Mud fever (pastern dermatitis) is a painful bacterial skin condition in horses worsened by wet, muddy conditions and poor leg hygiene, causing significant welfare issues in winter.
Mud fever imposes acute and chronic pain, with horses showing reluctance to move, heat and swelling in affected legs, and behavioural signs of discomfort during cleaning. The temptation to scrub scabs off aggressively should be resisted — gentle softening with warm water and careful removal reduces pain. Barrier creams and leg wraps protect vulnerable skin when conditions cannot be improved. Land management is critical: rotating paddocks, installing hardstanding, and providing dry shelter reduce incidence dramatically. Horses kept on mud-saturated ground without intervention are experiencing preventable welfare compromise.