My mare has a tail that is very thick at the base with shorter layered looking hairs around the top?

Question

and her mane also grows kinda strange getting much thicker up the crest of her neck toward her ears. She's overweight and I've always thought that the crestyness of her neck contributed to the way her mane grew or possibly an inherited trait from her unknown lineage. I was told she was a Morgan then the vet said Morgan's don't have dorsel stripes she's a quarterhorse I don't know I don't care so really never gave it much thought. My friend Carolyn swears she has worms. I worm her regularly but have never had an FECRT test done (I have been reading about them recently though and plan on having one done next month). Anyway Carolyn wants me to ask you guys if you think its worms. She's across the street and her horses tails are a little broken looking so she's thinking we're all full of worms but my horses tail looks like it grows that way. Its like too evenly layered not rubbed looking. Anyway make her happy and give her your opinions. I certainly respect them youve taught me much

Answer 1

i would say it is all depending on the color of your horse. i have seen morgans with dorsal stripes. anyways, your horse might have a thyroid problem. Morgans can usually get a "cresty" neck, but not to a extreme. Crestyness is cause by A) over-weight  B)worms  C)too much work on the draw reins.

At least that is what i have been told.

I would get the test done, and then possibly maybe a thyroid test and see if that might be the cause.

Answer 2

Well Since I never really heard of a hair eating worm, I'm going to say that it really sounds like she's an itchy horse rubbing her butt and head on anything and everything. How about some fly spray to keep them from itching?

Answer 3

If you have a fly sheet on your horse that could be rubbing the tail. Mine does that to my gelding, but he is very sensitive to flies so I leave it on. Also my horses tails do have shorter hair towards the top, but are wormed regularly..etc. If its balding then there is definitely something wrong. If the hair lays pretty flat then its probably not from itching from worms.

PS...To Debbie...horses will rub there hind end on fences and such when they have worms, its not worms that eat hair. (dont take this as a smart a55 comment, I thought I should let you know, just incase you ever come across the problem.)

Answer 4

I wonder about her cresty neck...consider having your vet draw a thyroid panel (blood test) on your mare...she may be hypothyroid.  

Take a manure sample into you vet to check for worms.  Horses will certainley rub their tails at the top over pin worms..or if they have dirty tails, underneath.

It is important that you keep your horses tail shampooed out and conditioned and combed out if there is a lot of tail rubbing going on.  You may use witch hazel on her tailhead if you suspect bug bites..it's very soothing to a horse.