REINS: A Haven for Horses and Horse Lovers

[moonpi11]

So as some of you know there has been an issue with Tex becoming bald virtually overnight...

WELL, I am not thinking this is ringworm after all... and here is why.

Tex's bald spots.. aren't spots at all, they are very widespread and there isn't anything crusty underneath. The skin is smooth and healthy looking. His entire face is bald or getting there... I was going to get some pics today but I will do that tomorrow. He is missing A LOT of hair.. but none of the skin is showing signs of stress. ???!!!!!

Okay... here is what got me thinking it could be some sort of allergy....

Khemalla, Belle (a boarder's Palomino) and a couple others who have pink skin on their faces ALL have pretty serious blistering. None of these hroses have EVER suffered from such severe sunburns.. and they are BAD. I am covering their pink skin now with Desitin and sunscreen.

All of these horses were on the same pasture for the last two weeks. This pasture hasn't been grazed by horses before and just this year my husband seeded it with an equine pasture mix.

It seems to me that there may be a culprit that has caused all these symptoms in that mix... Aslike clover will cause extreme photosensitivity and in long term an enlarged liver... WHY is this in an equine pasture mix??? OR if it may have been in the pasture to begin with. BUT this is something that I will be looking into tomorrow in more depth!!!

All the horses are off of that pasture now. I am not sure if this is right but it is very fitting!! My husband said that the horses have eaten ALL the clover in that pasture that he could see. And in 25-30 acres that may have been quite a bit!!

Here is an article which explains what the plant does and pics of what it looks like.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/...ike_clover.htm

[monkeyman]

sounds like it from the article. I wonder if there was a mislabeling of the seed bag as the clover is often used in fields intended for cattle and such, not horses.....would be interesting if you have any of the seed mix left over to get it tested if there is a facility that will do that. Hope all the babies get better. If I remember correctly they might slough off all the white areas, down to open and seeping sores.....A friend had a horse that that happened to and he was left with a scar down the middle of his blaze that would not grow hair.
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Once bitten by the horse bug always infected or contaminated....depending on who you are talking to....I feel it is to be considered blessed

[sienna]

hmmmmmmmm.... King had that happen, he was losing all his hair on his face but his skin was intack and I cleaned and scrubbed it with bet and then dried and it seemed to clear up.

as for sunburns, the best thing to use is ZINC (yah know, baby butts cream??).. i have to put it on shikira every day. its very thick and it prevents burns and keeps there nose baby soft LOL... i also put sunscreen on top but not necessary because the sun can't get at the skin from the Zinc.

ugh.. we love our horses right????
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Certified Natural Horsemanship Trainer\Instructor
Saving and Helping One Horse At A Time!

[kal775]

Did you ever find out what was the cause Aly?
Interesting read...great info about what to look out for!!