I've got one too many horses and need to sell one. I've been sorting through the pluses & minus of each of my horses. I've got a two year old colt that was born here in the back yard and has developed quit a personality. He is the first horse that I've every raised, so we are a little attached to him. I'm leaning toward keeping him and selling one of my 9-10 year old horses. Just keeping a little newer model around if you will.

Problem is, this colt has a number of skin disorders. He got Rain Scald on his back this summer. It has healed up nicely. He also had a lot of reaction to the flies on his underside and chest area. So much so that he would lean over the manger, water trough, anything to rub and scratch his underside. To the point have having a really scabbed up the cinch area. Between the Rain scald on his back and the sore cinch area, I've had to delay getting him started this summer. Which is OK, it has given him the chance to grow up.

I got some cream from the vet with some Cortazone mixed in it. It helped to stop the itch and allowed the area to heal. He has also developed a lot of warts on his muzzle. Not a problem just unsightly. I love my horses, but I really like a low maintainence horse. I'm afraid that if I keep this colt, I'll spend time/money treating skin related problems. I'd rather spend my time riding than visiting the vet. I worry is it rain scald this summer and scratches this winter? Did this colt just have a bad summer or will every summer be this way.

So my question. Do young horses grow out of these kind of disorders,(like a teenager with pimples) or do they seem to persist and be an ongoing problem?

It sounds like he is an itchy type horse, but he could have good reason.  I live in South Fla and summers are very tough on horses between flies, mosquitos, no-seeums, heat, and humidity.  My horse is an itchy type horse as well and I have found a few things that work well, but they do require maintenance.

I use Selsum Blue on his mane and tail, wash thoroughly and leave on for 10 minutes.  I started out using this everyday and now about 2 times a week.  Liquid Dial soap (other brands as well) it has tricolosin in it - it's antibacterial.  I wash his face and neck with it as he tends to lose hair in the summer.  This will work great on the rain rot and girth areas as well.

It sounds like he is reacting to bug bites and since he's itchy, he scratches which breaks open the sores.  Witch hazel is great for removing the itch and swelling.  I keep it for ant bites which can also be a problem here.

My horse's dam is also an itchy, so I believe its an inherited trait.  My former QH never had any itch type issues, so he was lower maintenance.

Good luck.

One of my mares has the same problem with the scratching the chest.  She has about pushed over the chain link fence between our house and the pasture and I had to put a hot wire on it to stop her.  The knats (or what ever they are) and misquitoes drive her nuts.  She has almost rubbed her main off and her tail is VERY thin from rubbing it on the misquite trees.  I have found that using paranah (sp?) fly spray helps.  I just make sure I get her chest, tail and along her main really wet with the spray.  It has helped tremendously. 

My gelding had warts last year as a 2yr old and my vet said they were nothing to worry about.  He said usually its the young horses that get them and once they have them they normally don't come back . 

Anyone know a good home remedy for rain rot?  I just rescued a mare that has a bunch of it on her back from being exposed to the snow with no shelter!  I heard it has to dry out.  Is there anything I can put on her to help dry it out?

thanks a bunch in advance for any suggestions!

We have a QH mare that gave us fits in 2003 and 2004.  Vets told us to wash her with iodine shampoo often (we did, no help).  One vet suggested she had a fly allergy and we started giving her antihistimine in her feed.  No help to speak of.  In 2005 (early) the problem came back.  Seemed more like rain rot to me than fly bites (we have few flys believe it or not).  I bought a anti-fungal liquid at Tractor Supply and began massaging it in daily.  This stuff is great!  And it is oily so stays in place.  I may have used most of a quart but she cleared up and after that I just applied a little once or twice a week to her mail & tail.  The best stuff!  Some of the other horses were showing a touch of the rain rot so they had it applied just to the tail/mail/forlock.  This year, I plan to start applying to those areas before I see a problem.  I can't remember the name of the stuff right now - if you are interested, e-mail me.  I will have to go find it and tell you the name.  I think I paid about $12 or so for a quart and it lasts a long time once you have everything under control.

BTY, I have suspected barn swallows for transmitting this.  Wish I knew - if I did know I'd discourage the swallows from nesting in the horse barn - there are other buildings they could use!

Hey, keep it up!  You'll be so relieved. (I didn't think it smelled that bad)!

another Michigan girl

MTG may also have some anti-bacterial agent in it.  I'd have to read the label, which is not in the house.

Any idea is my suspitions about the barn swallows transmitting this could be correct?

Elaine (Brisco)

Hi there!

What is M-T-G? and where do I get it? I am desperate to try something new on my gelding. The gnats are eating him up badly on the belly-line. THey are even biting him on the sheath area badly and the tip of his penis! Swat seems to irritate him. I will try the Witch Hazel for the itching. Thanks