Horses getting white spots?

Question

okay so im not sure if this happens on most horses but my horse who just passed away was chestnut and everytime he got a little cut the hair would grow in white. He was my main show horse so i couldnt keep taking my speckled white horse to shows like this. I show in hunters so everything has to be perfect and these stupid dalmation dots were ugly! Even if the cut was super tiny it would always grow back white even if i treated it. I had to spray paint and put chestnut chalk over every white dot and it was a major pain! Why does this happen how can i prevent it from happenning on my new pony and horse.

Answer 1

Horses lose pigment when they get a cut, thats why the hair comes in white. There is something you can put on it. It is called Grape Balm...could be spelled Grape Balsam...I used to put it on some dressage and hunters when I worked as a groom at a show barn. It encourages new hair growth, and comes back the original color. You can also try an ointment that contains grape seed oil, which is what the grape balm is. Grape seed oil is a known natural remedy to promote healthy hair growth.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

its just scarring. Unfortunately there is little you can do but put your horse in a plastic bubble and tell him not to get nipped or kicked by other horses or scratching himself on sticks or anything!!

Answer 3

Its a natural thing for horses, some horses more than others...almost how like on humans you can tell a difference when we have scar tissue. Your old horse may have just been more prone to that, your new guys may not be so bad. But I'm sorry to say it cant be prevented (only way it wont happen is if he doesn't get cut)  

Answer 4

We have a solid chestnut "paint" mare that is growing spots too! Her's don't come from cuts, but it may be because of the same thing. We aren't really sure what causes it, but we've had a couple of suggestions. One is that they're from some sort of vitamin/mineral deficiency. Another is that they're like sun spots. I'm not really sure what you could do about it other than have a test run to check her vit/min levels. I don't think it's a really common problem though, so your new horse likely won't have the same issue. Usually the hair only grows back white if the pigments were damaged by the injury, but that's usually with deeper cuts. So good luck with your new horse :)

ADD: Our mare that grows spots is young too - she's 7. You wouldn't expect it from such a young one. We have an older black gelding, like 20-ish who gets them, but I always assumed it was cuz he's old and that's what happens to old horses :)

Answer 5

It's the same as when hair grows back in white from a saddle sore or scar tissue of any type.  There is nothing much that you can do about it other than cover it up, just like you are doing.  I use to use the colored hair spray that you get at the drug, cosmetic counter at any drug store, spray it on lightly, wait until it drys, use a soft brush, then do it again lightly, then let it dry, then the soft brush..no need for chalk and it isn't shiny and it blends right in...holds pretty well even in the sweat.  I used to get teased that my tack box looked like a beauty shop...oh well, it worked and was totally harmless to the horses.

Answer 6

my show horse is the same way :( i found that if you add non toxic paint (your horses color) to clear hoof polish and just rub it on...it isnt noticable at all and lasts for a little while! (i had to reapply it twice at a 3 day event..the 2nd time i didnt even have to) my vet said that its just the way my horse's hair grows back when he scars. there really isnt much you can do about it. although once i knew it turns white..i started putting mtg on the scar before the hair started growing..and somehow it grew back his color. so maybe give that a try? good luck!

Answer 7

I've never heard of cuts making the hair grow in white....hmmmm thats somthing to think about for future referance. But i have heard about if the saddle rubbs alot on the horse it changes  the pigment of the hair in tiny spots...Sorry i wasnt much of a help =/

Answer 8

well, My best friend's dad is an old-timer and he used to put bacon grease on scar tissue once the wound itself healed.  He did it like once a day for a week or so.  He never told us how or why it worked or where he learned it from, but it would keep the hair from growing back white.  

Answer 9

I am pretty sure that is normal, I have seen lots of horses with those spots

Answer 10

This is normal. Usually it happens more in older horses which does make you situation a little weird. The white is caused by an accumulation of scar tissue which pushes the pigment away from the hair follicle and then the hair grows in white. There is nothing to be worried about here.

However I don't think you need to worry about this in your new horses having this issue. There isn't really anything you can do about it. Make sure they have proper nutrition and proper care after an injury andd that is the best you can do.

Also I ride hunters also and they can't mark you down for your horses color unless the color is such that it makes the horse look like it is unbalanced or lame. These little white spots are nothing more than little white spots and they are perfectly acceptable in the show ring.

So don't stress too much. Most horses do not have this issue and it is more common in Chestnut horses.  

Answer 11

Ask a vet...and stop spray painting horses you weirdo