Does this sound like ringworm?

[Mary Poppins]

I suspect that one of my horses may have ringworm. She has suddenly become itchy and I orignally though that it was her sweet itch flaring up. However, she hasn't had it all summer, and it is now October and raining so there shouldn't be any midges about.

She has a circular raw patch above her tail which isn't healing looks very scabby and sore. She also has a few scabby patches which look like scrapes where the hair has been caught, but she wears a rug in the field and has never had these patches until a few weeks ago. She is also covered in little bumps which are slightly scabby but look like they may get worse.

I am thinking that she will have to be isolated for a little while, everything washed (grooming kit, rugs etc) and her scabs hibi-scrubbed and kept clean. Hopefully this will make it clear up otherwise she will need some medication.

Does this sound like ringworm, and if so, is this the correct way to treat it?

Thank you

[Afellpony]

It could well be. The vet should be able to give you a preparation that will clear it. (It's always best to get the vet out).

[Laura+Phantom]

Hmm it could be, Phantom has had ringworm twice and he had bald patches, particularly behind his ears! They weren't necessarily scabby, but I suppose it depends how much they are itching themselves! I'd get the vet out, he may do a skin scraping to make sure, he did for me last time, and will give you either a spray or feed granules.

The spray didn't work on my lot so i had to use the granules, but they're harmful to women of childbearing age so you have to wear thick gloves when dealing with them!

[becs]

When our cob had ringworm, it was a neat circular bare area, didn't bother him.

You can treat it with creams from Chemists eg Lamisil (terfenidine?). But they usually get local immunity eventually & it goes.

If yours has a lot of areas of bareness / scabbing, I'd get a vet opinion too.

[Giveitago]

Sorry, doesnt sound too much like ringworm but definately sound like sweet itch. I dont know where you are but we still have loads of mossies down south. Ring worm is usually round patches of just skin. Have you found any on yourself, your hands etc?

My mare has the top section of her tail rubbed and sore and has some bumpy/headed fly bites on her breast area. She has been out of her rug for about two weeks. It was obviously too early for her and she is now suffering the inconvenience of scratching again.

Please check for more details but sounds S/I to me.

[Mary Poppins]

Thank you everyone - it isn't ringworm but is actually sweet itch. She didn't get her garlic when I was on holiday a few weeks ago so this could explain why it has flared up. Over the last few days it has got better and although this patch is still sore, I think that it is starting to heal. Thank goodness she didn't have ringworm - I wouldn't have been very popular on the yard!