Horse Mud Fever and Pastern Dermatitis: Prevention, Welfare Impact, and Management

Mud fever (pastern dermatitis) is a painful bacterial and fungal skin condition affecting horses kept in wet, muddy conditions, causing significant welfare harm that is largely preventable through management.

Key Facts

Mud fever (pastern dermatitis) is caused by Dermatophilus congolensis and other organisms that infect skin softened by prolonged moisture
It is most prevalent in autumn and winter when pasture conditions are wet and horses cannot avoid mud
Clinical signs include scabby lesions, swelling, heat, and pain in the pastern and heel area
Horses with white legs and pink skin are more susceptible than those with dark pigmentation
Treatment requires removal of scabs, gentle cleaning, and topical antimicrobial treatment — scab removal is painful
Feathered horse breeds including Clydesdales and Friesians are at elevated risk due to moisture retention in leg feathering
Prevention focuses on pasture management to reduce mud exposure and drying legs thoroughly after wet conditions
Chronic or severe cases can cause tendon sheath inflammation and significant lameness with long recovery periods

Welfare Considerations

Mud fever causes chronic, painful skin inflammation that is experienced as persistent soreness with each step — horses with significant pastern dermatitis often show altered gait and reluctance to move in ways that directly reflect the discomfort of inflamed, crusted skin over a flexing joint. The treatment process adds welfare burden: scab removal, while necessary to allow healing, is painful for the horse and requires consistent management. The preventability of mud fever through pasture management and leg care makes it a welfare condition that reflects management quality as much as weather conditions. Sacrifice paddocks that prevent mud accumulation in high-traffic areas, rotational grazing management that maintains grass cover, and consistent leg drying after wet turnout substantially reduce mud fever incidence. For feathered horses, management of leg hair to reduce moisture retention is an additional preventive measure.

What You Can Do

Create sacrifice paddocks or hard-standing areas to prevent horse access to deep mud during wet seasons
Dry horse legs thoroughly after wet turnout and check pasterns regularly for early lesion development
Treat mud fever early — established lesions are more painful to treat and take longer to resolve
Implement rotational grazing management that maintains grass cover in pastures and reduces mud formation
Consider clipping leg feathering in feathered breeds during the wet season to reduce moisture retention
Consult your veterinarian for severe or recurrent cases that may involve deeper tissue infection requiring systemic treatment