Loss of Mane

[Erika George]

Hi,
George and his field mate have started losing their manes. Murphy does tend to suffer a bit of mane loss due to his rug in the winter but they are both shedding handfuls.
George has always had a rug with a neck during the winter and we have never had much of a problem. He normally has a seriously thick mane. Last weekend I had spotted a bald patch on his mane about 2 inches long, today it has spread half way up his neck.
There is no sores, oozing or evidence of scratching. There is no sign of mites or irritation. Both George & Murphy look healthy and have very healthy tails and coats.
Does anybody have any suggestions?
Erika

[ange]

Hi Erika, just some thoughts...

Millie lost quite a chunk of her mane last winter but it was due to having rugs with necks in - I didn't notice it for a while as it rubbed out from the underside up, rather than top down - she had a bald spot around 6" long that you could only see if you flipped her mane completely the wrong way. As with George, no 'problems' other than quite drastic (and hidden) hair loss!

I sold on her full neck rugs and bought ones without for this winter - although I did buy a turnout with an attachable hood, for the odd day when it was needed.

Did you buy new rugs for this year, either a different brand, or even the same brand but they've changed how they are put together (its amazing the variance you get in them)? Even using the same rugs as last year they could have shrunk very slightly in the wash, etc - it doesn't take much to cause a problem.

Generally it's been quite a bit warmer this year too, and the horses have already started to shed their winter woolies - he could just be a bit too warm in the neck area, and shedding coat (mane) as a result?

Cheers, Ange.

[erika George]

Thanks Ange,
I think that he has been just too hot on some days. As you say the weather has been very hot/cold and difficult to call. He hasn't had a particularly thick rug on but his mane is sooo thick that I think that he has just got too hot. I don't like him going without a neck rug because he is such a hippo and very difficult to clean in muddy conditions. I think perhaps I need to get a rug without a lining or attempt to remove the lining from his existing rug.
On close inspection over the weekend, his hair is already re-growing and now he is in a neck free rain sheet.

Erika & George