Dr. Lowder,
It has been 2 months now and what I thought was a tear in the skin on the right shoulder caused initially by something in the outdoor paddock has progressed into a 2x2 bare skin area that will not grow hair.
I first noticed it when he had a tear in approximately the same place as his sheet... over and slightly behind the right shoulder. I started treating it with all the usual ointments and even some drying medicines (depending on the latest opinion on the perfect cure), and the inflammation and abrasion appearance went away but then it became apparent that the saddle was not fitting right as hair was falling out in about the same place on the other side.
I stopped riding for a while (7 days), and then did bareback, and I am now riding English as the saddle sits much better, pretty much away from the shoulders.
However it is not healing! I have used furazone ointment and spray, all sorts of tea tree oil ointments, including some with hydrocortisone 1%, and gall salve and corona (particularly when I ride), and antibiotic ointments and blue lotion dye, drying agents and so on..I have a large pharmacy thanks to this abrasion/saddle sore that will not heal.
The latest idea is just to leave it alone! Wash it and put corona on when I am going to ride, but there are no hairs. It does not look like proud flesh, it is pink and appears healthy except for no hair and not toughened skin like the rest of his hide.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Hello,
I would first like to know about the horse. Is this a Quarter horse? How old is he? If you don't think this horse has HERDA then the best treatment is to stop riding her for a month after the wounds heal.
They are never going to heal as long as you put a saddle on her back. You can ride him with just a pad if you like.
Thanks,
Dr. Lowder
