Everything You Need To Know About Horses

Horse With Ring Worm

Ring Worms

This is a fungal infection that has lesions which are typically roughly circular in shape, showing raised hair patches. When the hair is plucked from these areas, it leaves grey, glistening skin which develops a surf or scale in 1-2 days.

Fungal infections are most commonly spread between horses by contact with contaminated saddles, girths, bridles, boots, whips, grooming gear and horse floats. Slightly less common is direct transmission by contact between horses. It is fairly common among young horses that are being broken in if they are exposed to saddles and bridles that have been used on infected horses previously. Common sites of infection are the head, girth, shoulders and neck. It is a self-limiting condition over time providing equipment is cleaned and exposure to the fungas is reduced, but iodine washes and specific fungicidal washes and creams can help.

Needless to say, equipment should be cleaned thoroughly before being used on a new horse.