Mud Fever – Scratches – treatment

Mud fever is a terrible nuisance for me this summer.  We have had lots of rain and the moist conditions that have hastened the development of mud fever.

For the uninitiated, mud fever is a painful red rash on the back of the horse’s pasterns and can even afflict the fetlocks.  I have seen it mostly on the white legs and the pasterns of the legs with white hooves.  Left untreated this rash will develop into painful, inflamed cracked skin.

Once the horse’s skin is inflamed and cracked, you develop a cycle of healing, cracking, bleeding, then, dirt and mud gets into the moist cracks causing more pain, slowing the healing process.  I think you get the picture.  Systematic treatment is key to the healing process of mud fever.

I think, however, that some horses are susceptible to mud fever and  that the bacteria that causes mud fever lives in the grass/mud or soil making certain areas mud fever ‘zones’.  My farm is one of those zones.  Each time a new horse, with white feet, comes on my property it invariably contracts mud fever.  Even in the driest of summers, mud fever is present.

Here is the treatment I use.  The treatment must be systematic and thorough.  If you suspect your horse of having mud fever or cracked heels:

1. Soak the effected area in warm water and Epsom salts.  This will help soften scabs and soothe any skin pain. I have had great success with placing the affected hoof in a bucket of warm water.  If this is done make sure that the hoof is well cleaned out to prevent soaking the horses legs in dirty water.
2. For those horses that won’t stand in a bucket, I have had great success of wrapping soaked cotton around the effected area.  This allows the moisture to soften up the scabs and prevents the messy tipped over bucket.  I also wrapped three legs at once thus speeding up the treatment process.
3. After soaking, I applied Chlora-hibitane or other anti-bacterial scrub.  I used a clean cloth and also gently rubbed with my finger tips to help clean the area and GENTLY remove any scabs that were ready to come off.
4. Leave the antibacterial scrub to sit on and soak into the scabby and cracked area while you proceed to the other legs. 
5. Once completed the washing process, rinse the afflicted area with warm water to insure that no soap is left to cause more drying out.
6. Dry the area, with cotton towels, and leave horse in a dry spot to ensure his heels are dried out.
7. Protect the horse’s heels and pasterns.  I use an equal mix of petroleum jelly and zinc-oxide (baby diaper cream).  This provides a barrier to keep moisture and dirt out, and the zinc-oxide provides soothing properties to the skin.

 

Keep at it. It seems like it takes a long time but the cracked heels are gone within 3-4 days and then the healing process starts with nice new pink skin. 

Some mud fever pictures from the web

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Thistle Ridge Skill Builders

Thistle Ridge Skill Builders

Yesterday I hosted my last of the season Skill Builder Show clinics.  The weather was great.  After two cancelled Skill Builders due to weather, rain, rain and more rain, our show clinic went off without a hitch.

Many thanks to the best show secretary Michelle, and whipper in, Georgie.  And of course to all the participants and the judge Grits McMullen who unselfishly supplied comments to all riders throughout the day.

I began offering these Show Clinics to prepare my handful of students for the show ring.  “How do I prepare them for showing without the added expense of memberships, trailering, fees, stress of being away from home etc.” I asked myself.  Well we brought the show to them.

The format for my Skill Builders is quite unique.  Originally I had the riders ride their course and then get comments from the judge directly and then re-ride the course to be judged.  This took VERY long and was DIFFICULT to schedule.  So I decided to have the whole class and give the comments generally to the group once the class was completed but before the placings were made.  For example, overall everyone used the ring very well but number 153, where are you? you should use the corners better to prevent cutting and then…. I think you get the idea. 

This was well received by coaches who repeat … repeat … repeat the same thing over and over again.  But when it comes time to place at a horse show and when a judge tells you the exact same thing that your coach has been telling you, well you tend to listen a bit more closely.

Parents loved the idea of comments.  They wanted to know why their little treasure placed or didn’t place.  Its all part of the education package.

The competitors like it to.  So often when you attend a show you think that you had a wonderful round only to find yourself out of the ribbons and really, no explaination as to why.  Well, at the Skill Builders, you have the opportunity to learn and progress through the experience of others and to appreciate the comments that are given to you in the spirit that they are ment.  As a learning tool.

For those who have shown before a clinic show format may seen a bit unnecessary but it was well received by all.  If you are interested in learning what the hunter judge is looking for check out this article that outlines some simple things that judges look  for when you are in the show ring.

So with 2009 out of the way I can start to plan for 2010!  Any more ideas?

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Selling horses

megan and solo

Today was an interesting day as we had a guest come by to look at horses.  These kind of visits, for me, leave me hanging and wondering if i have done all the right things.  I have had horses for a very long time and showing horses for sale always leaves me wondering.  Like serving a meal and your guest just leaves without any comment on your dinner. 

I showed three  horses.  All in various price ranges, and stages of training.  One horse, 4 yr old gelding did a superb job,  jumped a course, did his lead changes, and was as far as Im concerned a star (and i may be a tad biased!) .

The other horse was a little more experienced.  A 7 yr old TB mare with some showing experience.  She did a wonderful round.  The young rider (she is 13) wasn’t sure what to expect.  She did a wonderful job and showed the horse like a pro.  Thanks.  The horse yanked its knees up to its eyeballs and cantered down the lines in steady rhythmic fashion.

The final horse has been at this stable for 3 weeks now and although is 5 yrs old has just started jumping last week.  her legs are clean and is impeccably bred. (sire = Popeye-K ) She cantered around the little jumps and took them all in stride… literally.

 …

I certainly appreciated that they came and looked and knew right away what they liked and didn’t continue to jump and jump and jump.  Thanks everyone fro a great showing now we wait!….

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