Scurff

[fallible]

Has any one tried the additives that are supposed to improve skin condition?
Fal has always been scurffy to a greater or lesser degree.
She is better in summer and has been better this year as I have rugged more that the last owner.
However, the winter is a problem. This year it is better, when i got her last april the scurff was so thick she was difficult to clip.
she has oil in her hard feed, is regularly brushed and the rug has given her less hair growth this year.
Any ideas please?
Will clip a bit later on as try to get balence between weather and hot sweaty horse right before i give in and clip.

[rainie]

You could try a 'rubber curry comb, or a cactus cloth' which is like a square of hessian sacking but a bit more course, rub her all over in a circular motion to stimulate the natural oils in her body, exercise is good for this too, gives the horse a good shine. After clipping, dip your body brushes bristles in hot water with a few soda crystals added, clean the brush on the curry comb then brush the clipped area, it will lift off any grease or dead skin cells. Repeat in water every two or three brush strokes. What oil do you feed, soya is a good one. If you have only had her since April this is only 8 months and you say it has improved in that time, so probably in the spring she will be even better and going into winter next year hopefully clear of it. Is she itchy with it, does she have any type of mite, some can live on the horse without getting better or worse, just annoying.

[rainie]

Oops, 1st post i have replied to and i have stuffed up! Re reading your thread, you have had her for a winter already, but i still say the same...she is improving, you are obviously doing something good and it wont happen overnight as good condition comes from within, dont give up, you will get there. Also, hot woolly sweaty horse may have dry sweat too which means the skin cant breathe properly. I do know its hard though to find the balance, maybe clip her before riding? I had the same problem with my new forest, but once i clipped, life got easier and her condition improved.

[duckles]

When I got JB first, he had bad skin- it has improved - in fact I was only thinking that recently. For ages I did things like using a medicated shampoo (which you obviously can't in winter) and feeding oil (although that was for general health reasons). I think it improved mostly due to time, better health and less stress or maybe because I hardly ride him anymore !!! So no real tips- sorry! It just kind of happened by itself.

[brigadier]

Ive noticed that horses which are generally less well cared for seem to produce more scurf. When I worked at a big stables years ago there were always horses who were injured and just simply werent looked after as well (they werent groomed very often as they wernt rideen etc)- it mattered not what rugs/feed/forage they got. So the only thing that I could deduce from this is that horses under stress produce more scurf and horses that are consistently looked after ( aquick groom/change rugs/allowed to roll in sand etc etc and exercised) were the ones that had less. It makes sense as you are constantly cleaning the skin when you groom and exercise flushes it out etc. I notice a difference with Basil if I havent had chance to ride him all week and it seems to take longer to clean him (and his tack!)
So I think if the situation is improving it will continue to do so but I do think it is the consistent grooming/work thats the key and not so much products used. However I think cactus cloths are lovely for shine!

[fallible]

Thanks for your advice
Gave her a low chaser yesterday (bliss, a horse that does not freek out at clipper) Was impressed to notice that coat was easier to clip than at the beginning of the year (We get away with clipping later up here cos of colder weather, was very end of march)
I think the rug that i use as a under rug has helped, its shiney.
Got given a tesco was mit which has a toweling side, it is good at lifting the scurf left floating on the coat after grooming.

Looking at the prices of additives, I was interested in other peoples experiences with them.