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Mud Fever (Scratches) is a common condition that affects horses living or working in muddy conditions. An infection of the skin at the back of the heal and pastern area.

Scratches or breaks in the skin become infected by bacteria or a fungus and the legs become itchy, warm and painful to touch. If left untreated the legs can swell up, the skin cracks and becomes ulcerated. The infection may extend to the skin over the tendons, the inside of the thighs and belly.

Treatment…

· Put your horse in a dry stable during the healing process.

· Clip the hair of the affected area.

· Gently clean the area using an antibacterial cleanser. Dry with a soft clean cloth or towel. Apply a mud guard cream and wrap cling film around the affected areas (this will help loosen off any scabs or dry skin). Remove the next morning and apply more cream before your horse goes out, this will help to keep the wet and mud sticking to the fetlock and legs.

· Another lesser known cause of mud fever is a lack of copper, try using supplements like rosehip, garlic and seaweed which have high copper content.

Grease Heal
This is a condition seen mainly in heavy horse breeds such as Draft, Shire & Clydesdales. It can be caused by too much food in relation to exercise or work done. Grease often follows repeated attacks of lymphangitis.

Grease vividly describes the condition. The leg (usually one but sometimes both hind ones) swells up and exudes a foul smelling greasy discharge. Lameness is not usually present except when the condition is complicated by infection.

Treatment…

· Stop feeding nuts, oats and give only hay and a bran mash twice daily.

· Use a mud guard to help the healing process.

Cracked Heals
Cracked heals are found in horses or ponies wintered out wet pastures and mud. It also occurs in horses where the legs are washed repeatedly instead of being brushed and not dried properly.

Symptoms start with honeycomb scabs which come off leaving nasty painful cracks and if left untreated can become infected. The horse may or may not be lame depending on how long the cracks have been there.

Treatment.
Wash and dry thoroughly.
Apply either Vaseline or any reputable healing and antiseptic ointment such as Thuja.
When the horse or pony goes out onto muddy pastures use a protective smear of Vaseline or  to help prevent penetration of moisture.