she's shedding - all the way to bald!

Lisa and Brandy in WA · 04-22-2004, 07:28 PM

Help! I'm a fairly novice horse owner. Always took lessons and groomed but never have come across this. My 9 year old mare is suddenly rubbing or shedding right down to the hide. Especially on her chest and around her ears! Any idea what would cause this and how to make it stop and grow her coat back? Poor thing is beginning to look postively pathetic. She's been confined to a winter sacrifice area and is just recently back on pasture 8 hours a day, plus she gets hay and beet pulp. Just recently had the Vet out for her annual check up, she thought she looked a little underweight, but didnt' seem concerned. (She had been quite heavy when I got her last summer). Any suggestions?

emsNkeeper · 04-23-2004, 04:39 AM

Those are common areas that sweat heavily. She's shedding right? She may just be really itchy or have worms or some kind of parisite (though usually they rub the tail too). I would give her a batidine bath and see if it clears up. Keeper sometimes rubs his chest after he gets all sweaty in the pasture.

Lisa and Brandy in WA · 04-23-2004, 07:36 PM

I will try the betadine this weekend if it warms up. She's not rubbing her tail at all, though I will admit to have missed a worming. When I checked on here tonight she is acting itchy around her ears and neck. I didn't have her last spring when she would have been shedding, so I'm wondering if this is just the way she sheds out. We had a real warm run of nice weather lately so maybe she's just in a hurry? Hope she finishes soon! Thank you for the suggestion.

EqUeStRiAn · 04-24-2004, 06:40 AM

Is some of the baldness in the breast area? Does she wear a blanket? Because if she does, blanket discomfort can cause rubbing and baldness. Im no sure if thats it, since you also said ear area. But just making sure

The good news is hair grows wink

hossluva · 04-24-2004, 10:19 AM

it might be a fungus my mare has a few spots like that and i put 'captan' on it they sell at flower stores or in the flower section its in a red and yellow tube u fill a bucket with water and ad about a spoon ful stir it up apply with sponge wait 5 min and rinse off i think it works but i would have to c ur horse

hay burner · 04-26-2004, 05:04 PM

that happened to my mare under her mane it turned out she had lice and if so you can treat it easily for people cant get it

Angelo · 05-02-2004, 08:46 AM

Part of the problem your horse could have is not the right nutrients. My friends horse was lacking a vitamin and it was also going bald.

04-22-2004, 07:28 PM	#1
Lisa and Brandy in WA Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2	she's shedding - all the way to bald! Help! I'm a fairly novice horse owner. Always took lessons and groomed but never have come across this. My 9 year old mare is suddenly rubbing or shedding right down to the hide. Especially on her chest and around her ears! Any idea what would cause this and how to make it stop and grow her coat back? Poor thing is beginning to look postively pathetic. She's been confined to a winter sacrifice area and is just recently back on pasture 8 hours a day, plus she gets hay and beet pulp. Just recently had the Vet out for her annual check up, she thought she looked a little underweight, but didnt' seem concerned. (She had been quite heavy when I got her last summer). Any suggestions?

04-24-2004, 06:40 AM	#4
EqUeStRiAn Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CALGARY, CANADA Posts: 3,864 Images: 130	Is some of the baldness in the breast area? Does she wear a blanket? Because if she does, blanket discomfort can cause rubbing and baldness. Im no sure if thats it, since you also said ear area. But just making sure The good news is hair grows wink __________________ M YB E S T D A Y *~6 y/o Saddlebred Mare~* AkA: *"Daisy" http://community.webshots.com/user/MyBestDay*

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04-23-2004, 04:39 AM	#2
emsNkeeper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pennsylvainia Posts: 666	Those are common areas that sweat heavily. She's shedding right? She may just be really itchy or have worms or some kind of parisite (though usually they rub the tail too). I would give her a batidine bath and see if it clears up. Keeper sometimes rubs his chest after he gets all sweaty in the pasture.

04-23-2004, 07:36 PM	#3
Lisa and Brandy in WA Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2	I will try the betadine this weekend if it warms up. She's not rubbing her tail at all, though I will admit to have missed a worming. When I checked on here tonight she is acting itchy around her ears and neck. I didn't have her last spring when she would have been shedding, so I'm wondering if this is just the way she sheds out. We had a real warm run of nice weather lately so maybe she's just in a hurry? Hope she finishes soon! Thank you for the suggestion.

04-24-2004, 10:19 AM	#5
hossluva Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,948 Images: 16 Blog Entries: 1	it might be a fungus my mare has a few spots like that and i put 'captan' on it they sell at flower stores or in the flower section its in a red and yellow tube u fill a bucket with water and ad about a spoon ful stir it up apply with sponge wait 5 min and rinse off i think it works but i would have to c ur horse

04-26-2004, 05:04 PM	#6
hay burner Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kamloops Posts: 927	that happened to my mare under her mane it turned out she had lice and if so you can treat it easily for people cant get it

05-02-2004, 08:46 AM	#7
Angelo Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 11	Part of the problem your horse could have is not the right nutrients. My friends horse was lacking a vitamin and it was also going bald.