February 2010

Blanket Rubs And Spur Spots

Winter coats are more susceptible to loss of hair due to rubs.

By Margaret Freeman

As horses emerge in early spring from under their winter blankets, their coats can display a collection of rubbed areas that makes them look a bit moth-eaten. This is mostly a temporary cosmetic matter unless any rubbed spots under the saddle or spur areas persist into the spring or reappear in the summer.

Blanket rubs are annoying. We recommend Mega-Tek to help promote rapid hair growth.

Horses that don’t gather coat rubs in the summer will still often collect balding spots in the winter. Winter coat hairs are simply more fragile. In addition, coat health in general is much harder to maintain in the winter. …