Washing and drying - Horse was stabled at night. If I left his legs muddy they would still be soaked the next morning. If they were hosed off, his legs would be dry within the hour. I know the jury is still out about hosing but it was definitely the best thing for my lad. Chorioptic mange can be treated but it is difficult to get rid of it completely due to the mites living in the environment or on other horses thereby causing re-infection. This means regular treatments are often required. Complete elimination of mites is likely to require treating all the horses on the property at the same time as well as disinfecting all the stables and other communal areas. i have noticed that the Mallenders appear to be worse when he is changing his coat, so twice a year. There is no benefit to removing biotin containing feeds or supplements from horses with this condition and long term this may actually make it worse. The only effective treatment is either with off licence moxidectin or ivermectin leg wash from your vet. This is an example of an overgrown chestnut; it needs to be trimmed. Due to the size of this one, it may be advisable to ask your farrier for help.

Some sources recommend using a feed supplement to boost the body’s immunity and help with the healing process. Feeding a probiotic can help aid in digestion and overall health of the horse. Always do your research on supplements, especially probiotics! Pre and probiotics are sensitive to heat, so certain manufacturing processes can render the supplement ineffective. Conclusion

It is therefore an infection that can lie dormant in the horse's skin and only becomes active when the surface of the skin is damaged, which usually happens through prolonged exposure to damp conditions. The only proven and effective treatments are either a moxidectin or ivermectin leg wash, prescribed by your vet, however, many horse owners believe that diet plays a significant role in the severity of the scabbing and by carefully adapting the diet, the condition can improve. It’s commonly reported that prone horses can get a flare up in early spring time, believed to be related to the sudden grass growth in the UK. Similarly, a high sugar and starch diet is believed to attribute to further irritation and some horse owners even suggest alfalfa is best avoided also. I've posted about this a lot since getting Sid but can I just test my understanding of what is going on and all the different issues? I've been reading the Mallenders support group on Facebook and have got really quite confused. Brewers yeast is very good for digestion with the added bonus that it's very good for skin and hooves too, you should see a difference within a month. The skin should be supple and shiny at al times even with a winter coat if she is healthy and that will show in the state of her mallenders too. You could add oil to her feed but being what she is that might not be good for her waistline. Also, being what she is she might be finding your grass to rich for her which will all have an effect on the skin; gypsy cobs are bred to be hardy and do well on the cheapest ground, by bringing them out of their comfort zone to richer grazing and diets let alone being molly coddled (not saying you do, just generalizing!) with rugs and all sorts it's not surprising that their bodies and systems sometimes react differently. While there is no known cure, these conditions can be treated and managed. Treatment can vary depending on severity and owner preferences. Wash the Area

Meddi Mudis great for horses that are turned out, as it treats the scabs and protects the skin from further damage. If in doubt, it is best to always seek veterinary advice! It is better to ask once too often than once too little. I use Cetreban cream on them and I can usually keep on top of them with this, I rub it in well so that the scabs are loosened and then comb them out. He normally lets me do this as long as he has a haynet. I had a visit from my vet yesterday to discuss Sid's mallenders, which have flared up and dropped off during the summer. She was helpful. Her view was: M&S formula is not a magic cure (there is not one) it forms part of the jigsaw to help reduce the severity of the condition, reduce the regularity of break outs and help to calm flare ups when they occur.Therefore I should continue doing what I am doing. I would do better in treating the condition if I removed the excess skin/scabs and treated with an antibacterial, but this would hurt and sting and, as the vet said, "end up with you on the roof of your stable and Sid up the other end of the field". She thought it wasn't worth the trouble for a mild condition. Mallenders is indeed hyperkeratosis, and horses are predisposed to it if they have dry skins and coats, as many feathery cobs, heavy horse and Friesians have. In most cases there is a causative factor - something makes the horse's skin overgrow. The problem is that there are very many possible causative factors and combinations of factors, and it is likely that in each horse there is an individual combination of factors: bacterial, fungal, parasitic, metabolic and environmental.

Athletes foot powder cut with mud fever powder - I came across this mixture by accident but it did work. I also added wood flour or normal talc to make it go a bit further. I put this on before he went out in the morning. Brush or leave alone? Some swear by brushing the feathers out and lifting the scabs, others feel they're better left alone. What's your view? Head and shoulders shampoo - yes this is really good on scurfy skin. Do a patch test first though as it’s quite a harsh shampoo. Is this a chronic or an acute condition? As far as I have learned, mallenders is a form of keratosis, where the horse's body produces an excess of skin molecules, and it is chronic. It won't ever go away, though it can be managed. The feather scabs are more likely to be acute, caused by things like mites, mud fever or photosensitivity.he allows me to handle his legs, part his feathers, and rub in the horse oil I am using. This is by no means the norm and indicates that he trusts me and that he finds the treatment helpful. He wouldn't let the vet touch his legs below the knee. Although nutrition and diet are frequently discussed on forums and linked to mites, mallanders and sallanders in horses, there isn’t any scientific evidence to support this information. For example, there is often talk, particularly on social media, of biotin making mallanders and sallenders worse however, there is no scientific evidence to support this. Biotin is a naturally occurring vitamin present at low levels in grass and forages and is produced internally by the horse itself as it breaks down fibre. It is therefore impossible to provide a diet which is completely free from biotin. From a diet and nutrition perspective, supplying a balanced diet that provides adequate good quality protein plus vitamins and minerals are all important for general skin health and support. In addition, a small amount of a high quality oil rich in essential fatty acids such as omega 3, can also help skin health and suppleness.

At the moment I'm thinking I'll wash in T-Gel once a week to get rid of any sort of build-up that may have occurred and apply a moisturising cream of some sorts (now thinking Vaseline?) 4 times a week (can't do more than that as he's only loaned out 4 days a week and on his non-loaning days I can't really expect yard staff to traipse down the field to rub a bit of moisturiser onto a couple of scabs!). Itching, stamping and rubbing are all common symptoms which are caused by the irritation of the mites feeding and crawling on the horse’s skin.

Making light work

Mallenders & Sallenders, what? Most horse people have never heard of these funny sounding and antiquated names, and unless you have a Gypsy, Shire, Drum, Friesian or horse with heavy feather, you're likely to never see it.