[sweeetrose]

Well my horse has these bumps all over her shoulders, barrel, and neck. I couldn't figure out what they were. They aren't normal bug bites either. They look like them, but when I go to touch them they are hard, hard as a rock. they aren't hairless, but some of these bumps start to scab over and then this white thing is getting pushed out of the skin. They go away in fall and winter, but they are really noticeable in the summer. I had someone tell me they maybe hives. They could be, but another told me that it was too much protein in their diet. Well my horse is on Grow N' Win. Only a coffee size cup full. She's a really easy keeper, so she doesn't get much. She's out on grass all day and she gets hay twice a day. Any suggestions would be a huge amount of help. Thank you!

P.S. Nothing has changed in her surroundings, so I have no idea what this is.

[BarebackJourney]

I have never heard of that. It sounds like either hives or a constant allergic reaction to something that may bloom in the spring. I gave my pony too much protein, it only made her hyper... not have bumps. I'd suggest a vet get over there. How long has this been going on?

[Trixiesue]

Is your horse younger or older? Also what do you use for bedding?

[Blistering Winds]

but another told me that it was too much protein in their diet.

This is BULL.

Protein will NOT cause "BUMPS" like hives or ant bites on the skin.

Scooter had the weird bumps, almost EXACTLY Like you described. We looked around for ground bees that can cause them, but only found very BIG ants. That CAN leave a nice welt when they bite, and his laying spot isn't far from where they reside. So this could be it. Ant bites with a large "reaction" area. Could be those HUGE flies that look like monsters.


Remember, just because you don't change anything, doesn't mean the insects can't change season to season. I noticed the ants swarming the other day. BOTH Horses are covered in welts today. I can almost guarantee the large ants are doing it to my horses. I wouldn't doubt, since you describe a similar area where Scooter was welted, that wherever he lays, something got him or the really BIG flies are nailing him.


Hives wouldn't cause scabbing. This tells me something GOT the horse. even the smallest fly can cause a horse to welt up, if they react hard enough to them.

[sweeetrose]

Well they started in mid june this year. She's 6 years old and they aren't inside that much. The horses are in to eat and they are back outside for the night. If the weather gets bad then they come in or if it gets too hot out. The bedding is wood shavings in plastic rectangular bags.


Blistering winds, is there anything you did to stop this from happening or do you just have to allow the welts to take their course?

[BarebackJourney]

BW... huge ants?! AHH!

Btw, their called horse flies. Scary things.

[Lindsayanne]

A horse at my trainer's stable gets protein bumps. The take him off grain, the bumps go away, put him back on, they come back, etc. Different feeds don't seem to make a difference.

[Blistering Winds]

Lindsay....that sounds like an actual hive reaction to something common in the grain. Oats and alfalfa are the most common in the grains.

because protein is protein. Regardless if it is from grain, hay, etc.

[Sue B]

I agree with BW...I don't think that horses get "bumps" from excess protein either. In all cases that I have ever seen it was an allergic reaction to something...either in the feed (sometimes molasses...so possibly sugars are a factor) or from insect bits of some sort. Sometimes around this time of year, there are certain little "flea" like things that get in the sawdust/shavings as the nights begin to get too cold for them. I have been bitten by them many times and they cause welts and itching....even though they are too small to see without really looking. Like BW said...there are many kinds of insects that can do this. There could also be some sort of plant that produces an allergic reaction....as the pastures get grazed down and it becomes harder to find good grass, some horses will eat plants that they might not otherwise eat....some produce slight toxic reactions such as hives.