What to do? Re. feathers

Strawberryroan

Strawberryroan

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:confused:
My horse has somehow grown a mass of feather in a month or so and I'm dying to get rid of it as it looks awful on him, he's a warmblood btw.
However, I'm quite apprensive amount the mud, hes out everyday quite deep in mud and he hasn't had any signs of mud fever yet, despite 4 white legs. :cool:
I've always belived that feathers are good to keep the water away from the legs and so the rain drips down the feathers. However, I've recently heard that its better to have no feathers as the legs dry quicker and I think they look awful on my chap. :rolleyes:
What to do?
 
Leave them on until the mud clears up. My boy has thick dreadlock feathers that I am dying to wash and comb, but I am leaving them until the mud has gone as below them the skin is dry, clean and healthy. Feathers were designed for exactly that purpose - don't make more work for youself (and expense!) by clipping them off and then having to plaster their legs in stuff to keep the mud off when he already has his own method which is cheap and easy!
 
tasteofchaos said:
Leave them on until the mud clears up. My boy has thick dreadlock feathers that I am dying to wash and comb, but I am leaving them until the mud has gone as below them the skin is dry, clean and healthy. Feathers were designed for exactly that purpose - don't make more work for youself (and expense!) by clipping them off and then having to plaster their legs in stuff to keep the mud off when he already has his own method which is cheap and easy!
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Yup.. what the lady said! :D:D:D
 
I always think that if you trim the feather with scissors and a comb they look much smarter and the water still drains off. If you clip them, they look less neat and the water doesn't drain so much...
 
Hi there. I have a Fell/Dales pony who has loads of feather and always has, his previous owner said he would NEVER get rid of them as it's part of his "make up" BUT he has problems with lice and has now got Mud fever in his back feet... the fields here are so deep in mud and swampy water that he has been kept in for the last week!!!
I am loath to get rid of his feather but feel so bad that he has suffered like this.. I have Hibiscrubbed and dried them off but its still bothering him... others on the yard keep saying get rid of his feathers but I'm so hoping to keep them... I am thinking the opposite to you as I think my boy looks brill with his full feathers and cannot imagine what he would be like without them!!!! I just wish it would stop blinking raining|!!!!
 
Siam Jack - you need pig oil and sulphur - check out ebay, susex cobs is the one I use, fab instructions in the pack. My boy is half dales, works a treat :)
 
tasteofchaos said:
Leave them on until the mud clears up. My boy has thick dreadlock feathers that I am dying to wash and comb, but I am leaving them until the mud has gone as below them the skin is dry, clean and healthy. Feathers were designed for exactly that purpose - don't make more work for youself (and expense!) by clipping them off and then having to plaster their legs in stuff to keep the mud off when he already has his own method which is cheap and easy!
Click to expand...

I thought this :rolleyes: :(
Hopefully it will dry up soon so i can get the lot off! ;)
 
I did try some Pig oil & sulpher as someone had some on the yard for her cob BUT it didnt seem to help!!!! (I know my pal swore it was THE best thing ever!) the day after putting it on his feet/legs he had a right strop on and kicked out when I tried lifting his feet to pick out... he had never done that before and so the only thing I could think was it did not suit him?? sorry if that sounds daft? but nothing else had changed, we have the farrier coming out tomorrow and he will check his feet out for me... there is soooooo much feather there I could only see a small amount of redness on his heels.... my hubby put his back out on sunday holding his feet for me to wash them thoroughly with the hibi !!!!

could the Pig oil hurt them if they already have Mud fever????
 
My farrier advised we have feathers for the winter, so when i clipped them off in the summer i made sure the last clip was August to allow time for them to grow back for the winter. We are thick with mud and his legs are fine
 
If he's got no mudfever, keep them! They are excellent protection from the mud.

But if they do get mudfever then they need to come off: the damp warm environment they create is awful for trying to clear it up.

Pig oil and sulphur is brill but some horses are sensitive to it, or it may have too much sulphur in it.
 
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