Pig oil - didn’t do anything for the itching but made the feather REALLY soft and silky. My horse was horrendously allergic to sulphur so pig oil only. Mallenders is indeed hyperkeratosis, and horses are predisposed to it if they have dry skins and coats, as many feathery cobs, heavy horse and Friesians have. In most cases there is a causative factor - something makes the horse's skin overgrow. The problem is that there are very many possible causative factors and combinations of factors, and it is likely that in each horse there is an individual combination of factors: bacterial, fungal, parasitic, metabolic and environmental. The only proven and effective treatments are either a moxidectin or ivermectin leg wash, prescribed by your vet, however, many horse owners believe that diet plays a significant role in the severity of the scabbing and by carefully adapting the diet, the condition can improve. It’s commonly reported that prone horses can get a flare up in early spring time, believed to be related to the sudden grass growth in the UK. Similarly, a high sugar and starch diet is believed to attribute to further irritation and some horse owners even suggest alfalfa is best avoided also. At the moment I'm thinking I'll wash in T-Gel once a week to get rid of any sort of build-up that may have occurred and apply a moisturising cream of some sorts (now thinking Vaseline?) 4 times a week (can't do more than that as he's only loaned out 4 days a week and on his non-loaning days I can't really expect yard staff to traipse down the field to rub a bit of moisturiser onto a couple of scabs!). I've posted about this a lot since getting Sid but can I just test my understanding of what is going on and all the different issues? I've been reading the Mallenders support group on Facebook and have got really quite confused.

Rebel Diamitetreats scabs and helps to break down any further keratin that is produced. Will also treat any mites that are present and helps to prevent hard skin from forming.This is very expensive, and since mallenders is not a life threatening or (except in very serious cases) performance threatening condition, vets don't usually suggest it. As a result 99% of owners treat it as a chronic condition which can only be managed, and find the solution that works best for them by trial and error. Often, attempts to remove the mallanders and sallanders in horses can do more harm than good. Usually, they are just unsightly but in some more extreme cases, they can become infected. Trying to keep them soft by using aqueous based creams can be beneficial if they are prone to becoming chapped. Link to nutrition Athletes foot powder cut with mud fever powder - I came across this mixture by accident but it did work. I also added wood flour or normal talc to make it go a bit further. I put this on before he went out in the morning. Brush or leave alone? Some swear by brushing the feathers out and lifting the scabs, others feel they're better left alone. What's your view? Some sources recommend using a feed supplement to boost the body’s immunity and help with the healing process. Feeding a probiotic can help aid in digestion and overall health of the horse. Always do your research on supplements, especially probiotics! Pre and probiotics are sensitive to heat, so certain manufacturing processes can render the supplement ineffective. Conclusion

Is this a chronic or an acute condition? As far as I have learned, mallenders is a form of keratosis, where the horse's body produces an excess of skin molecules, and it is chronic. It won't ever go away, though it can be managed. The feather scabs are more likely to be acute, caused by things like mites, mud fever or photosensitivity. Itching, stamping and rubbing are all common symptoms which are caused by the irritation of the mites feeding and crawling on the horse’s skin. I injured my knee and didn’t put any cream on his legs for 6 weeks. They became a mess and when a friend tried to put cream on them, he wouldn’t let her get anywhere near. He was due a sedation to get his teeth done, so I asked the vet to clean them for me, which he did using warm water and hibiscrub once the scabs were off, there was only a bit of pink skin, no bleeding, so the vet thought that he was sore simply because the scabs were pulling on his hairs. the vet was happy for me to continue with the Cetreban cream and as I am now a bit more mobile, I am managing to keep on top of them. This for me was confirmation that the routine I have is working well for us. Scurfy, flakey skin is another common symptom of chorioptic mange and is believed to be the skin’s natural defence to shedding the mites. Often, even when the mites have gone, the horse’s skin continues to flake. What is mallanders and sallanders?

Link to nutrition

This condition is more common in breeds with this genetic characteristic How to Treat Mallenders and Sallenders he allows me to handle his legs, part his feathers, and rub in the horse oil I am using. This is by no means the norm and indicates that he trusts me and that he finds the treatment helpful. He wouldn't let the vet touch his legs below the knee. Wash the area to keep it clean. You need to minimize the possibility of a secondary (bacterial or fungal) infection. Apply Ointment

Gracie gets mallenders a little from time to time and in her case I'm convinced it is exacerbated by what she consumes. I don't feed her anything that contains biotin (which is why I went for the FP balancer) and it's definitely worse when she eats lots of sugary grass. She's been muzzled this spring/summer so far and all I've seen is a bit of greasy dandruff in her feather, she doesn't seem to have any sores this time And she's not stamping her feet at all either. Meddi Mudis great for horses that are turned out, as it treats the scabs and protects the skin from further damage. You’ll soon notice the crusts have softened and are crumbling. Now is the time to comb them out. Just use a wide toothed comb and gently remove the buildup. You’ll notice the skin is healthy now.It is therefore an infection that can lie dormant in the horse's skin and only becomes active when the surface of the skin is damaged, which usually happens through prolonged exposure to damp conditions. This is an example of an overgrown chestnut; it needs to be trimmed. Due to the size of this one, it may be advisable to ask your farrier for help.

Brewers yeast is very good for digestion with the added bonus that it's very good for skin and hooves too, you should see a difference within a month. The skin should be supple and shiny at al times even with a winter coat if she is healthy and that will show in the state of her mallenders too. You could add oil to her feed but being what she is that might not be good for her waistline. Also, being what she is she might be finding your grass to rich for her which will all have an effect on the skin; gypsy cobs are bred to be hardy and do well on the cheapest ground, by bringing them out of their comfort zone to richer grazing and diets let alone being molly coddled (not saying you do, just generalizing!) with rugs and all sorts it's not surprising that their bodies and systems sometimes react differently. The term mallenders covers a variety of skin conditions that are actually known as tether dermatitis. It can be caused by a variety of bacteria that thrive primarily in muddy, wet conditions. Cobs are well known for gaining weight very easily. This was confirmed in a 2014 study published in the Equine Veterinary Journal, which surveyed a number of horse owners. Breed was identified as a risk factor for obesity, with draft horses, cobs, Welsh and other UK native pony breeds at an increased risk compared to thoroughbreds.Owner-recommended treatments: https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/mallenders-best-treatment.708427/ Pro Equine Groom: Chestnuts and Ergots https://www.proequinegrooms.com/tips/grooming/chestnuts-and-ergots Removing the scab is the key to starting the healing process. Follow the veterinarian's instructions. M&S formula is not a magic cure (there is not one) it forms part of the jigsaw to help reduce the severity of the condition, reduce the regularity of break outs and help to calm flare ups when they occur. feed a supplement to promote moisture in the skin and coat. She recommended mirra-coat, of which I found possibly the last 2 tubs in the whole of the UK and bought them yesterday. I notice that it contains biotin.