Mock in horses and ponies is a collective term for various skin disorders of the lower legs, of which dry mock is the best known. A horse can get cracks in the back of the hoof. The hollow is the visible cavity on each leg, just above the hoof. It is the place where the leg bone is firmly connected to the movable bones of the hoof by a joint. In many cases, it is a persistent condition that requires proper treatment.
Moisture, scabs, dirt & fissures.
Mock is usually caused by moisture, urine and dirt in the stable. Another cause is washing the legs with soap too often. This removes the natural fatty layer (sebum) from the skin, which becomes dry and chapped. The cracked skin then becomes accessible to all kinds of germs and all kinds of infections can occur. If this is the case, wet mug occurs. Moisture comes out of the fissures and when this dries it forms thick scabs on the painful areas. If the horse is allowed to run outside in fresh grass, the scabs will fall off and the area will be cured. If, on the other hand, the horse is kept in a wet stable, the infection will soon strike again and the animal will have to be treated from the beginning.
Horses with a mange condition.
In some cases, both mud fever and mange are present in the same area, so it seems like one condition that just won't go away. Horses with this discomfort are often rubbing and stamping. After treatment, the skin remains irritated and scaly. When you have realized that you also have to deal with mange mites, you can focus the treatment on this pest too, for example with a pest spray.
The spots should be treated as soon as possible before they spread and can even cause blood poisoning. Apply a good zinc ointment several times to the spot on your horse or pony. Provide a dry stable. Use sawdust instead of straw. Sawdust absorbs moisture better. Keep your horse's legs dry.
