What do you use/do to prevent mud fever?

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Ellietotz

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As above. Just want to know what people do personally to prevent it. Any recommendations etc. Thank you
 
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Nothing. Mine mostly live out and I don't wash their legs. I've only ever had one horse which I bought with mud fever. First winter I had to treat it as it was horrendous. Second winter she didn't get it.
 
Don't wash legs when I bring in at night. Put Muddy Buddy on heels last year before turniing out in mornibg and didnt have any problems. Fingers crossed it wotks this year x
 
FfionWinnie said:
Nothing. Mine mostly live out and I don't wash their legs. I've only ever had one horse which I bought with mud fever. First winter I had to treat it as it was horrendous. Second winter she didn't get it.
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The same, I bought a horse with it just over 8 yrs ago cleared it up and neither him nor any of my others have had it since.
 
Don't wash off, brush dry mud off before turnout and spray with 'Canter Mane and Tail Conditioner' 2 or three times a week (which helps the mud not stick too hard and seems to help it dry quicker).
 
Nothing much, I was under the impression that if the legs dry out in a 24 hour period that MF is unlikely. I also don't wash off mud every night and on my Clyde I use pig oil, but that is more to stop the mud sticking then any worry of mud fever,
 
Nothing at all, like most other posters. The only time my horse had mud fever was when he had just been diagnosed with Cushings. Previous and subsequent winters he's been fine.

No washing is key, I believe.
 
I do wash legs but only if they are extremely muddy. As in my grey horse is actually half black now and I could pass him off as a coloured level of muddiness.
 
Mine has white legs and pink skin around pastern/heel. He never gets mud fever - I don't touch his legs.

I only brush legs if the mud is dry and I'm putting on brushing boots, and even then I only brush where the boot is going. I even use a softer type dandy brush to do this (I'm so bad lol) as gets mud off quickly without brushing too hard.
Never had mud fever with him, and he lives out all year round :)
 
Let's dry, or if you do wash, get every bit of mud off and then pat dry as best as possible.

We don't have mud at my place. We are on very good land and we do turnout in pairs, moving fields whenever gateways or areas get a bit muddy. My horses feet and legs are bone dry and clean when they come in, it's heaven. But we manage our land well, which is key.
 
Ellietotz said:
As above. Just want to know what people do personally to prevent it. Any recommendations etc. Thank you
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Never wash any of the legs and change fields every 3 months to prevent gateways getting too deep. Kerotex i feel is the best thing


Never brush legs when they come in and don't brush before they go out I just leave well alone and yet to get mud fever on my horses.
 
I use Nettex 7 day mud away - brilliant stuff. I'm on livery so can't get there everyday, but i spray this on once/twice a week and ask staff not to wash his legs when he comes in. He has a big straw bed and they dry off relatively quickly. So far we have no mud fever this year, despite our clay soil and four white legs.
 
Used baby oil and sudocreme with success and I never hose the legs just let it dry and brush. However moved to new yard a while ago and she got it :( probably not helped by others using the hose next to my stable to wash legs so all their horse's scabs and mud flow into my yard where my horse stands.
Recently discovered a new product in my effort to get rid of it and its brilliant. I apply nettex muddy disinfect neat, it has completely gone and not returned! Very impressed and it only cost a couple of quid.
 
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I have a grey that I hunt so does need to be washed for hunting days - he had mud fever last year, but been fine this year (so far).

This year I have slightly changed how I manage him - he only gets washed on hunting mornings, and have stopped using any form of detergent on his coat, in the hope of maintaining the natural oils in his coat. Warm water seems to remove stable stains just as well and saving me a fortune on shampoo!

After his legs are washed I bandage up to dry, and remove at the meet.

After hunting/turnout I no longer wash his legs off and just wait until any mud has dried and brush off.

I think constantly wetting the legs encourages mud fever, so try to avoid it now as much as possible. And helped by this winter being relatively dry......
 
Like many of the above I don't wash legs and ensure a good deep straw bed. I also never trim legs in winter as I was taught that the hair on the fetlocks directs water away from the heel area and is important for keeping legs warm.
 
carolineb said:
I agree with diet and linseed. I also use gold label mud guard twice a week on legs and tummy and avoid washing legs as much as possible.
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Thank you. What if the girth causes it too? It doesn't but just in case. She sweats an awful lot and she's so sensitive. I use a fleece lined girth currently.
 
Every single horse that had a white leg to get mud fever on got it last winter where I am. The worst (who still has it slightly after a year of the owners battling it) is the one who's legs are washed every single day. Personally, I leave feather on and don't touch them with anything bar a brush to brush dry mud off.
 
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