Is this normal shedding for a mini horse and how to prevent it?

[Lil Eowyn]

Hello,

Last spring (2012) when the horses started to shed, Éowyn kept itching on her left side of her neck. She itcched all the way down to the skin and there were scabs and such. I thought it was rain rot or something at first so I put medicated shampoo on it, but it never helped and then my farrier and trainer said that she was just itching her coat off. Here's what it looked like: http://s7.postimage.org/is4o4dtsr/008_2.jpg

Finally the fur grew back and the rest of her coat shed out. How can I prevent her from scratching down to the skin again and bleeding again this spring? Thanks!

 

[Rhondaalaska]

Oh poor baby, I hope someone has ideas for you.

Poor little thing that looks so miserable .

 

[2minis4us]

My mare itched her mane out in the summer and I discovered she was irritated on her tummy. I think it was sweet itch. This year she will get lots of fly spray.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

That looks like lice to me- they come and go seasonally, but are pretty much endemic on horse pasture. Dust her thoroughly, and I would suggest clipping the area she scratches and washing it off in insecticidal liquid

 

[Riverrose28]

I agree with rabbit, you can also add a little bentadine to the shampoo just as a precaution against secondary fungal, bacterial invasion. Seems like once the skin is damaged like that it gets opened up to secondary problems as well.

 

[Lil Eowyn]

Okay thank you. I'll keep this in mind if she gets it again.

If it was lice, I'm surprised I didn't get it too--I always hug her

 

[HGFarm]

I purchased a mare, who unfortunately came with 'free lice' and that horse was so bad she could not stand still long enough to eat. I used a flea/tick/lice shampoo for dogs and just followed the instructions. Also got a dose of ivermectin. No more problem.

 

[LittleBittyBritches]

Okay thank you. I'll keep this in mind if she gets it again.

If it was lice, I'm surprised I didn't get it too--I always hug her

Luckily lice is "species specific" meaning horse lice is horse lice, and people lice only likes people!

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Yes, you will not get them from her, neither would your dog...

 

[Lil Eowyn]

Okay thanks =) I remember reading somewhere that miniature horses couldn't get lice/flees?

 

[Barnmother]

Okay thanks =) I remember reading somewhere that miniature horses couldn't get lice/flees?

I think many of us can attest that is not true. I had a similar problem with a purchased horse got rid of the lice and voila he has a super coat. I will be checking carefully this spring. He appeared to be the only one of mine that was affected although several pasture together. (And before anyone says anything yes I treated everyone anyway!) I even clipped to check for lice or nits, just the one gelding!

I would agree that this sounds like lice.

 

[Lil Eowyn]

Alright--Thank you.

She got rid of it on her own then--I guess when her coat shed all the way out.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

I WISH!!!

 

[Lil Eowyn]

Hopefully this doesn't happen again this year XD