My horse has a rub under his chin! 😢

[dungrulla]

I went and lunged my horse today and noticed when I took him in that he has a HUGE rub under his chin D: It didn’t look fresh but it did look raw and a little irritated.

I was lunging him in a rope halter which has never caused this problem but he pulled a little at the end of the line today–should I stop lunging him in it? Could it have rubbed his face raw?! I do give pressure on the rope sometimes when he rushes to remind him to slow down–never much, just enough to reel him in a little–and I am worried I pulled and rubbed his face raw!

The rub is right under the chin strap on the regular halter he gets turned out in so I took that off and put a different one on that fits slightly differently. He also has allergies–could he have rubbed his face on something? He had a little sore on his nostril earlier this week.

I feel SO guilty thinking he could have hurt himself lunging, and like it’s all my fault. What should I do to help this not happen again? :no:

[Simkie]

Sounds like his turnout halter rubbed. From what you’ve written above, it sounds like it’s highly unlikely that longeing him had anything to do with it.

[dungrulla]

Can that make the skin raw?

[Simkie]

Absolutely.

[dungrulla]

Could this have happened in 24 hours? I did not notice it yesterday. I suppose he could have rubbed his chin on something as well.

[TheHotSensitiveType]

I also think it is highly unlikely that this rub happened while you were lunging. It was probably his turnout halter, and yes that could have happened in 24 hours. Can you ask the BO or other boarders if they noticed your horse rubbing on something while turned out?

[S1969]

The Velcro on flymasks can do it too. I’d just put some Corona ointment and SWAT on it and relax. It happens…summer is tough.

[Simkie]

[QUOTE=dungrulla;8219255]
Could this have happened in 24 hours? I did not notice it yesterday. I suppose he could have rubbed his chin on something as well.[/QUOTE]

Sure. Especially if flies are bad and he’s shaking his head a lot.

[TrueColours]

I vote for turnout halter and/or fly mask causing the rub as well …

[dungrulla]

He doesn’t wear a fly mask in turnout anymore because his long-nose one was funneling flies up his nose. I took off the (somewhat dirty) halter he was wearing and put on his new breakaway halter. I fit it so it’s a little more snug than the old one and higher up on his face than the spot that rubbed.I’ll check him again tonight.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

Is it possible he can be turned out without a halter? A friend of mine had collars made for her horses because she didn’t want halters on them and the BM didn’t feel comfortable turning them out naked. It worked nicely and everyone was happy.

[dungrulla]

I can ask. I’d almost be more uncomfortable with a collar (strangulation). The horses are not turned out naked here for similar comfort reasons. I’m tempted also to buy one of the no-rub ones if this happens again.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

They can strangle themselves just as well with a halter ;). Just make sure it’s leather so that it will break.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=dungrulla;8219255]
Could this have happened in 24 hours? I did not notice it yesterday. I suppose he could have rubbed his chin on something as well.[/QUOTE]

Oh, absolutely. The first week I picked my most recent OTTB off from the track we were at a boarding facility that required halters 24/7. He developed an oozing, RAW wound right where the metal ring of the chinstrap is. In 12 hrs. It’s one of the reasons I prefer an english chin, as I feel it is less likely to cause rubs or get caught on things. Some horses can’t handle metal close to their skin - this same horse will get a rub in one ride (a hack ride none the less) if the metal ring on a crank noseband is close enough to his skin…

[Foxtrot_s]

Those properly fitted neck straps, with a numbered tag on them, are standard issue in Europe in large bands - that is how they keep tabs on the animals.
They are tightened enough so they don’t slide down, and certainly tight enough that they cannot get a hoof through them.

I use one extensively, and it is particularly useful when tacking up by the trailer - the neckstrap keeps the horse with you while you put on the bridle or take it off; no chance of an escapee. She is soft enough she can be led around in it, too.

[Foxtrot_s]

Meant to add, just dress it with some salve (Swat for flies), and it will heal up just fine.

[nu2u]

[QUOTE=dungrulla;8219651]
He doesn’t wear a fly mask in turnout anymore because his long-nose one was funneling flies up his nose. I took off the (somewhat dirty) halter he was wearing and put on his new breakaway halter. I fit it so it’s a little more snug than the old one and higher up on his face than the spot that rubbed.I’ll check him again tonight.[/QUOTE]

simple case of sensitive tb skin…he probably rolled or added just enough extra mud to the turn out halter to cause the rub, which I am willing to bet looks 100Xs better already, give the turn out halter a good cleaning and conditioning and everything should be fine. PS i think clean well conditioned leather is “gentler” on the skin than nylon PPS those fleecey covers can them make sweat awful so if you feel like he MUST have one to SURVIVE buy real wool not synthetic and keep it clean PPS thnx for reminding me I should give my TBs halters a cleaning.

[Foxtrot_s]

Meant to add, just dress it with some salve (Swat for flies), and it will heal up just fine.

[Calamber]

I do not like to use SWAT on the actual wound (I know they say it is safe), because it does have insecticide in it. Wash it clean, dry and cover it with zinc oxide, it will heal it, meanwhile it is waterproof and will keep out the bugs.