How plant oils can help mud-fever-prone horses

The winter of 2019 was brutal. Six of our horses developed mud fever, each one presenting differently.

Some had tiny, diffuse scabs. Others developed great big patches. One older bay horse progressed to cellulitis and needed immediate veterinary care.

Same field. Same conditions. Completely different responses.

That's when we realized mud fever isn't just about muddy legs. It's an immune response issue, and multiple bacteria including Dermatophilus congolensis, Staphylococcus and various fungi thrive under those scabs.

Getting scabs off is essential but can be problematic. Picking them off only further damages already sore skin and provides the opportunity for infection to spread.

Bacteria need air exposure, and topicals need direct skin contact. But the standard methods create their own problems.

Washing with chlorhexidine (hibiscrub) is harsh on already compromised skin. It introduces water, which further weakens the skin barrier. The emollient-clingfilm-bandage method softens scabs beautifully, but horses that swell or have feathered legs can't be safely bandaged.

Plus, that humid environment under wraps? Perfect breeding ground for the very bugs you're trying to eliminate.

We needed something that could lift scabs without water, bandaging, or painful picking. So we got to work!

We applied the formulation to all six horses. Within 48 hours, every scab had lifted and could be worked painlessly to the end of the hair or crumbled off with light rubbing.

No pain. No anxiety. And here's what surprised us most. The skin underneath was healthy. No spreading from lesion edges like we'd seen with conventional methods. 

No further steps required.

4. The winter protocol that actually works

We now use two different plant oil formulations working together.

First, protection. Our horse oil combines fractionated coconut oil with bay laurel and lemongrass essential oils. Applied to clean, dry legs, it creates an antibacterial barrier that makes mud fall off or brush off easily.

This matters because continuous wetting and drying weakens the skin barrier. Let mud dry naturally, brush it off, reapply the protective oil which also supports the skin barrier.

Second, scab support. When mud fever does develop, our antibacterial and antifungal blend – Easy Lift - softens and lifts scabs for painless removal without washing.

Most customers tell us the protective horse oil alone is often enough to keep mud fever from developing in the first place.

We're clear about what our products are. They're cosmetic formulations for scab removal and skin barrier support, not veterinary medicines.

If you haven't experienced mud fever before, get a diagnosis, don't guess. Any case with heat, swelling, or that doesn't respond quickly needs veterinary attention. Cellulitis is always serious and requires antibiotics. Some horses need prescription topical steroids.

Every horse is different. Older horses or those with underlying health conditions may have compromised immune responses.

What we've developed is a gentler daily management approach that works with the horse's skin instead of against it. It saves time, reduces stress for both horse and guardian, and turns winter mud season from a dreaded battle into something actually manageable.

Sometimes the best solutions come from listening to both science and the horses themselves.