Tail problems can be a common cause of pain and discomfort in horses. To help you recognise the signs, expert Jill Kerstens shares which symptoms to look out for and what you can do to help.
Tail problem 1: if your horse … is reluctant to move his tail or pulls it to one side
This tail problem can be a sign of: an injury
'Your horse's tail is an extension of his spine and can contain between 15 and 21 coccygeal vertebrae, depending on his breed (although the average is 18)', Jill explains. 'Because these bones lie in the fleshy part of the tail, they can be vulnerable to fractures as a result of falls, kicks from other horses or poorly placed rugs. A broken tail can sit in an odd position and may look paralysed, or your horse may not be inclined to move it.'
If an injury or fracture in the tail has caused nerve damage, this can cause muscle tension on one side of the hindquarters. This means your horse's tail can then be pulled to the side by the muscles that still function normally. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your vet immediately.
Tail problem 2: if your horse … tries to rub the underside of his tail against objects
This tail problem can be a sign of: pinworm
Pinworm (a parasite that looks like a bean sprout) can colonise your horse's rectum, where it feeds on mucus. The female worm emerges to lay her eggs outside the body and produces a slimy, sticky substance that you can see around the anal area and along the hindquarters. This is very irritating and makes your horse scratch his hindquarters, often by hooking his tail over a fence to rub the underside.
'Pinworm is resistant to some modern wormers, and even those containing effective medication often don't work because they are absorbed into the bloodstream before they can reach the rectum where the worms live', says Jill. She advises using less advanced worming products, such as those containing the ingredient fenbendazole. 'These products are absorbed less well from the gut, so a high level of active medication does reach the rectum', she explains. 'You should also wash your horse's hindquarters every day with warm soapy water and then dry them with a clean towel.'
Tail problem 3: if your horse … clamps his tail against his hindquarters
This tail problem can be a sign of: a skin condition
Skin conditions usually cause sores under the tail. 'If there is a sore on the underside of the tail, a horse will react by clamping his tail against his hindquarters. This prevents healing, because it restricts the amount of blood to the area, and there is also the added complication that the area becomes infected with faecal material (dung)', Jill explains.
There are a number of skin conditions that affect the tail, including:
Itching and skin irritation, which can lead to hair loss, skin infection and sores that are difficult to heal. A possible cause is sweet itch (a condition caused by hypersensitivity to the saliva of the biting Culicoides midge). A horse with sweet itch scratches the top of the dock, and sometimes his mane and belly. 'Once your horse is affected, it gets worse every year, so the only solution is to minimise exposure by keeping him in at sunrise and sunset, when the flies are most active, and by using a good-quality fly rug from the start of the season', Jill advises.
Melanoma, a type of skin growth that is most common in grey horses and often occurs under the tail. 'These growths are usually benign, so they don't spread, but they can become very large and turn into ulcers', says Jill. 'Check your horse regularly and watch out for any changes in the skin – a melanoma will appear as a shiny, black swelling the size of a pea. If you see one, make an appointment with your vet straight away. Melanomas are best treated while they are still small and are then removed with a laser.'
Irritation and infection caused by over-enthusiastic grooming. 'You should be careful not to pull too hard on your horse's tail, as this can cause skin irritation and infection', says Jill. 'I have also seen tail bandages applied too tightly, causing sores on the underside of the tail. Even leaving a bandage on too tightly for half an hour can seriously affect the blood supply to the skin, leading to the formation of sores. Nowadays most people use tail guards, so it's not such a problem. But if you decide to bandage, make sure you can slide a couple of fingers between the bandage and the tail.'
'One way to treat skin conditions around the tail is to use a donut bandage (a padded ring) placed around the top of the tail', says Jill. 'This keeps it raised off the hindquarters, allowing any sores to heal.' As always, don't hesitate to call your vet if you notice changes in your horse's condition. They can advise you on the best treatments to keep him healthy – from top to tail.
Would you like more information? Also read our blog about caring for your horse's mane and tail.
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Do you want to improve your horse's tail? Read more about horse hair extensions as a solution for a thin or damaged tail, or check out our DIY I-tip tail extension kits.