July 2005

Skin Is Vulnerable To Attack In Hot Weather

Skin disease loves summer weather, so avoid its attack by minimizing skin irritations and keeping your horse and equipment clean.

Skin disease can spread quickly if you don’t start treatment immediately.

High heat and humidity are ideal conditions for growth of organisms, so numbers in the environment—and on your horse’s skin—are high during the summer. They’re also high on tack, saddle pads, grooming tools and basically everything. Skin that’s irritated by friction (from tack), insect bites or dirt from the coat or equipment that gets trapped under tack or halters is at prime risk.

Bacteria and fungi, either on the surface of the skin or in the hair follicles, can play a role in many common minor skin problems seen in the summer, including itchy tails, bare spots on the face, hair loss under halters, raw areas between the hind legs,…