Horse & Rider USA – September 2019

Fall 2019 / 89

of equipment that causes rubs or other signs of irritation. Horse

blankets can be another source of skin damage. Make sure they fi t

correctly, and check underneath them daily for signs of trauma to

the skin, such as a shoulder rub or wither sore.

STEP 7: Control his environment. Control the environment where

your horse lives and sleeps to help keep his skin healthy. Does he

have shelter where he can escape the rain? Wet hair on his back

can provide a perfect environment for microorganisms to thrive,

leading to painful, scabbing, crusting skin conditions, such as so-

called “rain rot,” which is caused by a bacteria called Dermatophi-

lus congolensis.

Is your horse standing out in deep mud during wet winter

months? Soggy hair and skin on his lower legs can encourage

infection with a mix of bacterial and fungal organisms common-

ly called “scratches” or “mud fever.” This painful skin condition

often leads to extreme swelling and lameness, and can be diffi -

cult to treat once it becomes established.

And what about a place to lie down? If your horse lives in a stall,

is his bedding deep enough? Thin bedding on an unforgiving sur-

face can cause him to develop rubs on his hocks or fetlocks (bed-

sores). Over time, bedsores can develop into deep, painful wounds.

Finally, is your pasture fencing safe? Are your stalls well main-

tained? Anything that might cause a laceration, puncture wound,

or any other injury can threaten skin health. 

THE GAITED HORSE ASSOCIATIONS

[email protected]

http://www.walkaloosaregistry.com

The Walkaloosa Horse Association was founded to preserve

the history and pedigrees of these fantastic pleasure, work and

performance horses. We invite you to learn more about the

unique and wonderful Walkaloosa Horse.

CONTACT US TODAY!

The SMOOTH RIDE choice for people with

a preference for beautiful coat coloring!

PH. 805-995-1894 • 4055 VILLA CREEK ROAD CAYUCOS, CA 93430

PART WALKING HORSE REGISTRY

WALKALOOSA HORSE ASSOCIATION

[email protected]

http://www.partwalkinghorse.com

Our Mission: To register and record part bred Tennessee Walking Horses

with accuracy and integrity. We are dedicated to preserving the historical

attributes of the breed, while encouraging ongoing improvement in the

quality of the Tennessee Walking Horse.

Our Registry is open to one half, three-quarter and up to purebred

Tennessee Walkers whose dam or sire was not bloodtyped. We require one

parent to be TWHBEA, IPWHR or CRTWH registered. CONTACT US TODAY!

For versatility choose a PART WALKING HORSE

FIND US ON FACEBOOK!

facebook.com/walkaloosa.associationandregistry