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Barnyard Buddies:  SUPER sensitive horse skin?!  |
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Hosanna
True Blue Farmgirl
466 Posts
Hosanna
Alton
Virginia
466 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 11 2010 : 3:59:17 PM
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Ok, so I adopted/rescued this gelding off the track about 6 months ago. He was in bad shape all winter - struggled with his weight, the rain rot he came to me with got really bad and it was too cold to bathe him so..... he was just a mess all winter. (The rain rot got so bad, he had scabs crusted all over his back. When the scabs came off, there were pussy, bloody sores underneath. He and the mare we got at the same time had it worse than I had ever seen before. We kept them dry; blanketed and stalled whenever the weather was wet, etc. and it still took months to go away completely. I have NEVER seen it so bad.)
Finally he is gaining weight and shedding out and I got rid of the rain rot. But he is so friggin' touchy!!
I know there are some girls on here who have rescued horses before, etc. Has anyone ever had a ultra super sensitive skinned horse before?
I mean, he flinches and tries to kick at me when I brush him with a SOFT brush.
This is not my first OTTB, either. I have two others, and have had numerous others come and go. We've been running a TB re-homing program for two years now. I know TBs are thin skinned and ticklish, but -
He doesn't even like my softest soft brush, y'all! And when I bathed him last week he reacted like the water was BURNING him, and all it was was mild soapy water; no medicine in it.
This is blowing me away! Anyone ever had a horse like that before? Did they ever get over it? I've never seen anything like it.
www.happilyeverafterhosanna.blogspot.com
www.thewindofheaven.blogspot.com
www.CarolinaRoses.etsy.com
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2010 : 4:09:14 PM
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My sister rescued a arab with, as the vet put it, rainrot worse then hes ever seen , and did say she would probally end up euthanizing her. It took almost 18 months to get her rot free, then came the de-sensitizing. She would kick, bite, pullback and sit down if she was tied, when ever anything touched her back. Mt sister basicly started over with her, hobbleing her, for both their saftys, and sacking her back, massageing her, running a rope over her for withers to tail, useing the softest brush availible. The vet said her nerve ending were raw, even thou she was healed and the hair had all grown back. It took her another year before she could safly touch her back and saddle her. The only saddle she would allow on her was a ultra lite weight english style with a gel pad, and even with that she would quiver constantly. Its been about 5 yrs now, and shes a great horse, but YES she is still very sensitive, and will not let anyone but my sister handle her. Good luck with your guy and I hope he tuffens up enough that you will be able to saftly handle him.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2010 : 4:35:58 PM
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Exactly what Teresa mentioned is what I was thinking- I bet the tissue underneath is inflammed and painful still. I'm not sure if bute would help or not for some grooming time. I would imagine that slowly increasing stimuli to the skin (brushing etc) will slowly help him become desensitized. Maybe some soft open finger open palm massage to start out with?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2010 : 4:39:56 PM
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Alee, I don't know if bute would work, cause its the nerve ending, not tissue or muscle. I was told that its like having shingles, where ever you have them, your nerve ending are on fire. I would just love to do to these animal abusers, what they did to these animals.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2010 : 6:08:50 PM
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Sending Farmgirl force your way-what kinda sick people live in this world today?! I don't understand how they can treat animals like that. ((HUGS))
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com |
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MaryLD
True Blue Farmgirl
861 Posts
Mary
New Braunfels
TX
USA
861 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2010 : 6:37:19 PM
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I don't have experience with rain rot, but I do know that minerals help calm down the nervous system. Please don't take this as a sales pitch, because when I say I distribute Dynamite products, I mean that I sell them to myself and my friends at cost. Anyone can do it.
I use Dynamite Free Choice minerals to help my equine "balance out", heal hoof and skin issues, calm down, and re-mineralize. I don't know what other brands supply calcium and magnesium, but those are very, very helpful for jangled nerves. Dynamite sells a trace mineral product called Izmine that helpd a TON, and I also use their trace mineral salt, which is a loose salt. They make a product called Easy Boy ( or girl) for high strung horses, but I have nver used it. I would say, free choice minerals and trace minerals can make a big difference.
A good product for hot spots and regrowing hair does not come from Dynamite, and it is called Nu- Stock, and you can get it online.
~ Mary LD
Haflingers- You can't have just one!
( I'm just one short of a drill team!) |
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Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2010 : 6:52:28 PM
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I have done alot of equine rescue and I have a couple of questions. First are they assuming it is rain rot or have they tested with skin scrapings. We got one in once that had bloody sores. The owner had decided it was rain rot and had taken the poor thing and used the stuff they kill fungus on roses and sprayed him all over. Then he had taken him outside a left him in the sun for hours. He hardly had any hair at oll and was just covered in bloody sores that the owner claimed over and over was rain rot. We finally called in The Vets at Texas A&M university and they came and took skin samples. Turns out he had an immune deficiency that was causing the original symptoms and the man had just made it a million times worse by burning his skin with the rose fungus killer. Anyway, they took him to A&M and treated him. His skin improved and the hair grew back but he went nuts if you tried to groom him or use anything but plain water on his skin. We had to keep him in the barn during the day so he wasn't in the sun at all. We also had one come in with a mange type skin condition that the owner thought was rain rot. If it is indeed rain rot I suggest using Micro Tec shampoo and cowboy magic crud-buster. That is what we used and we got some that were horrible. If that clears up the sores and the hair grows back then it is just a matter of time to allow complete healing. A good diet and rice bran oil will really help the skin and coat. Good luck
Farmgirl Sister 572
When manure happens just say "WOO HOO Fertilizer". |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2010 : 9:09:39 PM
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I don't know if this would help but you may want to consider using the Tellington T-Touch on him. I've heard it's done wonders for highly sensitive animals. I've seen it done on dogs and I've never seen a bad reaction from a dog. Are there any practioneers in your area? It can be pricey but it may well be worth it.
cindy
"Dog is my co-pilot"
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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MrsRooster
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Amy
Seabrook
TX
USA
1168 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2010 : 06:42:30 AM
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My hubby told me to tell you to try soybean oil meal. Sprinkle it on his food. Or Sprinkle corn oil on his feed. This will help with coat and hooves.
Start with hand massage with aloe vera gel.
Good Luck!
www.mrsrooster.blogspot.com
Farmgirl #1259
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Hosanna
True Blue Farmgirl
466 Posts
Hosanna
Alton
Virginia
466 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2010 : 08:06:41 AM
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Thanks girls -
Teresa, your story sounds exactly like what I am dealing with. I wonder if he had a bacteria thing and not just the fungal rain rot, like Beth was saying.
Prairie Hawk - I have no idea if there is a T-Touch trainer around here. I have read her materials and try to incorporate some of her ideas into my work with the horses.
Amy - yes, I already feed all my horses corn oil in their feed, as well as rice bran pellets and high fat feed.
Whatever it was he had is now GONE. No more scabs, nothing. The problem is that he acts like brushing and touching him hurts. He is shedding out, and growing in new hair.
So far I have used my fingers, a soft towel, a soft brush, and a mildly "nubby" curry on him. If I press, even a little, he flinches. Poor guy. I feel so bad for him.
To make things worse, he was mistreated on the track. If you go into his stall with a muck rake he cowers in the corner. Other times if you go into his stall he will lash out at you. I think some of the barn staff there beat him. If you wave your hands and move fast, he jumps like he thinks he is going to get hit upside the head. :(
We're working with him a lot, though, and he is getting better. He really is a gorgeous guy. He was a Breeder's Cup horse.... the papers from the Breeder's Cup are attached to his JC papers. Anyhoo.... thanks for the thoughts; now I know I am not crazy....... I think rain rot does more than just surface damage...
www.happilyeverafterhosanna.blogspot.com
www.thewindofheaven.blogspot.com
www.CarolinaRoses.etsy.com
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Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2010 : 7:01:15 PM
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To bad his skin is sensitive because the best way to get him over the fear and jumpiness is to gently touch him as much as possible. I have heard of alot of horses at the track and even sometimes in stable where they are full boarded that they are terrorized and beaten. I know you know what to do to get him over it. My big gelding had a skin condition one summer before he came to me and he is still a bit touchy if you touch him unexpectedly. If you poke him in the side he will try to kick you.
Farmgirl Sister 572
When manure happens just say "WOO HOO Fertilizer". |
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Barnyard Buddies: SUPER sensitive horse skin?! |
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SUPER sensitive horse skin?!
