Bald patches behing ear and around eye?

Question

My horse is in a paddock 10 hours a day and in his stall at night.

I have found small patch (1cm squared) that does not have any hair. It looks ok but the other day it was bleeding.

There is also another tiny spot near his eye that looks to be balding.

Is this from his scratching behing his ear or possibly a bug?

Answer 1

It could be ring worm. This is very common around the head. It is very itchy and causes the horse to scratch it which could have caused it to bleed... is the patch in a little circle shape... if it is then you can be sure its ringworm which is highly contagious to other animals and humans.  

Answer 2

The behind the ear part could also be an abrasion from the halter or bridle.  Horses get sweaty and in that area and if you keep him in the pasture with a halter on that could possibly be it.

As far as around the eye...that is a very vulnerable and thin skinned area where just from tears or flies can cause hair loss.

Also, if in a pasture and rolling and kicking up the dust, these areas can get really dirty and not to insult but do you clean and keep him well groomed or clean him after his pasture time and after riding time.  Because dirt accumulation plus a bridle or halter can make the hair gummy and eventually the hair rubs off.

Another area that is vulnerable like this is between the butt and any other crack or crevice.

Hope this helps.

*****EDIT*****

Louisech--great..just ruling out various things!!

Answer 3

sores like this on the head in horses are caused by any of these from what i've seen:

>equipment rubbing too much

>a bug that bothers him

>an itch that he is rubbing on walls and fences

>a form of boredom similar to cribbing that results in rubbing patches on skin. enough that they can bleed.

>sweet or summer itch. two types on skin fungus that result in the horses itching at particular spots of fur or skin. it may be the beginning of that.

>if he is turned out with other horses another horse may be injuring him

>an allergic reaction to a change in diet (this includes any plats he may have gotten ahold of)

>a stress issue can cause hair loss and other skin conditions