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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
   
Location: North Dakota | I've got a 3-year-old colt. And he rubs his tail. 
He doesn't *need* to have a luxurious tail, as I don't show at a big level or anything like that, but it sure would look a lot nicer if he did! It's not to the point of being bald or anything, but tt's so scraggly-looking because he's got the sides and top hair all broken off short.
What can I do to get him to stop?
Ideally, I would make all of the fencing electric so he couldn't touch it ..... but I board so that is not a possibility to alter the fencing. He is dewormed per my vet's recommendations. He is out on pasture 24/7 (so I wouldn't think it is out of boredom) and it's about 10 acres or so.
Last year the ticks were REALLY bad. I was literally picking 30+ ticks out of his tail every single day. This year we've had pretty much zero ticks. So I don't know if his brain still thinks his tail is itchy, even though there's been no ticks this year???
Every so often, I'll rub Gold Bond medicated anti-itch lotion under his tail dock and he just looooooooves it when I rub on the side of the tail dock, right where the hairline starts to come in (if that makes sense). I've looked closely at his skin in the tail and while it might look a little dry around the hair (underside looks fine) it really looks normal for the most part, when I compare it to my other horse who doesn't rub.
I've heard of trying listerine on the tail but I have not tried that yet. Thought I'd check here first for other suggestions.
Edited by r_beau 2014-08-12 1:55 PM
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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| Worm him. |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | Generally there is a reason for rubbing the tail. Worms, ticks, lice, allergies, dry skin etc. Eliminating the cause should do wonders for the tail!! |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | I agree with the deworming, younger horses seem more susceptible. My 2 year old was crazy less than a month ago rubbing his tail/butt on everything he could get close to. I hit him with safegaurd and no more tail rubbing. Of course I checked for ticks (we did have ticks earlier so there was some scabs) washed him up and nothing helped like the dewormer. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 164
| I'm having the same issue with both my horses and can not figure it out. My mare has always done it to an extent, but is just worse currently, but my gelding has never ever rubbed his tail and he is suuuuper itchy. Neither have worms, they are wormed regularly and had an egg count done which was 0. I took them to the vet and he said because its so hot and dry here that it's probably just dry skin. He suggested Eqyss products which are supposed to moisturize. Tried it, didn't work. He also suggested cortisone cream which also didn't work. I got some stuff at the feed store that was also supposed to moisturize and anti-itch. It is a yellow cream. Didn't work. My horses ARE in an electric fenced pen! The only part that isn't hot is the gate...they are too sneaky. I'm at a loss because my gelding hasn't done this before. Any input given would be very helpful. |
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| One of my geldings tends to rub his tail when he needs his sheath cleaned. |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | I agree on the worming. Mares can also get itchy when they need their teats cleaned. The build-up between them is amazing even over a very short period. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | After making sure he doesn't have worms, clean his sheath and his "bottom" then I would put a mixture in a spray bottle. Half baby oil and half listerine mouth wash. Cleared my guy up in a couple weeks. |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | want2chase3 - 2014-08-12 3:19 PM
One of my geldings tends to rub his tail when he needs his sheath cleaned.
Ditto. Mine will rub like crazy if their sheath is dirty. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | Yup... check for pinworms and clean the sheath.. |
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Veteran
Posts: 164
| I knew he for sure needed his sheath cleaned, didn't know that was what was causing it though...thanks!! |
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | My granddaughter's mare scratches the top of her tail out almost every year. She was tested before we got her and they said she was allergic to cedar trees. Well just try to get away from them where we live. I put M.T.G. on her and it seems to help. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 203
Location: Ava, Missouri | Mine do it when they get ticks on the end of their tails.
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | As I already stated in my original post, he does not have worms. That has already been checked.
Sheath was cleaned in March. Based on the small amount of build up he had, my vet said once a year is fine for him. (He does very frequently let it "all hang out" so that's probably why he stays pretty clean.) Nonetheless, he has consistently rubbed his tail all year even right after his sheath was cleaned, so I don't suspect that can be the cause.
So sheath cleaning and deworming aside ....
I dig through his tail regularly. There are no ticks (or any other bug eating his tail). We had a cold spring and I think that's why they are so mild this year. I think I've only found 3 ticks total this year, and they were crawling up a leg after a ride; not bitten in.
Allergies are a possiblity. I'm not sure if I would see signs of it on other parts of his body??? He's never had hives or bumps or anything of the sort anywhere.
I can certainly try the baby oil / listerine combination and see.
I've thought about MTG, but does that actually seem to help with itch?
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: nj | mtg seems to helps some with mine |
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 Transplant Okie
Posts: 1206
Location: Always on call..... | MTG, it finally got mine to stop doing that. He initially did have some ticks so I thought that was it. But then he kept rubbing. I treated for pinworms with no improvement. My friend suggested MTG and it has stopped it. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I've diluted Lyserine and sprayed it on their tails before which has helped. I've had trouble with MTG burning my horses so I don't use it anymore. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | Word of caution on the Lysterine usage. I used this on my horse last year that has a blackish tail and a few weeks later he had a blackish tail with some outstanding blonde highlights. If this is a show horse you might want to wait until after the season has ended to give that a try as a last resort.
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Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | ajs2002 - 2014-08-13 9:08 AM
Word of caution on the Lysterine usage. I used this on my horse last year that has a blackish tail and a few weeks later he had a blackish tail with some outstanding blonde highlights. If this is a show horse you might want to wait until after the season has ended to give that a try as a last resort.
Forgot to mention that!! I would definitely give the listerine and baby oil a shot. It will kill any type of fungus on his tail. My guy has a long, thick beautiful tail and he rubbed his butt and too of his tail raw and finally we tried that and he stopped itching and his tail grew back. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 821
| I have a foal that is doing this. He has been wormed and checked over by the vet but the top of his tail looks like a billo pad. Id love some advice on what to use for a foal... |
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How to stop him from rubbing out his tail?