Photosensitive/sunburnt horse

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1Magil

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Magil was turned out as a foal in Ireland and it went unnoticed that he had a bad reaction to the sun. When he came to the UK as a 4yo he had no hair on his white blaze and socks.... only blistering and raw skin. Two years on his hair is slowly growing back due to TLC/factor 50/masks and select turn out times.

I am interested to know if anyone else has exprienced a similar problem with their horse and advice or suggestions.

He has been tested for liver problems and tests were clear and dont feed him mix as I have learnt that this can be an irritant to sensitive skin.

He is such a friendly horse and so good to do I want to do everything i can to ease his comfort with the summer approaching and welcome your response.

:-)
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I battle sunburn every year, i have a very pink nosed cob i found a lady who made me a special nose mask from uv material its brilliant. I have seen some turnout socks made from similar material perhaps they would help? (racking my brains where i saw them). Ive found that dermisol cream is brilliant for soothing any sore areas its all natural and promotes natural healing.
Its a very difficult thing to deal with will try and think of anything else that might be of use.
 
I had the same problem - it would always burn and got fed up of putting sunblock on it which he used to rub off. I then discovered this. It goes onto the headcollar and now he never gets a burnt nose and can stay out all time now. They are about £9.00 thats all. I call it his frying pan.
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Just found a pic so you can see what material is like
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Its very good and she does not have to have suncream on with it. This is when i got a new one so its clean!!
 
thank you so much for your advice. I have tried dermosol in the past to sooth the skin and at the moment am using sudocream. The only mask i have for him is 80% resistant and to be honest really isnt that helpful. I have tried looking for 100% uv resistant material but haven't the first clue on what and where etc. I would be very interested in knowing where you got your material from so that i can attempt to put something together!

thanks again for your help.x
 
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Hollyf they are really good those noses, ive got a few but with this huge pink nose i need sides!!lol



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His nose is the same it is that big and pink but it seems to shade round the sides too. It can't go too far round the sides else he would eat it!
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Just a thought and this is probably wrong:
I had a pony on loan with a horribly sunburnt nose. The vet and I tried everything, he was covered in suncreams all day long to keep the sun off and different creams all night long to help the skin recover but things were getting worse not better.

Then completely coincidentally I saw a picture of a horse with harvest mites, which cause very similar sores to sunburn all over the nose and lower legs (which makes a lot more sense, as how does a horse get sunburnt on its legs?). I used a cream called Camrosa, there was improvement within 24 hours and the whole thing cleared within a few days (they did return in later years, but by applying the cream early I could clear it up within a couple of days). This is their site:
http://www.camrosa.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=140

They also recommend it for sunburn so it could help either way:
http://www.camrosa.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=143

Maybe worth a try?
 
Some horses are more photosensitive than others, just as some people are. Some horses have areas with very little or no pigment in the skin. If the horse has a sparse, fine coat there is less to bounce the suns rays away from the skin.

Liver function tests are notoriously unrelyable. For example, a horse with servere liver damage eg due to ragwort poisoning can return a healthy test up to the point that about only 20% of the liver is still functioning. It will obviously be showing other symprtoms, but still the liver function tests will come back clear.

Other causes of photosensitivity are eating buckwheat or clover in high volume.

To some extent the liver can be repaired. Products such as Global herbs Rag Aid or Restore are both tonics that will de-tox the horse. Even if the horse is not having liver problems they will benifit it.

It might be worth looking in the hay to see if there is a lot of clover. Aslo make sure the horse is never without fresh water as this will flush the system.
 
Hi 1Magil. I have a rescued mare who has terrible ragwort poisoning from a previous ignorant owner. I have pulled her back from the brink and she is ok at the moment but summer will be a trial due to the photosensitivity caused by the poisoning. Any horse that has white skin as opposed to the more common grey, is at risk of serious sunburn. In addition, gypsy cobs commonly get patches of dermatitis in the white areas of their bodies. I am currently in conversation with SnuggyHoods who make a hood/face mask/complete body that they assure me is extensively used in Australia where the sun is a real problem. I'm not totally convinced as, like you say, I think the fabric they use will not give total protection. HOWEVER!!!! I was talking to my horse insurers to find out whether there was any possibility of any sort of veterinary cover for a horse with existing 70+% liver damage (there isn't) and the advisor I was speaking to told me that her rescue horse also had bad liver damage and photosensitivity. She has sewn him his own personal, made to measure face mask and it is brilliant. She made it from bright white pure cotton and borrowed the plastic horse's head from her local tack shop to get everything just right. She made shredded cotton fringes over each eye and left an over long shredded fringe circling the whole muzzle area (most muzzle guards only cover the top of the muzzle and a badly affected horse will still burn horribly on the sides of his muzzle) and the action of the horse grazing wore it down to the right length. She has sent me measurements and photos - PM me if you are interested and I will photocopy and send to you. I'm hoping that my vets are right and my girl may be able to live a more normal life this summer, with snow white anti-sun masks/rugs, total sun block for babies slapped on regularly, milk thistle to continue supporting her liver and (maybe) coming in daily from 11 to 3 when the sun is at its strongest. Gotta say it - Equestrian Direct are the bees knees! Talk about customer care!!!! Good luck with your ned x
 
I was just going to recommend Camrosa too. it is fab!

As well as being sunproof it is waterproof too. A bit messy but I am sure it would work a treat, although if it were my horse I would have a nose net on it too for added protection.

My mare has no hair on her back due to severe rainscald before I got her and I use it on her in the summer just to give her a bit of relief from wearing a rug permanently. It's definitely worth having some in anyway for lots of things.
 
Thank you for the advice

i did actualy try camrosa when I first had him to years ago but his skin became very inflammed as it is quite potent! I would be very interested to know if it has worked for other people though and if anyone is/knows of a vet who agrees wih the product as my vet is firmly opposed to the product and made me stop using it immediately. I understand that many vets have diferent views though so would welcome any medical advice on the product.

Thanks again for all your help, every bit of info has been noted and made me think outside my box!! keep them coming.. please!
:-)

j.x
 
Hi there, my horse started suffering from this last year and its a total nightmare isn't it!! I took her to a ode and couldn't understand why she didn't want to canter in the dressage or jump - really unusual for her as she is usually really keen! there was no real visible sunburn on her legs apart from a bit of scurf but a few days later her legs got really scabby. - she must have been v sore.

I now use the equilibrium mask and boots as she gets it really bad on her four white socks

http://www.equilibriumproducts.com/sun_protection/equi_chapsreg_sun_protect_chaps/

they really help but make sure you get a size up - hers have only lasted one summer as they came apart at the stitching (perhaps I shouldn't have put them in the washing machine!!)

to be honest tho I find it just as easy to bring her in during the day and turn her out at night to avoid the sun totally ( not sure if thats an option for you?).

good luck!
 
A bit random but did you know that a washing product called Glo White adds UVR protection to the fabric? I wash a couple of old tshirts in it for my kids to use in the pool in summer for peace of mind. So... if you are planning to sew something yourself for your horse in the sun you could wash the fabric in it first, and thereafter to add a bit more protection? I did use in on a lightweight cotton summer sheet for a palomino pony who kept getting caught by the sun and I'm sure it did help but we took other precautions too so can't guarantee it was the rug on its own!

You don't want to take your horse to a rave wearing it though - they light up like Blackpool under the disco lights..!

('rave' 'disco', cripes that makes me feel old!)
 
You get it in the supermarket, in the detergent aisle I think, its what you go to find if you had really yucky net curtains in your caravan....apparently! Can't promise it will help but worth looking at..
 
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