Why Is My Horse Losing Her Hair?

Horses are known for their shiny coats and manes. However, a horse's hair is often subjected to the elements, bug bites and other skin irritants. Some occasional issues can be easily identified and treated with over the counter medications, and a good time to check the health of the hair and skin of your horse is when you groom it. Anytime a horse's hair starts falling out, it is a symptom of a skin disease, illness or another health problem.

  1. Normal Shedding

    • Horses normally shed their winter coats during the spring season. A horse that experiences a cold winter will have a heavy coat, and when the spring season comes there will be heavy shedding. This extreme shedding may be irregular or spotty, and isolated areas will shed in chunks. Regular grooming will help with shedding and gives owners a chance to inspect the horse's skin and hair.

    Malnutrition

    • A horse's hair is an indicator of its health and vitality. A healthy, shiny coat generally means a healthy and happy horse. Malnutrition and hair loss will be apparent if the horse is not fed a fortified diet that contains lysine and methionine, which are important amino acids that will help with proper hair growth. Feeding the horse a variety of hays will also provide an improved amino acid profile.

    Ringworm

    • Ringworm, also known as dermatophytosis, is a common fungal problem in horses. The fungus spreads through sharing grooming tools, saddles or quarters with an infected horse. Horses that are younger than 3 years of age are more prone to the infection, which makes itself apparent as bare patches with flaky skin. These patches can grow into blisters if left untreated. Ringworm infections are usually found around the body and legs of the horse. Horses with ringworm should be isolated and administered a daily bath containing miconazole until the lesions heal. Any equipment used on the horse should also be disinfected with a mixture of one part bleach and 10 parts water.

    Rain Rot

    • Rain rot is a highly infectious bacteria that resides in moist soil. It presents itself as bumps and boils on the horse's back, and these lesions tend to mat the hair until it finally falls off, leaving a bloody scab. Rain rot can result if a horse is forced to endure prolonged wet conditions. The best way to treat rain rot is to wash the horse daily with a horse shampoo that contains iodine or benxoyl peroxide, and cut off any aggressive mats. Also, it's important to make sure that the horse's stall is dry and to let it have a chance to enjoy fresh air and sunshine.

    Tack and Saddle Problems

    • Hair loss can be apparent where the saddle or harness meets the horse's fur. Continues friction from the saddle can cause skin irritation and eventual hair loss. Owners should make sure that saddles fit properly and the tack does not have any debris or sharp protrusions. Additionally, horses that have open sores or skin irritations should not be ridden.