What should I check if my horse has sores from rubbing?

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your horse has sores from rubbing, the first things to check are where the rubbing is happening, what the skin looks like, and whether it seems linked to flies, tack, bedding or grooming. With sweet itch, rubbing is often part of an itchy skin reaction in fly season, but there can be other causes too.

Things To Check

1. Check exactly where the sores are. Sweet itch often affects the mane, tail head, face, ears, underside of the belly and along the topline.

2. Look for signs of active irritation such as broken skin, scabs, redness, hair loss, swelling or wet areas from constant rubbing.

3. Notice when it happens. If it’s worse after turnout, at dawn and dusk, or on windy, buggy days, insects may be playing a part.

4. Check whether tack, rugs, headcollars or boots might be rubbing in the same place, especially if the sore matches a strap, seam or buckle.

5. Look for swelling, heat or discharge, which can suggest the skin is becoming more irritated or may have been scratched raw.

6. Check for signs of itching elsewhere, such as stamping, tail swishing, mane or tail rubbing, or repeated head shaking.

7. Consider recent changes in turnout, feed, grooming, washing products or bedding, as these can sometimes affect sensitive skin.

Common Causes

The most common cause in fly season is sweet itch or other insect-related irritation, especially if the horse is rubbing the mane, tail or ears.

Friction from rugs, tack, halters or grooming can also cause sore patches, particularly if the skin is already itchy.

Less commonly, a skin infection, mange, lice or an allergy to something in the horse’s environment may be involved, so it’s worth keeping an open mind if the pattern doesn’t fit fly irritation.

What To Do

Keep the area as clean and dry as you can without scrubbing it, and avoid anything that seems to make the rubbing worse.

Try to reduce obvious triggers, such as flies, harsh grooming or any tack or rug that may be rubbing the same spot.

If the skin is broken, keep a close eye on it for changes in size, heat, swelling or discharge.

Make a note of when the rubbing happens and where the sores are, as this can help you spot a pattern and decide whether it’s mainly insect-related, tack-related or something else.

If your horse is very itchy, worsening, or the sores keep coming back, it’s sensible to speak to your vet for advice on the next steps.

Products That May Help

During fly season, it can be useful to keep your horse’s routine as calm and consistent as possible, especially if rubbing is linked with insects or summer irritation.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

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