Itching in your horse in the autumn: what could be causing it?

Summer is slowly drawing to a close, the days are getting shorter and the temperatures are starting to fluctuate. For many horse owners, this also seems to mark the end of the season of itchiness and sensitive skin. Yet it is precisely during the experience more itching in the autumn, start scratching, or suffer from flaking, scabs or sore patches.

That’s not really surprising. In autumn, a lot changes all at once. Your horse starts to moult and grows its winter coat, the weather becomes more damp, the temperature can vary considerably from day to day, and rugs are brought out of the cupboard again. Mud and wet legs also become an increasingly common issue.

Does your horse suffer from itch in the autumn? Don’t just focus on the rubbing itself, but try above all to find out where your horse is itchy and what you can see and feel on its skin.

In this blog, you can find out what to look out for and what you can do yourself to look after your horse’s sensitive skin as well as possible in the autumn.

Why do horses tend to get more itchy in the autumn?

Itching in horses can have various causes. Sometimes there isn’t even a single clear cause, but several factors play a role at the same time.

In the autumn, for example, their coat changes. Old summer hairs fall out whilst the winter coat is growing in. Skin flakes, dust, sweat and dirt can become trapped amongst those loose hairs.

At the same time, it is becoming more humid outside. Horses are more likely to have wet legs or a damp coat, and when a horse is wearing a rug, heat and moisture can remain trapped underneath for longer.

That is why it is a good idea to do this a bit more often during this period to run your hands through the coat right down to the skin to check.

A horse may look perfectly fine from a distance, yet when you feel beneath its longer coat, you may still detect small scabs, flakes, thickened patches or sensitive areas.

1. Your horse is moulting

The moulting in horses This is clearly visible in the spring, but the coat also changes quite a lot in the autumn. The summer coat gives way to a thicker winter coat.

Some horses seem to scratch or rub themselves a bit more during the moulting season. Loose hairs, dandruff and dirt can build up in their coat.

What can you do yourself during the moulting season?

Groom your horse regularly to remove loose hair and dirt. If your horse has sensitive skin, it is best not to use an extremely stiff brush, and be gentle around areas where the skin already appears irritated.

Whilst brushing, don’t just look at the hairs that come out. Take a look at and feel the skin underneath as well.

For example, please note:

• flakes amongst the hairs
• small scabs
• bald patches or areas with thinner hair
• redness
• thickening of the skin
• areas that feel warm or tender
• spots where your horse clearly doesn’t like being touched.

This way, cleaning becomes a daily opportunity to check things over.

2. Moisture and a wet coat

September and October can be unpredictable months. One day it’s warm and dry, whilst the next day it rains for hours on end.

A horse’s skin that regularly remains damp for long periods requires extra care. Horses with a thick coat or a lot of feathering on their legs are particularly prone to retaining moisture for a long time.

So, after it has rained, don’t just check whether the top of the coat feels dry. Run your fingers through the fur and feel right down to the skin.

That certainly applies to the legs.

Tip: don’t wet a horse’s legs more often than necessary

Muddy legs do not necessarily need to be washed thoroughly every day.

When washing is necessary, it is important to ensure that the skin can dry properly afterwards. You really want to avoid moisture becoming trapped between thick socks or under clothing as much as possible.

You should also check the wall cavities regularly and feel carefully between the wallpaper. This will help you spot any changes sooner.

3. A blanket can affect the skin

As soon as the temperature drops, many horses are put back under their rugs. A rug can be comfortable when a horse needs one, but it also means that a large part of the horse’s skin is less visible.

What’s more, it can actually get warmer under a blanket than you might think.

A horse that is too hot under its rug may start to sweat. Heat, moisture and friction can then put additional strain on a horse’s skin, which is already sensitive.

So make sure you check regularly under the duvet.

Not just at the withers, but also, for example, behind the shoulder, on the chest and along the flanks. Check straight away to see if you can spot any grazes, bald patches, scabs or other changes.

It is difficult to assess a horse based solely on the outside temperature. Wind, rain, housing, coat, age and the individual horse all play a part.

4. Where is your horse itchy?

If your horse rubs a lot, the spot where it rubs provides important information.

“My horse has an itch” doesn’t really tell us much. Try to be more specific.

Itchy mane and tail

Does your horse mainly rub its mane or tail, take a close look between the hairs and at the hair roots.

Check for flaky patches, small cuts, scabs, damaged hair and thickened areas. Also check whether the skin feels dry or damp to the touch.

Has your horse had itchy skin this summer? If so, keep checking it in the autumn too. Just because summer is coming to an end doesn’t mean the skin will be completely clear again overnight.

Itchy legs

Stamping, biting at the legs, rubbing them, or repeatedly running one hind leg along the other are signs that you should take a close look at the legs.

Run your hands through any socks you may be wearing and check your skin.

Look out for scabs, flaking, thickened skin, sores, warmth and tenderness.

In horses with a thick coat, there may already be quite a lot to see or feel beneath the hair before you notice it from a distance.

Itching on the stomach, neck or body

Does your horse mainly rub its neck, belly or body? If so, don’t just look at the spot where it’s rubbing.

Check a larger area. Sometimes the most sensitive spot is actually just next to the visible scuffed area.

Also check for any chafing caused by a blanket, girth or other items that come into regular contact with the skin.

5. Flakes on your horse: look beyond just dry skin

Dandruff in horses are often dismissed as simply “dry skin”. But flaky skin can have various causes.

So look at the bigger picture.

Are they fine, loose flakes, or are they stuck to the skin? Do you also see scabs? Is there any hair loss? Is the horse rubbing itself? Is the skin sensitive? And are the flakes concentrated in one area or spread over a larger part of the body?

By looking at things like this, you’ll gain much more information than if you simply noticed that your horse has dandruff.

If you notice anything, take a photo of the skin. A few days later, take another photo from roughly the same distance. This will make it much easier to see if a patch is changing.

6. Scabs under the winter coat are easily overlooked

A thicker winter coat has one major drawback: it’s harder to see the skin.

As a result, small scabs or sore spots may go unnoticed for a while.

So make it a habit to run your fingertips through the coat in different places whilst brushing.

For example, feel along:

• neck and mane crest
• withers
• back
• flanks
• base of the tail
• belly
• legs and shin cavities.

Do you notice anything unusual? If so, gently part the hair so that you can actually see the skin.

The sooner you spot a change, the easier it is to keep an eye on how it develops.

7. Don’t change everything at once

When a horse suddenly starts scratching a lot, there’s a strong temptation to immediately try out various products, change its feed, add supplements and try a new shampoo.

But when you change five things at once, you can’t tell afterwards which one the skin reacted to.

So please organise your work as clearly as possible.

If possible, make a note of when the itching started, where your horse is rubbing itself, what you can see on the skin, and what care products you are using. You can also note down any changes to its feed, access to pasture, bedding or the use of rugs.

That may sound like an exaggeration, but if you suffer from recurring skin sensitivity, such a simple skin diary for your horse can be surprisingly useful.

8. Keep brushes and horse equipment clean

This is a simple tip that’s easily forgotten.

Brushes, blankets, saddle pads and other items collect hair, dander, sweat and dirt.

You should therefore clean brushes regularly and allow washed items to dry completely before using them again.

Do you use the same brushes for several horses? It’s better to give each horse its own set wherever possible, especially if one of the horses has skin problems.

9. Also consider changes to the living environment

Has your horse suddenly started to get restless? If so, try to think back for a moment.

Has anything changed recently?

Perhaps your horse has been in the stable for longer, a different type of bedding has been introduced, he has recently started wearing a rug, he has been moved to a different paddock, or you are using a new grooming product.

Not every change is necessarily the explanation, but by looking back systematically, you can sometimes spot a pattern.

10. Care for a horse’s sensitive skin from the outside and support it from the inside

At Paardenkriebels, when dealing with a horse prone to itching, we like to look at the bigger picture.

Good external skincare is important. You need to consider what the skin needs at that moment and where the sensitivity is.

In addition, support can from the inside form part of the approach.

We view herbal remedies specifically as a form of support rather than as a stand-alone solution. It is precisely the combination of appropriate external care and internal support that forms the basis of our approach.

The right care depends on the horse, its skin and what you can actually see. After all, a horse with a sensitive mane and tail does not automatically require the same care as a horse with sensitive, wet legs.

When should you stop trying on your own?

You can’t – and shouldn’t – try to sort out every itchy spot yourself.

Contact your vet if, for example, your horse has severe or persistent itching, if the affected areas are spreading rapidly, or if the skin is painful, warm, swollen or oozing.

It is also advisable to have a vet take a look if there are deep wounds, obvious swelling, signs of illness, or if you are unsure about what you can see.

This also applies if you have been treating the skin for some time but it is not improving or is actually getting worse.

It is important to assess the cause properly before you can take targeted action.

A handy autumn checklist for your horse’s skin

In the autumn, give your horse a quick brush-down once or twice a week whilst grooming.

Please check the following:

Mane and tail
Are there any flakes, scabs, bald patches or broken hairs?

Under the duvet
Is the skin dry? Has your horse been sweating? Can you see any areas where the blanket is rubbing?

Legs and shin cavities
Does your skin feel normal? Can you see or feel any scabs, thickened patches or sore spots?

Beneath the thicker coat
Use your fingertips to feel right down to the skin, rather than just stroking the hair.

Behaviour
Does your horse rub, stamp or bite more often than usual?

Changes
Have there been any changes to the care, housing, access to pasture, feeding or the use of a blanket?

By carrying out this check regularly, you’ll also get a better and better understanding of what’s normal for your horse.

Itching in horses in autumn: look at the horse as a whole

A a horse with an itch in the autumn So it doesn’t necessarily have the same problem as a horse that rubs itself in the middle of summer.

The change of coat, rain, damp, mud, temperature fluctuations and the repeated use of rugs make autumn a time when horses’ skin deserves extra care.

So try not to focus solely on the itching.

Check where your horse is rubbing. Feel right down to the skin. Check the mane, tail, legs and pasterns. Look under the rug. Watch out for flaking, scabs and changes in the coat.

And perhaps most importantly: get to know your own horse’s skin.

When you know what normal skin feels and looks like, you’ll notice any changes much more quickly.

Does your horse have itchy skin?

Not sure which care routine is right for your horse? At Paardenkriebels, we’re happy to take a look at what you’ve noticed, where your horse is experiencing discomfort, and which care routine is best suited to their needs.

Please send a clear photo of the skin, if possible, and explain where your horse is rubbing, how long this has been going on and what you are currently using.

This will enable us to work with you more effectively to find the right care from the outside and support from within.

Take a look at our range of care products for horses prone to itching