What can cause a horse to rub its tail?
Geldings and mares will commonly rub their tails if their sheaths or udders needs to be cleaned. All horses produce smegma, a thick, black substance that’s made up of dead skin cells and natural oils mixed with dirt and dust from the horse’s environment, that accumulates between the folds of the horse’s genitalia.
Why does my horse rub his tail against the wall?
The help a horse with an “itchy” tail, you’ll need to do a methodical investigation of possible causes. The clump of long chestnut hairs on the stall wall was a mystery, until you saw the top of your horse’s tail. He’s been rubbing it raw against the wall, but why?
Where does the curve in a horse’s back originate?
That is, his neck curls slightly, while a less obvious curve immediately below the rider’s leg originates in the thoracic spine. Very little bend is possible in the lumbar spine, but the muscles in this area help coordinate a smooth and fluid gait around the turn.
Why do horses rub their butts on fence posts?
These parasites, which emerge from a horse’s anus to lay eggs on the sensitive skin nearby, have made a resurgence in North America recently. The eggs trigger itchiness that helps spread them through the environment as the horse rubs against fence posts and trees. The eggs may be visible as small, white plaques around the anus.
Why does an Arabian horse have a downward slope?
While they have very well developed loins, all of them have a downward slope of the back into the withers. This is very common in Arabians and can contribute to saddles moving forward on the horse if the saddle does not properly follow the contours of the horse’s back.
Why does my horse have a rubbed area behind the saddle?
“Saddles are all about balance — if you’re getting a rubbed patch beneath the back part of the panel, it usually means there’s movement at the front, or that the saddle is a little too wide. We will sometimes see clients who have noticed an issue and tried to pad to the back but actually this makes the problem worse,” says Georgie.
What should I do if my horse is rubbing his tail?
Though pinworms are often suspected first, they’re now a less-common cause of tail rubbing thanks to deworming agents. (Most, such as ivermectin and pyrantel, are effective against pinworms.) What to do: Thoroughly deworm all horses on the premises with a product that’s at least 90-percent effective against pinworms.
That is, his neck curls slightly, while a less obvious curve immediately below the rider’s leg originates in the thoracic spine. Very little bend is possible in the lumbar spine, but the muscles in this area help coordinate a smooth and fluid gait around the turn.
When to seek veterinary help for saddle rubs?
If the saddle rubs don’t improve within a few weeks, however, it is important to seek veterinary advice for a thorough investigation, as there could be a serious underlying musculoskeletal problem, such as overriding dorsal spinous processes (kissing spine) or a sacroiliac strain,” says Dani.
