Horse club

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

I love Clydesdales and Gypsy Vanners. Huddie is a welsh cob so he already has the small feathers and when we go to comps people ask if Hudson is crossed with a Clydesdale

 

[Peaches Lee]

I've never seen a Friesian .. had to Google. Gorgeous horse! Do you have pictures?

I love Gypsy Vanners as well!

I actually don’t have a lot as he’s growing and some days he looks all wonky! . However I snapped this photo today before my phone lost power.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

I actually don’t have a lot as he’s growing and some days he looks all wonky! . However I snapped this photo today before my phone lost power.

View attachment 2127686

He’s stunning

 

[Peaches Lee]

He’s stunning

Thank you!

 

[littledog]

Thank you so much for your response. It's nice hearing from someone who has had first hand experience. I plan on taking the sample into the vet today so I'm hoping we will hear back soon.

I've wondered about a fungal infection and was going to bathe them with the antimicrobial shampoo just as a precaution. We have had a fairly mild winter here comparatively and I don't blanket my horses during the winter so I'm not sure rain rot could be the issue. It could totally be anything though!

That is so interesting about the sheath on your gelding. Mine isn't losing his tail, more his mane. Then he has some bald patches behind his front legs (not in the crevise). I cant get my pictures to load on here. I will have to ask the vet about that.

As for grain, they are fed Equine Senior to the two older ones and Strategy to the younger one. I know both of those have Selenium. However, we moved back in March and I stopped graining them during that time until last week so I'm not sure if 2 months without grain could have caused it. I stopped grain yesterday and gave them a HorsLic supplement which covers everything they need. I used to give this but stopped last year and now I'm wondering why I ever stopped. That stuff was like gold and made them look so shiny and healthy.

I'm hoping with this supplement and a good bath or two, the problem will clear itself! Thank you for your input. Very helpful and reassuring!

It still could be rain rot even though you don't blanket them, because the fuzzy coat they grow in winter (even fuzzier when they're not blanketed) can trap whatever moisture is in the air. I bet that a couple baths with the antimicrobial shampoo you have will take care of the problem.
As for nutrition, since you're feeding Senior and Strategy, nutrition is most likely not the problem. It's doubtful that a 4-6 week gap from that diet would cause such skin/hair issues all of a sudden, assuming you've gone to back to that diet recently.

 

[littledog]

Riv-6 !
You just gave me another hint, when you said bald patches on his lower legs? When you brush or use a curry on his legs, does the hair come out in greasy clumps, and leave almost bare spots? It could be "mud fever" which is just an old cowboy term for a different fungal infection, that lives in the dirt and affects the skin/hair on their legs, but can be treated the same way as any other fungal infection, including using the antimicrobial shampoo you are already using.
Get some Listerine, the normal kind from the grocery store (if it still is available due to covid?IDK) Put some in a spray bottle, and after doing the antimicrobial shampoo, just spray the Listerine on affected areas 2 or 3 times a week. This worked really well for my gelding, the shampoo kills the fungus, and the Listerine keeps any fungus from coming back.

 

[Riv-6]

I actually don’t have a lot as he’s growing and some days he looks all wonky! . However I snapped this photo today before my phone lost power.

View attachment 2127686

So handsome!!

 

[Riv-6]

Update on the horses:

Took 3 samples to vet and they did not find any bugs. However, they arent ruling out live just yet. I have to deworm them one more time in 2 weeks and if there is any lice left that should kill them off.

I'm just not convinced it's lice. After reading all your comments, I think it's more of a fungal infection than anything. Their skin is so dirty right now, especially coming out of winter that i wouldn't be suprised if that's the case.

@littledog thank you for the Listerine idea!! It doesn't come out in greasy clumps. The two main spots on my black mare are really dry, flaky and one is crusty feeling. The geldings skin just looks like bald spots, but also doesn't come out clumpy. The hair just loosely falls out. It's a super odd thing so that's why I'm leading more toward fungal infection after what you said! They are getting bathed today so we will see what improvement that makes.

I'm heading to where there is better service so I will upload the pictures.

 

[Riv-6]

Flaky, crusty spot on the black mare

 

[Peaches Lee]

Ringworm? (Which is just another fungal infection)

Maybe a skin scraping would give you an answer.