Scurfy, scabby legs - ideas please

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MyBoyChe

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Che has dry flaky skin on his back legs only, when you run your hands over them there are little scabs and a lot of flaky scurf comes off. There is a very small amount of hair loss. He is a TB so no feather or excess hair and he doesnt appear itchy, not kicking or stamping. He has no mud as such in his field but he does have access to a stream which is boggy at the bottom and of course, attracts midges. The rest of his body is not affected so Im not sure what to think. I have washed his lower legs with a hibiscrub solution and this morning I have fly sprayed his legs (which I dont normally do) Any ideas what it might be and suggestions for things to treat/prevent it please.
 
One of my boys tends to get scurfy lower legs when he is moulting out. To be honest, I have usually bathed them with Dermoline in the Spring and Autumn anyway and find that this and a good scrub, clears it up.

That might be worth a try...?
 
Hi, two of mine have what sounds similar, just in Spring when they are moulting. If you rub gently the scabs come off and leave a bare area which then grows summer coat. It has never caused a problem and clears in a couple of weeks.
 
Thanks both of you, I did initially think it was due to moulting but the scabs worried me a bit. As he doesnt seem to be in any discomfort Ill see what happens when he finishes moulting and think again.
 
If you've got one one those pimpled rubber mits (about £2 from tack shops), they are excellent for loosening the scabby bits through the hair.
 
It's quite likely that it IS mudfever. Mudfever and rain scald are caused by the same microbes but people often expect mudfever to be only brought on by mud and rainscald to be brought on by rain. The reality is that mud fever is just rain scald on the legs. If your horse is often in the stream then his legs will be permanently wet which softens and damages the skin and allows the bacteria in. I'd treat it exactly as rainscald/mudfever. Gently wash the legs in dilute hibiscrub/warm water and try to ease off as many of the scabs as are ready to come off. It's important to get UNDER the scabs as this is where the bacteria are, but obviously don't go mad or you will cause further damage. Dry the legs thoroughly after this. You'll have to repeat this until the condition has cleared up but the likelilhood is it will return as long as your horse is in that field.
 
Just come across this thread on doing a search, mine has exactly this at the moment. At the moment I'm just thinking it's the last of his moult xx
 
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