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Monthly Archives: November 2014
Not Your Regular Saturday Night Fever – Getting rid of mud fever
Getting Rid of Mud Fever
First things first. Take a good look at your pasture. My pasture has a lot of ALSIKE CLOVER which is a known cause of skin issues including mud fever or scratches.
Identify alsike clover here…
Helping your horse deal with the scratches is important. I had always used zinc-oxide (diaper cream) and it helped sooth and protect the area.
You can use a product called Sugardyne – which is a mix of sugar and providine concoction. I say… make your own.
Making and Using Sugardine
It is easier than you think…
mix 1 part providine, (or betadine) to 2 parts plan old white sugar! That’s it!
You can adjust the mix to your preferred consistency. Add a bit more sugar for a thicker mix, or less for a runnier mix.
Keep the mixture in a glass container with a secure air tight lid.
Other mixtures to try
You may have similar success by using natural means such as melaleuca and helichrysum. I have used a mixture I call Velvet muzzle on mud fever with success.
What is Mud fever?
Mud Fever is a terrible nuisance for me this summer. We have had lots of rain and the moist conditions that have hastened the development of mud fever.
For the uninitiated, mud fever is a painful red rash on the back of the horse’s pasterns and can even afflict the fetlocks. I have seen it mostly on the white legs and the pasterns of the legs with white hooves. Left untreated this rash will develop into painful, inflamed cracked skin.
Once the horse’s skin is inflamed and cracked, you develop a cycle of healing, cracking, bleeding, then, dirt and mud gets into the moist cracks causing more pain, slowing the healing process. I think you get the picture. Systematic treatment is key to the healing process of mud fever.
I think, however, that some horses are susceptible to mud fever and that the bacteria that causes mud fever lives in the grass/mud or soil making certain areas mud fever ‘zones’. My farm is one of those zones. Each time a new horse, with white feet, comes on my property it invariably contracts mud fever. Even in the driest of summers, mud fever is present.
Here is the treatment I use. The treatment must be systematic and thorough. If you suspect your horse of having mud fever or cracked heels:
Massage My Horse? Really? What can an equine massage therapist do?
Take note… an Equine Massage is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. It can help your horse with soft tissue issues. Take a look at some of the things massage has to offer.
Improve performance and ‘ride-ability’ by alleviating pain associated with sore, tired, stiff and over used muscles. This includes lactic acid build up, pulled muscles and tendonitis.
Improve performance by increase range of motion and providing pain free muscle contraction.
Improve performance by reducing recovery time between workouts and decrease risk of serious soft tissue injury.
Does your horse have any of the following symptoms? If you answer yes… then your horse may need a massage. Your horse may benefit from massage if he is showing signs such as:
- Stumbling or shortened stride
- Bucking during trot – canter transitions
- Not bending in one direction (or hollowing in one direction)
- Difficulty in picking up a lead or keeping a lead
- Head tossing
- Tail swishing or nipping while being saddled up or mounting
Massage is not a substitute for veterinary care.
Equine massage – A wonderful Complementary Therapy
Equine rehabilitation can include a massage. An equine massage can be a wonderful complementary therapy to a rehabilitation program or maintenance for the equine athlete.
Providing your horse with a relaxation or performance massage is useful for primary muscle soreness and compensatory muscle soreness due to protecting or compensating for an auxilary issue. For example horses suffering from laminitis could benefit from a massage due to the increase support the shoulder girdle gives for horses compensating for a laminitic episode.
Other considerations
Scar tissue reduction, stocking up and lower limb inflammation, stretching and ‘releasing’ tension are part of the protocols offered to clients.
Do you have a question or would you like to book an appointment?
Please contact me… I would like to share my experience with you.
What can massage do for your horse – you may be surprised
Making your horse comfortable and relaxed can be achieved by providing an equine massage. Whether you ride barrels, jumper, dressage or out for a recreational ride giving your horse a massage will increase your horse’s relaxation.
An equine massage will relax the horse and alter the blood flow to the body. A tense horse will use the blood required for digestion,in the stomach, to activate large muscle groups. When a horse becomes tense, blood tends to leave the stomach and go into the major muscle areas and horses can develop digestive problems but when you get a massage, the body begins to unwind and relax.
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About
Meet Laura – Recognized Senior judge and Equine Massage Therapist
Why I do what I do
I am passionate about helping people ride and train their horses to reach their maximum potential. Horse showing is about the thrill of your ride, the excitement of competing and the care and treatment of your horse.
Whether you ride once a week at your local stable or you travel distances to show at national or international shows, we all belong to the equestrian community and support one another in building our skills.
I help people get results from their horse, and identify solutions so equestrians can reach their potential. Be a part of the Thistle Ridge network and join with other like minded equestrians on their road to success.