What is on his legs?

I went and looked at a gelding (12 yr old) his legs have something on it that I've never seen. The owner said he thought it was some type of allergy to something in the grass he only gets it during the summer.
Anyway it looks like he scratches it alot, but I didn't see him touch it. Its kind of thick and makes the hair stand up on end, I think its because of the build up. Once you really get to touching and looking at it, it looks like cradle cap. I washed him (wanted to see how he was with water) and was looking over the legs, its real rough feeling, you can fell it coming off if you really rub it. I think it might itch, but like I said I never seen him touch or rub it, but when I was scrubbing it with my hand he stood so still, like it felt so good. He has white legs and after I rinsed him he it looked very red and irritated where it had come off. It was mostly on his feet but he had some on his leg not as much, but not on his body. He has had the same pasture mate forever and he doesn't have this problem.

My 4yr old quarter horse X mare also has something similar to this on her legs. She has two back white stockings and this is the only part on her body it has appeared on. She lives out in a herd with many different horses (30 or so) but she has always since she was born been with the same herd. She is also the only one to get this scabbie appearance on her legs. I was told it could be a serious case of mud fever although I'm not sure that would make its way up almost to the hock :S . I have been applying Zinc cream and furicin. Soaking it in hot water and scrapping of some of the scabs also has seemed to help. At first her legs were swollen or stocked up from all the scabs but with this treatment they have gone down alot. Next I think Im going to start soaking her legs in pails of epson salts and see if that gets rid of any more of it.. I do have some pictures just have to find time to get them up. Hope you find what your looking for

If its scratches or mud fever, the best thing you can do is keep the horse off of wet grass. Vida used to get it every summer. I started keeping her in the dry lot at night and not turning her out till the dew had dried on the grass. That really helps if you can do it.

Sounds like scratches they get it when from muddy or wet conditions my 25yr old quarter horse get it I clean it with badadine and scrub the scabs off and then spray it with blu kote seems to help

I take it that mud fever has nothing really to do with mud? Is mud fever like dew poisioning?

I'm pretty sure its all the same thing. I know you want to treat it early and regularly. It can get really bad.
I've heard it called grease heel too

The only thing our horses get that sounds similar to that is stonedust infection. Its basically from the dirt, mud, and dust getting on their legs and not washed off enough. It forms little bumps that rub off. If its anything like what you're describing we just rub it off and leave it at that.

Same as rainrot, greasy heel, scratches.. Just slather on Desitin, rub/pick what comes off easily and reapply. Desitin is very good and easy for these skin greebles. These things often seem to attack white haired areas more often than colored.

Scratches are they seasonal, or is it something that I could cure for good?

I use Neopredef on mine's mud fever legs. It's from the vet, and inexpensive. Works great.

It generally re-occurs. It's a bacterial thing from being in wet grass and it hits white haired areas mostly, but does hit dark legs/feet as well