I've had 2 over the years. First
one came to us with scabby white face and 4 stockings. She quit
weeping and didn't get worse, but never lost all the scars.
We were told it was "clover poisoning" and since we
had dryland pasture there was no clover.
Other horse, many years later, would weep, itch,
rub, and get scabby all over. (light palomino). By that time folks had
heard of photosensitivity, caused by the combination of certain kinds of plants
and sunlight. We were unable to figure out what plants in the
pasture caused it.
This was my daughters "special" horse so it was
important he always looked nice.
Solved the problem by keeping him inside, out of
the sun, in the summer daytimes, outside in the pasture at night. Early
spring, late summer after lots of plants were growing, and winter he could be
out all the time. Worked for a number of years. Moved to a different
area, still had some green pasture but he didn't have any problems
there.
No other horses we had, many related, ever did
this, just his allergy I guess.
Have been told that the photosensetivity and also
cause liver failure in some horses. Anybody
know?
