Rubbing his mane out

[Ruskii]

I'm really confused on this. Each year since I moved to this yard round late Feb/ early March all of a sudden my horse rubs his mane nearly out :cry:

It's always in the central part of his mane and it's never red or sore or skin broken. He's a coloured cob with a predominately white mane, where it's rubbed there is a black substance on his mane and where that is at the base is where he's rubbing.

Doesn't matter what field he's in at the farm he does it each year Far to cold for midgies so I don't have a clue.

Any ideas ?

 

[mystiquemalaika]

What kind of rug has he had/got on?

 

[Ruskii]

Rainsheet at the moment but it happens whether or not he's wearing a rug. He's never had a neck rug on.

 

[mystiquemalaika]

Not the rug then,malaikas does that but its due to neck rugs.do you see him rubbing and itching it?I used neem oil on a horse I used to have as she always got the itch when winter woolies and spring coats were changing and it helped stop the itchyness might be worth a try.

 

[Lemme]

Do you have hedges round the field, the reason I ask, is our mare was notorious for taking the middle of her mane out, it grew back over summer , I though it was on the posts - so strung electric, until I caught her one morning - we have thick hawthorne hedging round the field on the middle section its quite high and what I had missed (due to being vertically challenged) was an overhang branch - it was just the right height for madam to stand under and rub the mane area - too high for bottom of mane and too low for top - took the loppers to it and not had problems since, we check the hedge lines and lop anything suspect now. She does get itchy mane and tail feb/march as coat starts shedding - so damn much of it - it goes in lugs but its not warm enough to strip out - shes much better once she can have a shampoo and we can get pour on - it tends to stop it.
just noticed coloured cob like our mare! feel for you!

 

[Ruskii]

Good idea - he's out in a 15-20 acre field. I think there is hedges on one side :unsure: Certainly low branches from trees anyway. He's already rubbed a section out :cry:

Tempted to hog him :ninja: but he has no defense against flies then. Will take some piccies.

Might give it a wash with tea tree shampoo and slather in anti itch cream ? It's all I can think off that I could treat it with. Ordered some neem oil too.

 

[popularfurball]

I would wonder if he is checking to see if the grass is greener elsewhere

 

[Dizzy Woo]

Daisy does this every year too, just the middle, she looks like she has a shark fin wobbling about on her neck!! As a Haffie she should have a luscious long flowing mane not a stupid wobbly bit in the middle :redface:
I have just electric taped all round my fencing but I never thought of looking up but like Lemme said, we too have an old stumpy dead tree, I am off to investigate if there is Haffie mane on the branch :giggle:

 

[Ruskii]

I'm off to investigate the field then - I have seen him stretching his neck out to eat on the other side of his field near farm track so will have a look.