Conference noted::equitation

    I had a similar problem with my mare...not on her withers, but on
    the points of her shoulders. She wears a New Zealand turnout blanket,
    and although it seems to fit well and does not slip, she was getting
    rub marks...the hair rubbed off, but there was no soreness just
    a hairless spot. Didn't seem to bother her any, but I did not want
    it to progress any furthur and start, so I now put a lightweight
    cotton sheet under the turnout blanket. I hook the chest buckles
    together, so that the two blankets are attached to each other, and
    cut holes in the sheet for the leg straps on the New Zealand to
    go through so the rear halves of the two stay together too. It works
    great, the hair is growing back over the rub marks already.
    

	My TB has prominent withers, too.  His winter blanket is cut-back,
	but his turnout rug isn't.  I've found that the winter blanket keeps
	sliding backwards!  His turnout rug doesn't slide back (it twists, 
	but that's a different issue).  I haven't had a problem with sores
	on his withers from his turn out rug -- that may be the result of
	the extra padding and fleese in that area (it was made with TB
	withers in mind).  

	By the way, do you know if your horse's blanket was removed at all
	during your absence??  It did warm up over the holidays and if it
	wasn't removed during the days, chaffing could have occured...?


					-Caroline

    Had a Chafe problem with my big hunter type Appy's wither last winter 
    that developed into an open sore and resulted in white hairs when it
    healed. He was 9 but this was his first winter north having spent his 
    life in Florida and Georgia. While we had bought him in February from 
    I. B. Stables outside Indianapolis, he was in a large barn which was 
    always warm so he had a summer coat - definitely not sufficient for 
    Townsend Ma. weather.
    
    The problem was the bottom layer not fitting properly and the edging
    on the bottom blanket (which of course was covered by the better
    fitting outside blanket) bearing on the wither. We solved the problem
    by sewing a sheep skin patch into the blanket which distributed
    the load off of the pressure point and provided padding at the 
    preasure point. With standard care for the sore he healed quickly
    and the "new white spot" fits in beautifully with the rest of his
    color. 

    Sewing in sheepskin chafe pads at other wear points may be a good
    preventative measure.

Has anyone tried those new 'wunderalls' for horses?  I've
seen ads for them and they're suppose be 'horse underwear'
that prevents chaffing under blankets.   The ad uses this
cartoon draw horse making this really funny expression while
standing there in his underwear.   Guess you have to see it!

Melinda

    THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTIONS.  I think I will try the sheepsking chaffe
    pads and perhaps add a sheet under his blanket.  I took the blanket
    causing the trouble off (it is a heavy fleece lined Haversham) and
    have put a lighter quilted blanket on.   I did not realize their
    were blankets cut-back for the withers available....this maybe a
    last resort.   Both blankets fit well,
    but my horse does have a bony wither.  What I find strange is that
    he does not have a open sore or rubbed spot...his withers are
    simply swollen up!  I am looking forward to spring.
                      
    

    
    As a short term solution, use a quilted wrap folded over the sheet at
    the withers, then put the blanket on top - like a withers pad
    under a saddle - even a soft terry towel might help
    
    Nancy
    

	I'm looking for ideas on how to prevent rub marks
	on my mares shoulders, from her rugs.

	Until recently my mare was stabled at night, and turned
	out during the day.  Wearing a duvet type rug whilst 
	stabled, and New Zealand when out.  This regime caused
	no problems.  However, she's now had to be turned out
	to grass - no stabling at night.  Due to the dramatic
	change in the weather here in the U.K., she is now wearing 
	a very thin duvet type rug under her New Zealand, and I 
	think it's this combination that's the cause of the problem.

	I've heard of sewing plastic onto rugs in the offending areas, 
	or maybe using sheepskin.  Does anyone have experience of solving
	this difficulty.  Ideas on keeping the two rugs together 
	would also be appreciated.

	Judy
	
    

    
    Hi Judy,
    
    What is "duvet"?? My mare wears a New Zealand rug at all times,
    she is allowed access to her paddock at all times except in the
    worst of weather. At the beginning of this winter she started getting
    rub marks on her shoulders and chest from the blanket, so I took
    an old summer cotton keep-them-clean-at-shows sheet and put it under
    the New Zealand. It stopped the rubbing but slipped a bit, so I
    started hooking the chest buckles to each other (hard to explain
    but easy enough to do..) and cut/sewed holes in the back of the
    sheet matching the openings that the legs straps go through on the
    New Zealand. That allowed me to run the leg straps through the sheet
    as well, and stopped the slipping. Then last month I got tired of
    dealing with two blankets all the time, so I took two old pillowcase
    (cotton) and sewed them directly into the New Zealand at the
    shoulders...they cover from the chest buckles to almost the withers
    and go down below where the wool ends (you know how there is a section
    of just canvas where the wool stops?). It has saved the hassle of
    two blankets and a multitude of straps, and she has not had any
    problems with rubbing at all since. It must happen from the horse
    moving around in them so much when turned out, the winters before
    this she was stabled all the time and wore an indoor Baker 5A blanket
    with no problems at all. Our TB gelding now wears this same blanket
    indoors without any problems either. Anyway, just a suggestion that
    has worked well for me...Good Luck!
    
    Linda
    

    Thank you for the pillowcase idea, that sounds the most promising yet.
    Duvet is another name for a quilt.  Its usually nylon outer, cotton 
    inner and contains a padded layer in between.  This layer can be
    one of a variety of weights - the old one was about 3 - 4oz in it's
    youth.  
    
    Would putting a spare strap around the under and outer rug breast
    straps have the same effect as interlacing, as you do ?
    
    Judy
    

    Hmm...I bet the spare stap idea would work pretty good! I did notice
    the straps on the sheet I had been using underneath were beginning
    to weaken....your idea of a spare would put less strain on them
    I would think...the pillowscases seem to be working out great for
    my mare, I guess wool can irritate some horses just as much as it
    does some people! I am anxious for spring now so the old rub marks
    will grow back out and my horse won't look so beat up! :-)