How to help your horse’s blanket rubs and bedsores
Before your horse’s blanket rubs get big and open, you can start to prevent them. once you see that patch of broken hair, it’s time to act. Once the hair is gone, bedsores and open rubs are more likely to happen.
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- Bedsores are a pain in the butt to heal, as they get broken open every time your horse lays down. Common locations for sores like these are the hocks, the fetlocks, and the hips.
Pointy areas on your horse are common locations for bedsores.
Ideas for healing bedsores on horses
- Notice where the hairs are a bit shorter than the others. This help your game plan address the most important areas to change.
Your horse’s bedding matters
- Where does your horse roll and where does he sleep? Time for a bedding change? Time to add a layer or two? If your horse likes to sleep outside, but his bedding is inside, there are some great options for outdoor bedding. Cedar shreds and pine pellets are good options in all sorts of weather.
This Hock Shield provides cushion and coverage, great for sores that need the medicine to stay put and not get filled with dirt.
Protect any active rubs
- Protect the skin. If your horse doesn’t have any broken skin, figure out a way to stop the rubs. Options include using a super sticky bandage, covering with goopy ointment, using a body glide designed for runners, and using boots or blankets to protect your horse.
The beginnings of a hock sore, just a little bit of broken hairs.
- For hock sores, you can use fuzzy hock boots. For fetlocks, standing wraps work well, but if your horse doesn’t need them otherwise, you may want an easier option. You can also unconventionally use a bell boot to protect the joint. Get your sewing kit out for hips and sew two leg quilts into a blanket to cushion the hips. Use a fly sheet in the summer to hold the quilt cushions in place.
An upside-down bell boot can help with fetlock sores. Be careful with neoprene – it doesn’t breathe at all and may not be best for open wounds, or in the heat of summer.
Heal open sores
- If the skin is broken, work with your veterinarian to make a plan for healing and protection. It’s likely that you don’t want to cover the wound 24/7. Find out about using ointments and band-aids during overnight/rolling sessions/naps and leaving them open during the day.
- You will also need to find out about preventing any scab from splitting, as joints are pointy and like to do that sort of thing. It’s most likely that keeping the scab moist will help here.
I love this sticky bandage for covering bare areas before a sore has opened.
More ideas to help your horse’s blanket rubs
- Don’t forget about fly protection for any rubs or open sores, and be aware of using harsh cleansers for cleaning. You have a few options for cleaning any open wounds, like an iodine scrub or a chlorhexidine solution.
- I also use a body glide product that prevents blisters (anyone out there a runner or hiker?) on frequently rubbed areas, like shoulders and hips and behind the elbows. This provides a slick surface for everything to slide against.
- You can also outfit your horse with SOCKS. Yes, unique silver horse socks. It’s OK if they get wet or muddy. These Sox for Horses help with scratches, sores, rubs, flies, tons of stuff.
Yes. My horse is wearing socks. And he likes it. These are the amazing Silver Whinnys by Sox for Horses.
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I can't stress this enough - this magic stick has prevented so many rubs from worsening, and is great for breaking in a new pair of riding boots or shoes.
This medical tape will quite literally hold your life together, it's that amazing.
Hi-quality no-bows with Back On Track reputation (that's good!)
These boots are the gold standard for jumpers and horses that like to interfere.
Be practical when wrapping your horse's legs with a traditional color, but toss in some spice with the understated pattern!
Protect your horse's legs and let them shine bright.
Show off your horse's legs with these safe, reflective, and fashionable boots.
Skin protection that can get wet. Use code PEG20 for savings on the Silver Whinnys.
Thank you!
