How to Manage Mud Fever in Horses Naturally
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If your horse has developed mud fever, you'll want to know how to manage it effectively without relying on harsh chemicals or aggressive scrubbing. The good news is that mild to moderate mud fever often responds well to consistent, gentle care, and a natural approach can help support the skin's recovery while keeping your horse comfortable throughout the process.
Managing mud fever naturally involves cleaning and drying the affected area carefully, supporting the skin's barrier with nourishing natural products, and adjusting your horse's routine to reduce ongoing exposure to the conditions that triggered it. In this guide, we'll cover a practical, step-by-step approach to daily mud fever care that you can start using straight away.
How Do You Manage Mild Mud Fever at Home?
Mild mud fever, characterised by slight redness, small crusty patches and minor roughness on the lower legs, can often be managed at home with a consistent daily routine. The key is to be gentle, be thorough with drying, and protect the skin from further moisture damage.
The goal isn't to aggressively remove every scab or scrub the area clean. It's to support the skin so it can recover naturally, while preventing the condition from getting worse.
Step-by-Step: A Daily Mud Fever Care Routine
Step 1: Clean the Legs Gently
If the legs are muddy, allow the mud to dry naturally, then brush it off gently with a soft brush. Avoid hosing the legs if possible, as repeated wetting and drying weakens the skin barrier and can make mud fever worse.
If you do need to wash the legs, just use lukewarm water to gently rinse away any mud.Â
Step 2: Dry the Legs Thoroughly
This step is critical and one of the most commonly overlooked. After cleaning, or even after your horse comes in from a wet field, the legs must be dried thoroughly before applying any product or turning out again.
Use a clean, soft towel and pat the skin dry rather than rubbing, which can aggravate sore areas. Pay particular attention to the creases at the back of the pastern and the heel bulbs, where moisture tends to collect. For horses with heavy feathering, take extra time to lift the hair and dry the skin beneath.
Allowing the legs to air dry in a well-ventilated stable before turnout can also help, especially on particularly wet days.
Step 3: Apply a Natural Barrier Balm
Once the skin is clean and completely dry, apply a natural balm to protect the area and support the skin's natural defences.
Mud Stuff is a 100% natural, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial barrier balm specifically formulated to help protect your horse's legs from mud, moisture and irritation. Its ingredients, including Nigella sativa (black seed oil), Azadirachta indica (neem), Lavandula (lavender) and Melaleuca (tea tree), work together to soothe the skin, support its natural barrier and help keep it comfortable during continued exposure to wet conditions.
Apply a small amount directly to the affected skin. A light coverage on your fingertip is enough for an area roughly the size of your hand, so less is more. Gently smooth the balm over the pasterns, heels and any sore or scabby areas. Used daily during muddy or wet conditions, Mud Stuff helps shield the skin while keeping it nourished and conditioned.
Step 4: Support Skin Health from the Inside
Managing mud fever isn't just about what you apply to the outside. Supporting your horse's skin, coat and overall wellbeing from within can help the skin stay more resilient and better able to cope with environmental challenges.
Non-Stinky Stuff is a 100% natural feed supplement made which helps to support healthy skin, promote a glossy coat and calm irritation naturally from the inside out.
For horses and larger ponies, the daily dose is 20ml (4 teaspoons). For small ponies, llamas and alpacas, 10ml (2 teaspoons) daily is recommended.
Should You Remove Mud Fever Scabs?
This is one of the most common questions horse owners ask, and the answer requires some care. In general, forcibly pulling off tight, dry scabs can damage the recovering skin beneath and cause pain. However, scabs can harbour bacteria underneath, so leaving them entirely untouched isn't always ideal either.
A gentle middle ground works best. Soften the area first by applying a natural balm like Mud Stuff, which helps condition the skin and loosen crusty patches over time. After a few days of consistent application, scabs that are ready to come away will often lift more easily during gentle grooming. Never pull or pick at scabs that are firmly attached. Let them soften and separate naturally.
If scabs are very thick, widespread or the skin beneath looks raw or infected, consult your vet.
Why Does a Natural Approach Work for Mud Fever?
Mud fever develops when the skin's natural barrier breaks down, allowing bacteria and fungi to invade. Many conventional approaches focus on killing bacteria with harsh washes and chemicals, but these can also strip the skin's protective oils, dry it out further, and actually slow recovery.
A natural approach works with the skin rather than against it. Ingredients like black seed oil (Nigella sativa) are naturally rich in thymoquinone, which has well-documented anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Neem oil (Azadirachta indica) is recognised for its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial qualities. Tea tree (Melaleuca) and lavender (Lavandula) both offer gentle, naturally soothing properties that help calm irritated skin.
By protecting the skin barrier, providing nourishment and using naturally anti-fungal and anti-bacterial ingredients, you support the skin's own ability to recover rather than stripping it and starting from scratch each time.
How Long Does It Take to See Improvement?
With consistent daily care, many horse owners notice an improvement in skin comfort and the appearance of the affected area within one to two weeks. However, mud fever varies in severity, and horses that have had the condition for a long time or have very thick scabbing may take longer to show visible progress.
The key is consistency. Applying a barrier balm once and then forgetting about it won't deliver results. Daily attention (clean, dry, protect) is what makes the difference. Continuing your care routine even after the skin looks better helps prevent recurrence, especially if conditions remain wet.
When Should You Seek Veterinary Advice?
Natural care is a valuable part of managing mud fever, but it's important to know when professional help is needed. Consult your vet if the condition is severe with deep scabbing, open sores or discharge. You should also seek advice if there is significant swelling or heat in the leg, if your horse is lame or in obvious discomfort, if the condition hasn't improved after two weeks of consistent care, or if you suspect a secondary infection.
Severe mud fever can sometimes lead to cellulitis, a painful infection of the deeper skin layers, which requires veterinary intervention. Natural skincare supports day-to-day management and prevention, but it's not a replacement for veterinary care when the situation is serious.
A Simple, Natural Approach to Mud Fever Care
Managing mud fever doesn't need to be complicated. A consistent daily routine of gentle cleaning, thorough drying, natural barrier protection and inside-out skin support can help keep your horse's legs comfortable and well cared for, even during the worst of the wet season.
Mud Stuff gives you a 100% natural, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial barrier balm that's easy to apply and gentle enough for everyday use. Pair it with Non-Stinky Stuff as a daily feed supplement to support healthy skin from within, and you've got a straightforward, natural approach to mud fever care that works with your horse's skin, not against it.
To read about the causes of Mud Fever check out our blog on 'What causes Mud Fever'.