Scabby back

[colouredhat]

I have noticed over the past few days that my boy has lots of tiny little scabs around the saddle area, more behind the saddle but infront of the pelvis. He is unclipped in this area (having a blanket clip). They just feel like little lumps when you run your hand over the area. They are on both sides of his body. He is not at all bothered by them, and doesn't seem itchy at all. He has a healthy coat everywhere else.
He is turned out 24/7, has rugs (which are changed morning and night and weight depends on the weather).
He doesn't have them anywhere else.
I thought it might be rain scald, but I've never noticed any of his rugs leaking, and from what I know about rain scald it usually weeps under the scab.

Any suggestions?
Should I pick/brush the scabs off?
Hibiscrub?

Any advice greatfully recieved.
Thanks

 

[snoopyinfrance]

I can't really comment with any great knowledge as I haven't seen the lumps/scabs on your horse but I can tell you about my mare.

Last year I found several bumps on her back. They scabbed and then they came off (with hair attached).
None of our horses have suffered from rainscald before but I was told that was what it was.
I made sure I didn't mix brushes, rugs etc.. I washed all her grooming kit and rugs once they were gone, and I put cornucrescine (spelling?) on the bald patches to help hair growth.
They was no puss and they seemed to stay clean but I did put some purple spray on the more obvious ones, once the hair had come off.

I hope this helps ;-)

 

[LittleBlackMule]

Rain scald is scabs rather than lumps. If his feel more like lumps then it might well be something else.
My horse gets lumps under the saddle if I use a sheepskin numnah - the sweat isn't absorbed as well as plain cotton, and causes a reaction.

 

[L&M]

My lad has suffered from these in the past and as with the above poster, I now avoid sheepskin.

They first came up after hunting so can only assume he was overheating in the sheepskin, and this in turn blocked his pores, and created a number of lumps. They sound very similiar to yours and although painless, took ages to heal and had to give him some time off hunting to get them sorted.

This winter I have clipped his saddle patch off, firstly to keep him cooler, and secondly to if see quicker if any lumps do re appear. He has a clean cotton numnah everytime I ride, and if gets sweaty or dirty, wash his back off with dettol diluted in water. Touch wood they have not returned.

Hope that helps!

 

[Archiepoo]

i think im right in saying that in the old days they used to swab the saddle area with surgical spirit to harden the skin( im sure you clever peeps will put me right if im mistaken)so it wasnt so sensitive before hunting season started- wonder if anyone still does this? maybe use cotton numnahs as suggested and be very careful to wash off really well.x