Scabs on friends cob

[scats]

Friends cob started itching like crazy a few days ago after coming out in a mass of scabs under his rug area, mostly top of his quarters and sides. He was fully clipped 10 days ago and had been fine until about 3 days ago. He is a hot and itchy horse in general (gets sweet itch in summer) and I think he has been too warm and sweated a bit in a turnout rug that was quite dirty inside and as a result it’s some kind of bacterial thing. We checked inside of friends rugs and they are quite dirty and damp, which fits that theory.
Any thoughts?

 

[Shay]

Cobs can get something called hyperkeratosis where they over produce keratin which, if they are not kept clean, can build up into waxy / scabby lumps that mat into the coat and scratch the skin - they are usually also prone to mallenders / sallenders and often mud fever. Otherwise possibly rainscald caused by a bacterial infection thriving under a wet rug.

Get the rugs professionally cleaned, bath horse in suitable medicated shampoo and make sure he is kept dry - perhaps invest in a thermatex or breathable airmax type rug.