Mud fever—also called greasy heel, scratches, or pastern dermatitis—is a skin disorder that commonly affects the lower legs of horses, especially around the heels and pasterns. It occurs most often in the wet seasons of fall, winter, and early spring, when horses spend long hours in muddy conditions that allow bacteria and fungi to multiply.

In January 2003, Penny Woodworth, who lives on Vancouver Island, BC, was taking a jumping lesson. “Smallish jumps, nothing exciting. My long-time error is looking down, which I did that day. My horse stopped, and I tumbled off. Not a bad fall at all, except that I landed with one butt-cheek on the ground pole. I got up and carried on, but I was crooked and stayed that way. After a week or so, still riding crooked and feeling shooting pains down my right leg, I went for physiotherapy. I had dislocated my sacroiliac (SI) joint. Regular physio treatments and exercises finally got it to stay in place and I continued riding.

Riders of smaller build often require very specific adjustments in saddle design to ride comfortably and effectively. Simply cutting the flap shorter is not enough to create a proper fit. If the knee roll or thigh block sits in the wrong place, it can push the rider’s leg outward, preventing correct contact between the horse and both the upper and lower leg.

As winter approaches, ensuring fences are ready for winter can prevent costly repairs and reduce stress when storms arrive. A little preparation now pays off through the season.