Horse getting bitten on pasterns... any solutions?

[unobtanium]

Sorry, fly bites (or midges), and he's reacting to them -- developing oozy swellings which crust over.

I treat with a cream from vet, he has a fly rug, eats loadsa garlic but the buggers still go for him down there. Driving him mad!

I once saw a US site selling bands impregnated with fly-deterrent that you could wrap around the pasterns... if you had a fine-boned thoroughbred that is. Mine is more in the heavy hunter size category and the bands are too short.

(Also he frequently itches his face against that part of his leg, so I would worry that he might transfer harsh ingredients onto his nose/eyes.)

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks so much if you do! Live in France btw

Equilibrium do leg covers that you could maybe get mail order. Their products are excellent so I'd recommend.

Have you tried an insecticidal wash? I also use a veterinary product called switch on my horse and its the only thing that stops bites

Thanks so much... will order if affordable!

Good luck! You could try eBay too for second hand ones or even make your own?!

Interesting, my 2yo has developed a crusty oozy patch on his hind pastern that the vet thought was sunburn, I hadn't thought of mites.

No advice though but thanks & hope you get it sorted soon

Photosensitisation can cause those sorts of scabs especially if they've eaten a trigger plant

Yes, will do that fdm.

stinky, you've just made me think... my horse has more of these patches on his white feet... only slightly more though. Vet did not think it significant.

But anything, literally ^anything^ my horse gets on his feet, he gets worse on his white feet than on his coloured feet. Smelly frogs, manky white line, mud fever etc.

Our fields are well managed but the YO has had to attack the buttercups this year (definitely no ragwort thankfully)

Vaseline might be worth a try. It's messy but cheap and can be very effective with a number of problems.

Buttercups are the no 1 culprit for sensitising horses and they're everywhere this year! Good chance it's those. Try covering his legs and see if that helps

We've got tons of buttercups this year but luckily have never had any trouble with them. Meanwhile the top half of our field is a no-go area in the summer because of wild parsnip (several sprayings but still can't kill it). That is terrible stuff for causing burns on muzzles and white legs.

Now that I did not know! Thanks everyone!