Horses living outdoors, especially during winter are at risk of developing rain scald. Here are some ways to identify, treat and prevent this skin disease.

What is rain scald?

Rain scald is a bacterial infection of the skin, usually found along the neck, back and hind quarters (areas that are exposed to rain) of horses.

Rain scald occurs as a result of horses being exposed to wet conditions over a long period of time without being able to dry off. It is mostly seen in horses that live outside.

It can be identified through the scabs, often with tufts of hair attached to them, it causes. These scabs can vary in size and sometimes, if removed, there may be yellow pus on the skin underneath.

If left untreated, large areas of scabs may merge together. The horse’s coat will appear coarse around effected areas. The areas may become skinned and these areas are then more prone to infection.

Treatment

A horse suffering from rain scald should be taken into a stable and kept dry. If this is not an option, you should put a waterproof rug on your horse. Once your horse has dried out, the scabs will need to be removed. This may need to be done over the course of a few days depending on how sensitive your horse is. The severity of the case will impact how best to treat the rain scald.

One effective way the scabs can be removed is by using coconut oil.

Wearing a pair of rubber gloves, rub generous amounts of coconut oil onto the affected area in circular motions. The coconut oil will work wonders by softening and lifting the scabs, while still being gentle on your horse.

Coconut oil is also waterproof which will help keep moisture away from the affected area.

Alternatively, warm water and antiseptic shampoo can be used to soften and remove scabs while cleaning the area. It is important to dry the area thoroughly after washing.

A rubber curry comb can be used in gentle circular motions to help remove the scabs and tufts of hair. In severe cases, your horse may need to be seen by a vet and an antibiotic treatment may be necessary.

Prevention

As with all skin diseases, prevention is always better than cure. Daily grooming is an easy way to prevent rain scald in horses. Grooming will keep your horse’s skin and coat healthy. This will also mean you can keep a close eye on their skin, which allows for early detection of skin diseases such as rain scald. In order to prevent the spread of infection, keep your brushes clean by washing them after each use and use separate brushes for each horse.

During very wet spells of weather, horses should have shelter if living out. If your horse does not have access to adequate shelter, a waterproof rug should be worn.