askHELTIE HELTIEhorse® Why mites and CPL are especially common in cold-blooded horses

Why mites and CPL are especially common in cold-blooded horses

Itching, scratching, stamping, rubbing, and scratching: horses with thick stockings seem to suffer more often from parasites on their legs, such as mites. The resulting skin problems, mud fever, and sometimes even CPL are also more common in cold-blooded horses. Why is this? And what can you do about these annoying conditions?

Lymphatic system

Mites

1 September '24 • 2 min reading time

Most draft horses and also Friesians have substantial feathering on their legs. This doesn't have to be a problem in itself, and feathering can actually be protective for the underlying skin. However, sometimes all that hair has a concealing effect. You don't notice skin issues as easily when there is a thick coat of hair covering it. Additionally, feathers are warm and provide a good hiding place for parasites. As a result, you might only notice conditions like mud fever or a mite infection when the skin has already been significantly affected.

Genetic Component

Unfortunately, many draft horse breeds, as well as Friesians, are genetically predisposed to Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL). With CPL, a horse develops ridges, folds, and lumps on its lower legs. In these ridges and skin folds, infections and skin problems can develop. Mites also favor the warm, moist areas under the folds. The horse often experiences itching and develops infections. Unfortunately, CPL is incurable and must be carefully managed to prevent it from worsening quickly. In some draft horse breeds, stallions are screened for CPL in hopes of breeding less susceptible offspring. However, the genetic code for CPL has not yet been deciphered, so there are currently no DNA tests available. In Friesians, CPL is likely associated with broader connective tissue issues that are currently under genetic investigation.

Simple Management

You can’t change your horse’s genetics, but you do have control over management. Draft horses and Friesians fall under the so-called 'simple' horse breeds. This means they often don't thrive on a lot of concentrated feed and rich hay or grass. But this doesn’t mean they can survive on only dry hay. This is a common misconception. Even simple horses need vitamins and minerals to maintain their bodies. These nutrients are also important for the immune system and overall resistance. Without adequate vitamins and/or minerals, mites, fungi, and bacteria have a greater chance to cause problems on your horse’s legs. So, ensure your simple horse also gets a good balancer with the required daily amount of minerals and vitamins to keep its immunity strong!

Habituation

Finally, one reason we see mite infections and CPL issues primarily in draft horses is that it’s often thought to be 'normal.' People sometimes seem to be accustomed to the stamping of draft horses, Friesians, and Tinkers. They believe it's normal for these horses to occasionally experience itching on their feathers. But this is not normal! With proper management and feeding, adequate exercise, and sometimes a spray of beneficial bacteria or an anti-inflammatory clove supplement, even horses with feathering can live without itching. Supporting your horse’s immune system and lymphatic system with, for example, nettle can also prevent a lot of trouble.

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When your horse is bothered by mites, it is useful to tackle that problem through multiple routes at the same time. The brushes, blankets, and environment of your horse need to be clean, your horse needs to be treated for mites, skin and resistance can use support, and it is important that your horse eats as healthily as possible. You can read about that in this article.

Good horse nutrition is important for mites

When your horse is bothered by mites, it is useful to tackle that problem through multiple routes at the same time. The brushes, blankets, and environment of your horse need to be clean, your horse needs to be treated for mites, skin and resistance can use support, and it is important that your horse eats as healthily as possible. You can read about that in this article.. The health of a horse is largely dependent on the health of its gastrointestinal system. Digestion is one of the most important bodily processes for horses, and they are therefore very sensitive to disruptions in the digestive tract. A healthy bacteria population in the small intestine, cecum, and most importantly the colon of your horse is essential. Microbiome The bacteria, fungi, and yeasts in a horse's intestines are called the microbiome. That name indicates that it is actually a whole ecos...

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