Rugging for rain?

[JBM]

Unfortunately I think I’m starting to see the rain rot appear on Barry again it’s 18° some days but raining should this very thin skin baby get a 0g Rug? the rain Rot is starting on his neck so do I need to fully cover him??
Dry for the next week or so so can kill his rain rot off before the next spell

 

[Birker2020]

Unfortunately I think I’m starting to see the rain rot appear on Barry again it’s 18° some days but raining should this very thin skin baby get a 0g Rug? the rain Rot is starting on his neck so do I need to fully cover him??
Dry for the next week or so so can kill his rain rot off before the next spell

My boy got the start of a very minor rain scald I think it was last Monday from Sunday turnout so when the rain was heavy - predicted at 80 - 90% in our area overnight for a few days I put a zero fill rain sheet on him. Its gone now because I was proactive and took immediate action..

Last night we had 7% chance of rain with a low of 15c and a real feel of 14C so I left it off as I did the night before.

 

[Squeak]

Waterproof fly rugs are great for this weather. Don't make them too hot and keep the worst of the rain off.

 

[NinjaPony]

Would second a waterproof fly rug. I’ve got a Shire one which is great.

 

[Polos Mum]

For a normal fit and health horse - even heavy rain in double figure temperature shouldn't really cause a problem.

I would be tempted to speak to your vet about possible underlying causes and what he could have to boost his immune system generally.
Why can't he cope with normal bacteria?

Or are the bacteria particularly bad in your area.
I've found horses that suffered horribly with mud fever were "cured" by moving to a different yard that didn't have such a heavy bacterial load in the soil

The trouble with rain sheets in mild weather is that they sweat underneath them causing just perfect warm wet condition for the bacteria to grow !! making the situation worse.

I would go for something with a light fill over a cagoule type sheet - to avoid the sweat - and clip if you need to avoid sweating with that.

 

[Birker2020]

For a normal fit and health horse - even heavy rain in double figure temperature shouldn't really cause a problem.

I would be tempted to speak to your vet about possible underlying causes and what he could have to boost his immune system generally.
Why can't he cope with normal bacteria?

Or are the bacteria particularly bad in your area.
I've found horses that suffered horribly with mud fever were "cured" by moving to a different yard that didn't have such a heavy bacterial load in the soil

The trouble with rain sheets in mild weather is that they sweat underneath them causing just perfect warm wet condition for the bacteria to grow !! making the situation worse.

I would go for something with a light fill over a cagoule type sheet - to avoid the sweat - and clip if you need to avoid sweating with that.

Its probably that our horses are thin skinned and therefore more at risk of constant torrential rain beating against their thin skin for hours overnight.

I don't think its anything to do with being fit or healthy.

 

[Goldenstar]

When this happens it is usually IME to do with horses with suppressed immunity .

If it happens you need to wash them with malaseb and dry them well .
You then I think have no choice but to rug and be aware that by doing so you create an ideal environment for bugs and fungus to live .
So it’s a question of getting the rug off as soon as it’s dry and never ever putting a rug on a warm or damp horse even slightly damp can cause issues .

 

[Polos Mum]

Its probably that our horses are thin skinned and therefore more at risk of constant torrential rain beating against their thin skin for hours overnight.

Maybe then if they are that vulnerable they need to have constant access to shelter? - maybe a field shelter would be better than a rug as that avoids the warm sweaty environment on the skin that could make the situation worse.

 

[TheMule]

Its probably that our horses are thin skinned and therefore more at risk of constant torrential rain beating against their thin skin for hours overnight.

I don't think its anything to do with being fit or healthy.

No horse has thinner skin than another. They may have a different coat density, but it's everything to do with being fit and healthy (or not immune compromised)
For rain rot you need to encourage aerobic conditions- that means letting the air get to it as much as possible. Lightly rug to keep them dry in the rain, but get the rug off as quickly as possible when it is dry.

 

[sport horse]

I have very thin skinned warmbloods and I have only once had rain scald and that was in the dead of a very wet and cold winter on a youngster living out 24/7 unrugged. I would run it past my vet

 

[SEL]

Last horse I had who consistently struggled got a dose of Trinity's L94 on suggestion of a friend of a friend. I was sceptical, but it did seem to work.

 

[JBM]

We’ll see he’s actually doing much better and it’s only very very lightly on his neck compared to the awful outbreak he had first time
His feet are getting good new growth and he’s put on weight but he’s still not there with his weight so I am worried he’s getting cold as he the thinnest coat I’ve ever seen
Unfortunately don’t have the option to be around to rug and unrug all the time but hoping to start bring them in at night soon when stables are built which should stop him being wet for long long periods of time
Unfortunately doesn’t have a field shelter at the moment but trying my best!

 

[Goldenstar]

Can you wash the patch dry it and then protect it with sudocrem or similar
I would really want to avoid rugging when it’s still this temperature especially if you can’t be there to take it off .
Yesterday here ,if you had left a rug on a horse in the morning the horse would have been cooking by lunch time .

 

[JBM]

Can you wash the patch dry it and then protect it with sudocrem or similar
I would really want to avoid rugging when it’s still this temperature especially if you can’t be there to take it off .
Yesterday here ,if you had left a rug on a horse in the morning the horse would have been cooking by lunch time .

Yes exactly why I don’t want to rug!
I’ve put mtg on it for now which is oil based so makes the area water proof ish..impossible to get off! But helped so much last time
Thank you so much
I’ll try sudocream tomorrow when the oil has dried?

 

[Birker2020]

deleted

 

[Birker2020]

No horse has thinner skin than another. They may have a different coat density, but it's everything to do with being fit and healthy (or not immune compromised)
For rain rot you need to encourage aerobic conditions- that means letting the air get to it as much as possible. Lightly rug to keep them dry in the rain, but get the rug off as quickly as possible when it is dry.

It was that severe on my horses coat because he is clearly ill and in poor health and immune compromised that within two days it had completely disappeared.

As I wrote in reply 2:

My boy got the start of a very minor rain scald
Its gone now because I was proactive and took immediate action..

Talk about an over reaction.

He looks really ill doesn't he? Bet its the same for the OP's horse too.

 

[Goldenstar]

Horses who look extremely well can have issues with immunity I know I have had one in the past and own one now .

 

[JBM]

Horses who look extremely well can have issues with immunity I know I have had one in the past and own one now .

Is it fixable or is his immune system just meh? I had the vet out a few times and they suggested that because he’s been stabled most of his life living out 24/7 and being wet and cold was a big shock to his system

 

[Birker2020]

Horses who look extremely well can have issues with immunity I know I have had one in the past and own one now .

Well rain scald that is so very minor that it can hardly be felt and covers an area of barely 3" x 2" is hardly proof of having an issue with immunity. Like I say he got caught in torrential overnight rain that wasn't forecast. But whatever.....

 

[Polos Mum]

Humans with low immunity can look totally well and normal on the outside, I don't know enough about horse immunity to comment.

For humans you can do lots to boost immunity - stress can be a influence so if he's had a big change of lifestyle it maybe that contributing.
I personally know my body benefits from echinacea other people don't.
So sadly some trial and error (as always with horses).

No harm in looking at a really quality vit and min supplement (I think zinc is immune system related) just to do what you can while you wait to get a field shelter.

 

[Birker2020]

Humans with low immunity can look totally well and normal on the outside, I don't know enough about horse immunity to comment.

For humans you can do lots to boost immunity - stress can be a influence so if he's had a big change of lifestyle it maybe that contributing.
I personally know my body benefits from echinacea other people don't.
So sadly some trial and error (as always with horses).

No harm in looking at a really quality vit and min supplement (I think zinc is immune system related) just to do what you can while you wait to get a field shelter.

I hope this is in reply to the Ops post and not my reply.

 

[Goldenstar]

K and J, I would not worry about it .
Just practise careful husbandry you may find the issue resolves in time .
Fatty whose coat looks like an otters he got such fantastic shine he looks wet has various problems as a result of a viral infection that nearly ended his life .

 

[Goldenstar]

Well rain scald that is so very minor that it can hardly be felt and covers an area of barely 3" x 2" is hardly proof of having an issue with immunity. Like I say he got caught in torrential overnight rain that wasn't forecast. But whatever.....

Just to be clear I have zero interest in commenting on your horses coat, his rain scald ,the fact he’s been out in the rain etc .

 

[JBM]

Humans with low immunity can look totally well and normal on the outside, I don't know enough about horse immunity to comment.

For humans you can do lots to boost immunity - stress can be a influence so if he's had a big change of lifestyle it maybe that contributing.
I personally know my body benefits from echinacea other people don't.
So sadly some trial and error (as always with horses).



No harm in looking at a really quality vit and min supplement (I think zinc is immune system related) just to do what you can while you wait to get a field shelter.

He’s on this at the moment
https://redmillsstore.ie/products/red-mills-performa-care-balancer
Seems to be doing him the world of good!
He’s also on carron oil and just finishing his coppervit

 

[JBM]

K and J, I would not worry about it .
Just practise careful husbandry you may find the issue resolves in time .
Fatty whose cost looks like an otters he got such fantastic shine he looks wet has various problems as a result of a viral infection that nearly ended his life .

So sorry to hear that
Thank you for all your help

 

[Goldenstar]

R and J what I might try with yours is old fashioned grooming daily with a body brush to draw the oils through the hairs .

 

[Polos Mum]

I hope this is in reply to the Ops post and not my reply.

Honestly nobody is criticising you for your horse having a tiny bit of minor rain scald.

The OP asked for suggestions on rugging a youngster who was starting to suffer with scald in September in very mild weather after only a couple of nights of heavy rain. Not unreasonable for people to wonder whether there is more going on - maybe not - maybe just transitioning to being out 24/7 as the OP has now said the horse has been stabled most of his life.

You can't get touchy with people raising reasonable comments - even if you are 1000% sure they don't apply to your situation (they may apply to the OP's)

I was replying to the OP who asked whether she was stuck which his immune position or whether she could do something about it

That's all

 

[Birker2020]

Just to be clear I have zero interest in commenting on your horses coat, his rain scald ,the fact he’s been out in the rain etc .

Err too late you already have.

 

[Birker2020]

Honestly nobody is criticising you for your horse having a tiny bit of minor rain scald.

The OP asked for suggestions on rugging a youngster who was starting to suffer with scald in September in very mild weather after only a couple of nights of heavy rain. Not unreasonable for people to wonder whether there is more going on - maybe not - maybe just transitioning to being out 24/7 as the OP has now said the horse has been stabled most of his life.

You can't get touchy with people raising reasonable comments - even if you are 1000% sure they don't apply to your situation (they may apply to the OP's)

I was replying to the OP who asked whether she was stuck which his immune position or whether she could do something about it

That's all

That's fine thank you. I have my vet coming out tonight for something important so I will ask him what he thinks.

 

[Birker2020]

Unfortunately I think I’m starting to see the rain rot appear on Barry again it’s 18° some days but raining should this very thin skin baby get a 0g Rug? the rain Rot is starting on his neck so do I need to fully cover him??
Dry for the next week or so so can kill his rain rot off before the next spell

There are some no fill rugs with necks as well that might help. In the meantime a google search has said that bacterial skin shampoo might help and tea tree oil is also meant to be good to spray onto the coat.