Last summer my mare managed to rub out a whole section of her mane that draped down past her neck. She looks terrible, it has only partially grown back this winter.  What can I do to keep her from rubbing it this spring?  I've used medicated shampoo, tried conditioners, tried NOTHING, and she still rubs it.   I've tried shapleys MTG, I've tried lysterine.  I can't see any real reason why she'd itch just that ONE spot so badly.  Any ideas?  She used to have such a pretty mane...but not anymore.  I'd like to know what the best spray on conditioner is....it seems that some make the hair slick, but leave it dry and brittle.

Amanda

I suppose she could be sticking her head between the rails, but it seems usually that it's itching on the doorframe.  She just rubs her head up and down and totally snarls up that one hunk of mane. It turns into this frizzy fried hairball that just breaks off in your hand.  I put a board up to keep her from trying to eat through the rails, which I hope helps, but I think there must still be some underlying reason why she keeps itching that one particular spot....other than to tick me off...It would be like your car driving out of the garage and denting itself.  I like my horses to look pretty, not mangey!

Amanda

I'd go in and have the area scraped by the vet and look for any signs of skin diseases.

How often do you worm for pin worms?

I'm not sure which wormers kill pinworms, but I rotate products and worm regularly.  Every so often I'll use one of the stronger wormers (like zimecterin gold) to make sure everything is killed.  I'm too scared to use Quest though. I used to until I heard about so many problems with it. It's not worth the risk in my book.

Amanda

Sorry Angel I wasn't clear...

You need to have the vet look into the cause of the mane rubbing if you are at your wits end.  (You'll be looking for a skin infection/disease that is chronic.)

Tail rubbing is caused largely by pinworm infestation, this info was for the other poster.  Many wormers can be used for pinworms but must be given in higher doses to be effective.  When in doubt ask a vet.

hounddog, if it's only in the summer and your vet cleared him for any skin problems your cure might be super simple.  Horses are very sensitive to dried sweat.  *Daily* rinse his complete hind-end including under his tail (lift it up) and between his back legs (where they touch) and see if you have any changes in behavior.  I've also seen in some horses that at the top of the tail head they get sunburned and due to the dried skin they'll rub.  A spray on sun screen will cure this problem, along with scrubbing the peeling skin off during a bath.

Admittedly I pamper all my animals...

*Another thought*  Horses can become chemically sensitive to some fly sprays.  Try changing for a few weeks to see if the condition improves, I know an Arabian gelding (black sands lineage) that can only use Fly shield or else he comes out of his skin.

I would also use a flax supplement to mnoisturize from the inside out, see if that helps it grow back.  Eqyss also makes a product that is designed to help hair growth if you haven't tried that one, it is a great conditioner as well.