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  Discussion on Sunburn
Author Message
Member:
Jeddah

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003 - 8:20 am:

Hi, I've already be doing some reading on the subject, but still have some questions.

I have been around Paint horses, most with bald faces, for about 7 years when I lived in Phoenix Arizona. I have NEVER had a horse sunburn, eventhough they were not in the shade all day.

Now I live in The Netherlands, Europe, again have Paint horses. Mine dont sunburn, neither does my arab with a wide blaze. But a friend of mine has several Paint mares that really sunburn!! She pastures her horses on a different pasture and feeds a different type of hay.
She also puts sunblock on her horses.

I do nothing, even my 7 week old filly, who has pinkrimmed eyes, a bald face, and lays in the bright sun (there is shade available, but always lays out in the sun) has not burned, just the first week, she got a lillte "red", then it was over, no problems.

How can this be? Is it really the pasture of feed?? Or can they build up resistance, just like people when they burn first, they get a tan afterwards, and usually dont burn again that year.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003 - 8:46 pm:

You know Corine, ever so often I get a question that makes me think about something I have seen for decades yet not really realized and this was one.

I have several horses in the practice with horrible chronic facial sunburns that we struggle with every summer: all appaloosas. And though I see a few paints with bald faces, they don' seem to suffer near a bad and I think I know why. The paints have a much thicker hair coat than the appy's to protect them from the sun.
DrO
Member:
Juliem

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003 - 10:25 pm:

I've questioned my vet about this same thing and he speculates that there are plants that at certain times of the year make some horses very photo sensitive. He cited some chemistry that I quickly forgot. He was treating two badly sunburned pinto saddlebred Arab crosses at the time, which prompted my question, as my pinto Saddlebred Arab cross has never burned, but he's not on pasture.
Member:
Paul303

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2003 - 12:24 am:

I had a paint for 30 years who would periodically burn on his white ( pink ) muzzel. We used sunscreen on his nose, but now that I think of it, our main sunburn problem seemed to occur more at summer shows, when he spent most of the day in the sun, competing. When you show paints, you KNOW the horrendous cleaning and whitening routines you go through pre-show. I wonder now if all the shampooing and whitening cut some of the natural oils in the skin? When we were at shows, if we ever forgot to apply the sunscreen every few hours, he would burn - once, his poor nose even blistered ( oh, the agony of guilt! ).
Member:
Leilani

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2003 - 12:42 am:

Elizabeth,

No guilt intended, but my friend has a gray gelding and all she does is scrub and shine and apply you know what to make him stay a "whiter" gray. Poor horse, I think he enjoys it when she goes back to the mainland (relief).
Member:
Jeddah

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2003 - 3:06 am:

But Dr O, my friend has Paints too!!
Could it be the "mottle-ing" of the Apps that makes them more prone to sunburn?

And Elizabeth, I know what you mean, I also think clipping the muzzel makes it sunburn easier. It seems like those thin hairs still do offer protection.

Nobody any idea's on building up pigment, by getting a light burn, just like with humans?
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2003 - 3:06 am:

Here in Ireland it is clear that certain types of clover can combine with sun to cause some types of sunburn - horses will develop it when moved into fields that contain the clover even though there has been sun out when they were on their previous grazing with no effect.

I guess this is due to a substance in the clover that gets on the skin and then acts like bergamot oil to intensify the burn reaction.

Horses that are chestnut with white socks often seem to get it as well - I've seen horses so bad the vet had to administer antihistamine injections to bring down swelling.

Separately, I've noticed greys who have "black" skin underneath (you can tell this when you wash them) don't tend to burn but those with "pink" skin especially around the muzzle are much more susceptible. I presume this relates to what colour they were as foals.

Personally I use sports sunscreen on the affected areas (the gooey type that's not supposed to come off if you go for a swim) but of course they always managed to rub it off where they are grazing.

I should maybe also point out Ireland has the highest skin cancer rate in the EU - when we do get sun, it does damage.

All the best

Imogen
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2003 - 6:00 am:

Corine look to see if those horses that are sunburning have less hair in the areas that sunburn than your horses do.

The mottling would actually help and not make it worse, the more pigment the better. On the other hand if you can see the mottling in the skin: there is no or little hair covering that spot. Imogen, though often talked about I am uncertain there is anything in the clover that causes photsensitivity but there is a long list of plants that we are certain that do, for more information on those plants that cause photsensitivity see » Equine Diseases » Skin Diseases » Overview of Hair Loss & Irritated Skin.
DrO
Member:
Roboski

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2003 - 8:07 am:

Imogen,
You made me remember that I got the worst sunburn of my life in Newfoundland, and I grew up here in Florida! Similar latitude to you, right? And they don't even SEE the sun much up there. Maybe the atmosphere is so much cleaner? Those rays just come blasting through, and the cool air off the ocean makes you not realize the heat till too late!
Member:
Pulley

Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 1:13 pm:

I have read all the posts on this subject but wondered if a fly mask would be appropriate for my new Paint filly. She is almost all white, (Don't know how I got so much white with a mostly black/wh. Mom!) But anyway the skin around the eye is so pink and I am feaful of the sunburn issue. Just wondered if a fly mask would interfere with nursing? she is just a week old and the pasture has some shade but she prefers to lay in the sun as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Lil
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 3:49 pm:

Lil,
Go ahead and use the fly mask. It won't interfere with the nursing. I had one on my filly and she did fine with it. So not to worry.

Holly
Member:
Pulley

Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 5:41 pm:

Hi Holly
Thanks for the quick reply. When the baby goes to nurse will the fly mask not irritate and press onto her eye? Ya know when she presses her face up against Moms belly? I worry way too much to be having a baby!
Lil
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 10:21 am:

Don't really know. Keep an eye on it and see what happens. I just know that my filly did fine and never had any eye irritation. If it does irritate I would think she'd adjust her position so it wouldn't be pressing.
Member:
Dres

Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 10:31 am:

Lil, i have always used a fly mask on my foals from day three.. we are in cattle country and the face flys are horrid..! the mask has never interfered with the foal or mom.. what i do have to watch out for is fox tails getting into the mask.. years ago one got thru to the eye and made the eye run... so ALWAYS take the mask off and check the face.. also.. if its hot the mask can cus a 'fungus' on the sweat spots.. behind the ears.. under the jaw... i always take the masks off and groom the heads for a good once over...

have fun .. Ann
Member:
Pulley

Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 12:14 pm:

Thanks Ladies!
I put a fly mask on my mare each morning and remove it nightly to groom and check to make sure it is not causing any problems. We have cattle all around the facility I board at so they are really a problem. Along with the sun! I will pick up a mask for my filly today and give it a try. Thanks so much for the input!
Enjoy the weekend all.
Lil
Member:
Pulley

Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 2:11 pm:

Just a quick check in with y'all. I put the fly mask on my filly,.....Foal size waaaaay too big. so I made an adjustment on top. I pulled the crown piece together and rubberbanded it to bring the fly mask up higher on her face. It was clear down on her nose. Now it seems to fit without obstructing her eyes. Today is the first day so when I go out tonight to remove her and Moms, hopefully it will still be in place. Nursing is no problem as Ann stated. Velcro is scarry however! I tried to desensitze her from the sound, which worked at first but she was a bit worried the last time I made that wonderful sound with it! Hope all goes well tonight with removal. Thanks again for the input
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