Why is my horse’s skin crusty and flaky along the mane and tail?

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

Crusty, flaky skin along the mane and tail is often seen with sweet itch, which is a reaction to biting insects. It can also happen with rubbing, dandruff, dry skin, or another skin irritation, so it’s worth checking the area carefully rather than assuming one cause.

Things To Check

1. Check whether the itching or rubbing is worse in the evening, at turnout, or in still, warm weather when midges are active.

2. Look closely at the skin under the mane and at the tail base for scabs, broken hair, redness, swelling, or sore patches.

3. Feel for heat, tenderness, or areas your horse doesn’t want you to touch.

4. Notice whether your horse is rubbing on fences, stable surfaces, rugs, or posts.

5. Check for dandruff-like flakes, greasy build-up, or areas where the skin looks dry rather than inflamed.

6. See whether the tail is being swished, lifted, rubbed, or pulled out more than usual.

7. Review any recent changes in turnout, rugging, grooming routine, or fly control.

Common Causes

The most common cause in fly season is sweet itch, where bites from midges trigger intense itching and rubbing along the mane, tail and sometimes the dock or belly.

Other common causes include simple dryness, skin build-up, or irritation from sweating, grooming, tack, rugs or rubbing against surfaces.

Less commonly, flaky skin can be linked to mites, dermatitis, or another skin problem that needs a closer look.

What To Do

Start by keeping a simple note of when the itching happens and what seems to make it worse. That can help you spot a pattern.

Gently check the skin each day so you can see whether the area is improving, staying the same, or becoming more sore.

Reduce exposure to biting insects where you can by managing turnout times, using suitable rugs, and keeping the horse’s environment as calm and clean as possible.

Be careful not to over-groom or scrub the area, as this can make already sensitive skin feel worse.

If the skin is becoming increasingly sore, the hair is breaking off, or the horse is still very itchy despite sensible fly-season management, it’s a good idea to speak to your vet.

Products That May Help

For horses that struggle with fly-season irritation and itching, a routine that supports grooming and summer skin care can be useful as part of day-to-day management.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

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