Page 114 - September2021

VETERINARY VIEWS
“In the process of evaluating a horse for a health certificate,
a veterinarian looks for common and overt skin problems that could be infectious to others.”
If not regularly cleaned, saddle pads or blankets may harbor organisms that transfer to the skin when in close contact during use, especially when a horse sweats.
CLEANLINESS AND BATHING
A horse’s best appearance relies on diligent attention to hygiene. This often entails bathing to remove dirt and debris. Regular baths eliminate dirt and restore a horse’s skin and haircoat health; however, bathing too frequently or with the wrong products adversely affects the skin’s ability to act as an effective barrier.
Cleaning a horse with just water after
heavy exercise to remove sweat and dirt is often sufficient. More involved baths with soap or shampoo should be done as little as possible to avoid removal of non-pathogenic bacteria that reside on normal skin. These normal bacteria keep pathogenic skin organisms in check. Rinse thoroughly to remove soap. Shampoo with equine-formulated products no more often than weekly or every other week. Some horses have skin sensitivities to certain shampooing products.
Horses occasionally develop dandruff (seborrhoea) as a result of excessive bathing. Dandruff may also be a sign of an underlying infection, a disease (like pemphigus), or a hereditary problem. A thorough veterinary evaluation helps to define the underlying cause.
It is important to thoroughly rinse blankets and saddle pads that have been washed with detergent, as detergent is a skin irritant that
can set off skin allergies. Although fragrance detergents make riding equipment smell pleasant, some horses have mild to severe hypersensitivity reactions to particular products.
SADDLE SORES AND LEG IRRITATION
Saddle sores occasionally develop with constant riding efforts and especially from poor saddle or girth fit. Ideally, refrain from saddling an affected horse with the offending equipment; instead give the horse time off and lunge or pony him for exercise. However, competition schedules may not allow for the luxury of rest and time to heal. In these cases, use of neoprene girths reduces skin friction. Also, hemorrhoid cream, like Preparation H, helps to “tighten” skin, alleviate active inflammation, and provide slippage beneath skin-abrasive equipment. Superglue can also provide a temporary protective barrier over a small sore.
Other skin abnormalities include sensitivity to contaminants on saddle pads, girths or other saddle fittings. If not regularly cleaned, saddle pads or blankets may harbor organisms that transfer to the skin when in close contact during use, especially when a horse sweats. Some horses are also sensitive to products used to clean or oil leather.
Check leg boots regularly to ensure debris isn’t caught inside that can put pressure on tendon and ligament tissues or cause friction abrasions of the skin. Dirt and sweat also act as irritants. After each ride, scrub and rinse leg boots well with clean water and then air dry.
In all cases, keep all equipment for each horse separate and individualized, refrain from sharing pads, blankets, and boots between horses. This practice goes a long way to avoiding outbreaks of infectious skin problems.
SCRATCHES
Horses sporting white legs are subject
to another skin problem referred to as “scratches,” also known as photodermatitis or photo-activated vasculitis. Normally, a horse’s haircoat protects against ultraviolet from the sun. However, pink skin beneath white leg markings, on the face or other areas may develop photodermatitis either directly from consuming phototoxic plants or indirectly by the effects of phototoxic plants on the liver that then sensitizes the skin to ultraviolet radiation. In either case, the diet – both pasture and hay – need to be
Regular baths eliminate dirt and restore a horse’s skin and haircoat health; however, bathing too frequently or with the wrong products adversely affects the skin’s ability to act as an effective barrier.
112 SPEEDHORSE September 2021