The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Holy itch, Starlite!

1K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  kmdstar 
#1 ·
I didn't really know where to put this, but I put it here!

Lately Starlite has been REALLY itchy, I'll be leading her and she'll have to stop to bite her sides or back, when I'm grooming her she tries to reach back to itch and I see her do it when she's turned out. When I take her out of her stall you can see marks all over her sides where she's been scratching herself.

Any idea WHY?

She ripped half of her mane out in summer, but I think that was just from sticking her head through the fence to eat grass. We thought that might have been sweet itch but it really just seemed like she wanted the grass outside the fence.

She's been blanketed all winter and we've just started leaving the blankets off. She's stalled in sawdust (has been for months) and we just started adding some wood shavings to her stall but she was itchy before that.

I put her on a sweet feed (Blueseal Rider) for the winter for some extra pounds and I've been weaning her off it since it's getting warm, but I was looking things up about her itch and read a few people had problems with sweet feed causing itching so I was wondering if maybe that could be it?
 
See less See more
#2 ·
Bumping up!
 
#4 ·
Could be lice as silly as it sounds. Or maybe even flees, Have you looked closely into her fur and found anything moving? If that turns out to be the problem the good news is that both problems are really easily treated with some medicated shampoo!

Good luck!
Nope I haven't checked yet, I'll check tomorrow!
 
#6 ·
Is she getting worked?

My horses are all super itchy now that they're shedding. If they are worked and sweat a little it seems they are 100x more itchy afterwards...
Over the winter I've ridden her about once a month, this past week I've been riding her more though. I think she was itchy before I started working her...not sure though! :?
 
#7 ·
I'd check her for lice, and keep her groomed and help her get her winter coat out... If she doesn't have bugs, she's probly just itchy because she's shedding... Mine look like they're exploding with all the hair coming off them right now....
 
#8 ·
I'd check her for lice, and keep her groomed and help her get her winter coat out... If she doesn't have bugs, she's probly just itchy because she's shedding... Mine look like they're exploding with all the hair coming off them right now....
It would be great if it's just because she's shedding, I hope so! I forgot to check her over today but I'm going back tonight so I'll do it then. Nothing jumps out when I groom her though
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top