Horse Dandruff?

[Katie's Companion]

My Mare starting getting big flakes of dandruff lately. She was rubbing her tail so much she rubbed her hair off. I have been using daily wormer and did give her a shot of regular wormer. Should I use heads and sholders? She also has these big flakes on her mane. Does anyone know of any good equine products or any ideas and how to prevent this and care for this?

[Melelio]

My guy does this in winter, presumably because the air is so much drier (and he's so much dirtier :winkgrin: )....He has the huge flakes right now, too. and a very thick coat.

I don't really do anything to him for it. It's just dry skin. I wish I had a vacuum for them, but I don't. Otherwise, I'd just vacuum him up.

[Hampton Bay]

I have the same issues in the winter, and I live not far from you.

Someone on here mentioned dry skin, and it gave me an idea that so far is working very well.

First, someone else recommended scrubbing the mane and tail with dandruff shampoo every day or every couple days. Then I condition heavily, and don't rinse it out too well. Once the mane and tail are dry, I take some generic hand and body lotion, and I scrub it down into the skin of the mane and tail. Then make sure to keep the flies away as best you can.

It seems to be working so far. The mare still rubs sometimes, but she's no longer ripping her hair out in doing it. I think scrubbing the lotion into her skin helps relieve the urge to itch too, because I'm scratching the itchy spots for her.

In any case, hair is starting to come back in.

[CrossWinds81]

Head and Shoulders works really really well. Then condition hair well like someone else said. I also use Healthy Hair Care Conditioner...it's a pink concentrate with lanolin that you mix up with water and use daily as a spray on conditioner...no drying silicone in it. I would also consider feeding your horse ground flax seed or even just a regular veggie oil to help the internal aspect of dry skin. If your horse is an air fern opt for the flax seed...and make sure if you get the flax seed from a feed dealer that it is actually whole ground flax seed and not the by product of pressed flaxseed...those would not have the oil in the meals which is the whole purpose of using flax. Best option is to get the whole flax seed and fresh grind it daily yourself (about 2-4 oz), but that can be a a PIA. You can pre grind a large quantity of it, but it is better fresh. Good luck!!! :0)