I’ve had my gelding since last August and in the past couple months he’s developed some really gross dandruff all along his mane. The only thing that’s changed is that I started MTG on his mane in an effort to help it grow not long before this started happening. He also started getting flaxseeds but if anything those would help his coat so I’m sure that’s not the issue. It’s the worst right at his poll and I really want it gone!
Yep. Blisters the crap out of lots of them. The dandruff is where the dead skin is flaking off because of the blister.
Oh poor baby. I know lots of people that put it on in order to treat dandruff…it doesn’t surprise me though. He is VERY sensitive. Bug bites, bug repellant, hard curry combs, mud, everything irritates him.
You shouldn’t use it if it’s sunny out - that can cause problems. I personally hate the stuff and won’t use it :no:. And never use betadine with it!
The oils in the MTG make the dead skin cells clump together and look like huge dandruff. I use it on my horse’s dock regularly, but like ryansgirl said I don’t use it just before turnout on a sunny day because the oils can burn the skin. I usually find myself washing out his tail within the next day or 2 because the dandruff will make my horse itchy and make him rub his tail - which negates the whole point of the exercise. 
But I still keep MTG as part of my tail arsenal because having had a hardcore tail rubber in the past, I believe that rotating products is the key.
hate the stuff… it stinks and is gross.
Are you washing it out? If not, do so. It’s effective for some skin problems that fall into the " fungi crap" category but it’s not supposed to be applied to the roots of an otherwise heathy mane or tail in an effort to get the hair to grow.
I guess somebody figured it was a counter irritant to stimulate blood flow to the roots and the myth it will grow hair started. Its a counter irritant alright, it burns, particularly in the sun. The hair will fall out with the peeling skin.
Dandruff is usually dirt and incompletely rinsed out residue from shampoo, conditioner, oil from fly sprays and assorted coat and hair products that collect by the roots.
To get rid of it use only mild soap that will rinse out in cold water, plain blue Dawn has no additives and rinses well, and it’s cheap. Use a long toothed comb, like an “Afro” comb and carefully comb from the skin right at the roots away towards the ends. NO CONDITIONERS or sprays or anything, just get it clean. After you get rid of the flaking, which is going to take more then one washing, you can use a conditioner but DO NOT glop it on anywhere near the skin at the roots, rub a SMALL amount between your hands and sort of stroke it on from at least an inch away from the roots towards the end.
Same thing with tails by the way. Don’t glop up the hair roots, use the long toothed comb stay an inch away and go towards the ends with any products. Most tail rubbing is too much residue and/or not cleaning the dock and between the hind legs. If it is fungi crap, keep it clean and if you use MTG, rinse it out daily and no sun…and I never used it more then a few days in a row and never without rinsing out the previous days application. It will burn.
I liked MTG for fungi crap, it works. That’s what it’s made for, not growing hair. Diet and cleanliness will grow hair so stick to those.
I only use MTG on Scratches, the condition sometimes seen on horses with white socks or stockings. And only in a mild case of Scratches. I personally am not a fan of MTG for much of anything, but I have a bottle of it at home and a mare who has three white socks and gets scratches but doesn’t like having her legs messed with; and pouring MTG on them is the least objectionable method of dealing with it. Fortunately it doesn’t burn her and beats back the scratches for the most part. I would never use it on a mane or tail. Just too messy and nasty, and the sulphur in it does burn the skin of some horses.
I agree, the best way to grow a better mane and/or tail is diet, and one with added fat.
He gets a high fat, low carb/sugar diet and his mane has almost tripled in length since January. For recommended use the bottle says nothing about washing it off. It says that you can use it once a week or whatever to help with hair growth. I’ve seen so many glowing reviews that I figured I’d try it. No place has mentioned any of the info you’ve told me. I’m not keeping it around to keep trying.
I hate it. For growing hair, I love good old coconut oil. It grows in faster, thicker and softer.
Nothing applied to the skin makes hair grow faster; human, horse, or otherwise. You can make it less brittle, which can make it reach a longer length because it doesn’t break as easily - that’s what coconut oil does if you apply it to the hair or scalp. Diet and genetics are really the only thing that make a difference in “growth” rate…although reducing breakage is a big part of creating a long mane/tail or your own hair.
I tried MTG once - a test patch on my mare and it caused a huge lump within 24 hours so I never used it again. I agree that for the right issues, it might be the right product…but I decided it wasn’t a great product for my mare with sensitive skin (if I recall she had a fungus-y something and I had also read good reviews about MTG)…but glad I did the test patch first…it would have been bad if I had applied it to a larger area.
Not sure about getting rid of the dandruff but clearly stopping use is the first step. Sounds like findeight has good advice.
Many, MANY horses are reactive to mineral oil which is the base liquid in MTG, Skin So Soft, and the oil based fly sprays. Mineral oil is a petroleum product and yes it is a major i gredient in lots of human products too. Horses with really fine, short coats seem more inclined to peel from mineral oil.
