skin (fingers crossed NEVER had a problem) - I do apply pig oil in the winter. Apply lots to clean dry feathers and brush in to dry over night - it prevents the clinkers/pendulums of mud sticking.

 

[Lolo]

We had to keep our little coblet's feathers on (in the loan agreement...) and we used a lot of the mud repellents, and then hibiscrub in the evenings to try and clean them up (the fields he lived in were essentially swamp in the winter). He got mud fever once before we started with the preventative measures, and due to the huge amount of feather we didn't notice until it tracked right up his leg...

If given half a chance, we'd have probably taken them off- whilst it's not natural for them to come off, it's also not normal for a pony to live in a swamp all winter...