Mud fever

Cause
Cold wet skin is abraded by mud particles and become infected by the organism Dermatophilus congolensis.

Symptoms
Mud fever occurs mainly in the winter and can affect the leg up to the knee and hock. The initial lesions spread rapidly up the leg, matting the hair into clumps. The legs swell up and become very painful. The horse becomes lame and sometimes quite ill.

Treatment
Gentle bathing is essential to remove all the scabs. Then the legs should be kept clean and dry and antibiotics might be required.