[AnnaLouise2012]

 



Hello, 

My Anglo Arab X Spotted youngster (19 months old) lives out in a large paddock with his two miniatures, with a stable that is left open for them to wander in & out with a comfy bed inside (a stable part of a block which has a sheltered slanted roof too for them to eat their haynets outside too).
Their field is surrounded by trees and they also have a derelict shed to huddle around too. My youngster doesn't have a great thick coat but enough that he isn't cold. However, I have noticed his fur on his back is getting matted - i thought it was just where the rain and mud clumped together. I have been reading about rain scald in horsey mags and wondered if this was it?

I have also noticed a change in mood - hes much more moody being stroked now around his back (would it be painful?) Going to investigate further this afternoon.

How do I deal with the matting? It's winter and washing it out worries me in this chilly weather. I heard brushing it out may hurt the sensitive skin.

Going to grab 3 of my strong, extremely experienced friends at the end of the week and see if we can get a new rug (he'll have grown out of his old one) on Indi between us as I've recently had blood transfusions and been unwell so not as strong as I was. Forgot to mention - he has a real fear of rugs even tho he wore one all last winter up to April!

Would appreciate some responses.

Oh - Indi had a medium weight last year... would a lightweight get wet through to his skin? Do they keep completely dry underneath? I can't remember with my previous loan horse.

Thanks in advance.

Anna 

[shygirl]

he sounds like he needs a decent rug due to his breeding. a 200 gram one is not too hot for a youngster like yours.
shires are a good make, not too pricey and should last a winter if the pony is not too destructive.
if he wont tolerate a rug then stabling with the door shut, overnight will give him time to dry  out.
the really lightweight ones arent my favourite as they can sit heavy if there is no padding.
my native ponies winter out and tend to get a touch of rain scald by january/feb, so for yours to get it already is not good.
its comes out with their new coat growth in the spring. but severe cases might need washing with specialist shampoo. prevention is better than cure as it is painful and hard to eradicate.

try brushing him with plastic bags etc to de-sensitise him, and practise, practise putting rugs on and off, youngsters often get a fear that is easy over come by extra handling.

[hafod]

Hi Anna,
Have a look at this info on rainscald ftp://mail.h2a.co.uk/Backups/GoodSync/vgnfz38m/Basic/_gsdata_/_saved_/Documents/my%20webs/liphooklive/llrainscald.htm which I think is quite useful.

If you did need to bath him - you would only need to do the affected area so wouldn't be making him wet all over and if you did it with warm water and had towels ready it would be ok.

I agree with shygirl de-sensitising him would be a really sensible way to go. it's amazing how quickly they will accept 'scary things and great for your 'realtionship' with Indi too!
 I keep my heavyweight cob in a lightweight rug (no filling) in all but the worst weather and he doesn't get wet - you can get breathable ones too. I think mine is an amigo and I really like it but the most important thing is to get one that fits really well.
Good luck   

[AnnaLouise2012]

Thanks very much.
Indi had a medium weight last year so might stick with that and buy another. I want him to live out as he's happiest roaming free 24/7 as well as being with his friends.

So you think that the matted fur is the start of rain scald?

I shall do my best to get one on him this week.

I desensitized him to plastic bags back at 9/10 months old before he was gelded but hes clearly forgotten what we did so I will spend more time desensitizing!

Thanks for your messages x

[hafod]

It sounds like it could be rain scald - not sure where in the country you are but here in north Wales I think it's rained pretty much every day for the last four weeks, so if they don't get a chance to dry out it could well be rain scald. Have a look on google images and see if what Indi has looks similar - if you think it might be something else and you are worried or it looks infected  - give the vet a ring.

Some of the desensitising exercise involve getting the horse to walk under tarpaulins etc. I would have thought these things would be good for a horse that isn't keen on rugs.

When you do put a rug on him I would  monitor him closely and if possible let him go without it to 'air' whenever you can. If a horse sweats under a rug that can also cause rain scald and probably wouldn't help with the healing of skin so you need to avoid that if you can!

[Rosemary]

Can't help with rugs or rain scald - my two don't know what a rug is and fortunately, we've never had rain scald (sweet itch, yes, rain scald, no)

Please don't use strong arm tactics to get a rug on your horse - that's bullying and not nice. Be patient with him - he's only a baby - and find ways to desensitise him. He'll love you for it.

[shygirl]

try putting a hanky on his back, then progress to a tea towel, then hand towel etc , progress to a table cloth, when hes happy with that try a rug, remember not to whip his legs with the leg straps.

yes, scald does look a bit matted. the fur tend to clump and split - rather than be fluffy - and the skin isnt protected from the weather. if you feel the skin its almost scabby. its a bit like athletes foot / mud fever, in that its the same bacteria.
iv never picked the scabs like you would in mud fever, as they have only seemed willing to come off in spring when the coat moults. im sure a rug will help you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainscald