Your horse’s skin in winter – special considerations for cold weather!

 

Winter is a great time for most horses – they seem to enjoy the cold weather, sometimes the cold weather friskies are outta hand, they are not plagued by bugs, and often their exercise schedule is reduced because of lack of daylight. What horse doesn’t love that?

 

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But the winter can also create its own problems when it comes to your horse’s skin.

 

  • This is because of a few reasons – less sunlight, more hair, it just happens that way, bacteria, lots of factors.

 

  • I’m not saying that a furry horse is definitely going to get a skin infection, or bacteria comes out of the woodwork and takes over the horse skin universe.

 

  • It’s just part of the much larger picture. Your Vet should always be involved with any horse skin issues, as systemic medications may be warranted. Your Vet can run appropriate skin tests to confirm a diagnosis and create a treatment plan.

 

gray horse with large mud patches in stall

Mud and hair and sweat and dirt and lack of sun all play into your horse’s winter skin health.

 

Wintertime grooming has its own set of challenges, first on my list of challenges is daylight and cold.

 

  • Loosely translated into I can’t see it’s too dark, and also I don’t like the cold. And, the lack of sunlight makes ringworm (a fungus) more likely to crop up. Ringworm lives in the environment and eats keratin for a living. Your horse’s skin and hair are made of keratin, and you will find a circular patch where ringworm is having a buffet. It’s good to remember that ringworm is contagious to other horses and to humans, also. Just super.

 

  • Rain rot, scratches, general dermatitis of the skin also can easily flare up during winter. These bacterial infections love moist skin to multiply – so rainy, muddy, winter conditions are perfect for these bacteria. Even if your horse is protected from all things mud and rain and winter weather, his own sweat can create the perfect environment. Rain rot is also contagious to other horses via brushes and blankets and the like, so be diligent about cleaning your grooming supplies and not sharing grooming tools.

 

large patch of rain rot next to a horse's tail

A large patch of rain rot! This case was healed with the help of internal medications.

 

  • And then come the lice. Lice love the winter, they can spend their entire lives on your horse eating, breeding, and generally causing trouble. Most are visible to the naked eye if you look deep into the mane. A horse with lice will have one of two varieties – the bloodsucking kind, or the kind that eats skin and hair and causes massive itching. You will often find greasy skin and dandruff around a lice problem. And yes, your horse’s brushes and blankets can pass this along to his buddies.

 

  • And then come the mites. These critters cause dermatitis, scaly skin, mange, and other gross conditions. Of course, mites love winter conditions. Mange is particularly gross, the mites may take up residence in hair follicles, causing hair loss. Other mites cause mange and prefer to bite and drink up lymphatic fluid. These types of infections usually cause hair loss, pustules, scabs, and horribly sensitive and itchy skin. And once again, will be spread to other horses via brushes and blankets.

 

rain rot patches and dandruff

Hair loss plus dandruff – only your veterinarian can determine what it is, and how to treat it.

 

  • Your horse also may get some dandruff from dry skin – which sometimes is caused by mites or lice, sometimes it’s just dandruff.

 

  • Again, your vet can do the tests and find a definitive diagnosis that will lead to your horse’s comfort and healing.

 

  • Generally speaking – a fuzzy horse will sweat more during exercise, which may help create a skin issue. It’s also a bit trickier to catch skin infections early with a hairy coat. BUT – clipping is not for every horse and every horse owner. Just be aware and alert to winter skin issues.

 

What about leg skin infections in winter?

 

  • Many horses get leg funk, scratches, sores, and dermatitis on their legs in winter. Mud and longer coats can often leave a horse with problematic legs.

 

  • Consider clipping your horse’s legs in the winter. You don’t have to go bald, you can use a clipper guard to just shorten things.

 

  • You can also use barriers to mud, like special horse socks that can get wet and muddy and gross to keep your horse’s legs healthy.

 

horse wearing silver whinny socks for horses

These are Silver Whinnys from Sox for Horses. Literal skin savers, and please let your horse get them as muddy as possible. No problem.

 

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Big Hoss - Outlaw Nutrition

Omega 3's plus gut health support in a delicious cold milled flax formula. It's delicious and it will turn your horse's coat into a mirror.

Whinny Wellies from Sox For Horses

Tough, weather-resistant covering for wraps and bandaging.

EquiFit Silver Individual Pack Horse, Black
$34.40

These SilverSox are great for protecting the legs from rubs, help with scratches and mud fever, and provide some compression, too.


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Super aloe vera gel at a fantastic price.

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The best shampoo for shine and soothing.

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Shapley s 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo - Whitening Formula
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For all colors - to add shine and help lift stains.

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Shapley's Equitone 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, GOLD
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Brighten duns, palominos, and golden colors.

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Shapley's 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, BLACK
$18.08

For dark bays, black points, and black horses

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SHAPLEY'S 32 oz. Color Enhancing Shampoo, RED
$21.72

For chestnuts and some bays

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$24.09

For deep conditioning and detangling - coat, mane, and tail.

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Shapley's No.1 Light Oil
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This is my favorite horse care product for shine, conditioning, detangling, and stain protection.

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HANDSON Pet Grooming Gloves - Grooming, Bathing, Shedding
$16.99

These are HandsOn Gloves with special pricing! Only in the color gray.

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Kensington Protective Fly Boots (Pair)
$39.85

Banish the stomping!

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Fly Whisk
$39.95

For *mostly* bug free riding

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Farnam Equi-Spot, Horse Fly and Tick Control, 12-Week Supply for One Horse
$27.49 $25.40

This spot-on product kills and repels ticks and helps with mosquito control.

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Cashel Quiet Ride Horse Fly Mask with Long Nose and Ears
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This style is great for riding!

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HORZE Supreme Silent Crochet Ear Bonnet
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If your horse can't hear it, it won't eat them.

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Ecovet Horse Fly Spray Repellent/Insecticide 18 oz
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Fair warning - this spray has an odd aroma - but it works for some types of flies!

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WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Sweet Itch Shield Combo Neck
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Sweet itch is best battled by not letting those annoying midges bite your horse.

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Schneiders Adjusta-Fit Mosquito Mesh Hybrid
$299.99

For horses with sweet itch and other insect allergies, more coverage is better.

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LeMieux Classic Ear Bonnet Hunter Green
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LeMieux has more colors than the paint section of a hardware store. I promise they have one you like!

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Rub Protector Lycra Fly Mask GG Equine

These fly masks are fantastic for protecting ears and eyes, and do great under halters and grazing muzzles to stop rubs and hairless patches.


Use code 15PROEQUINE for a sitewide discount on muzzles, halters, accessories, and slow feeders.

WAHL Professional Animal Bravura Cordless Trimmers
$199.99

This cordless trimmer is powerful and comes with the 5-in-2 blade system for versatility.

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Wahl Professional Animal KMC+ 2-Speed Cordless Clipper Kit
$299.99

This is my favorite clipper - It's great for body clipping, trace clipping, and trimming. Cordless for the win!

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Thank you!

 

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