by Mary Knetter

Created on: July 24, 2008   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

Horses are incredibly sensitive, perceptive creatures. Through acute vision, hearing and touch, they are able to move through their world with grace, beauty and finesse. But it is their sense of touch that makes them remarkable creatures. By understanding the sensitive areas and their physiology, owners and handlers can identify the best care.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

There are two ways to identify sensitive areas on a horse. The first is any area not protected by bone. The skin of the abdomen, groin, flanks and underneath the tail is the most delicate. This is where the animal carries its reproductive organs, expels waste and nurses its young.

The second is whether the area has sensual organs. The area of the face, eyes, ears and muzzle are highly responsive to touch. These organs gather information about the world around them. The eyes and muzzle are covered with whiskers that tell the animal how close they are to an object. The ears are filled with fine hairs to keep out biting insects.

These most sensitive areas have the thinnest skin cover and are often covered with no hair or very short, thin hairs. The skin in these areas is packed with nerve endings and capillaries and dissipates heat the fastest through sweating first in these areas.

HOW TO CARE FOR AND HANDLE SENSITIVE AREAS

Many horses dislike being touched around the abdomen and groin area, so take your time and watch the hind legs to avoid being kicked. Use a separate sponge with warm water to clean out the nostrils, eyes and anus frequently to remove irritating dirt and debris. The ears should be checked regularly for dirt but rarely need to be cleaned out.

The udder or prepuce often gets caked with smegma, a flaky mix of oil and dirt that accumulates on the skin. Mares should not need their udders cleaned but can be wiped down with a sponge and warm water if needed. Stallions and geldings should have their prepuce cleaned at least once a year to remove the smegma. Ask your veterinarian to show you how.

Sensitive areas also attract a great number of blood-sucking flies and ticks in the spring and summer months. Use a spray repellent made specifically for horses to cover the body and a lotion repellent to apply to the ears, abdomen, flank and groin region. Put a latex glove on your hand and apply lotion to the abdomen, groin and flank two to three times per week.

Most horses enjoy a fly mask over the eyes, which keep the bugs away and provide a cooling shade without obstructing vision. Fly masks can be left on for several hours and some have mesh to cover the ears. Remember to wipe the face with a cool cloth or sponge to remove the dirt after removing the mask. Rinse the fly mask with water once a week and wash it with soap as needed.

In winter the unprotected face and abdomen often suffer from the cold first. In winter, consider their sensitivity to cold and monitor the nose, eyes and ears for frostbite. Horses kept outdoors in winter should be checked regularly to make sure they are not chilled by placing a bare hand behind the elbow. A couple seconds will tell if they are warm enough to stay outside.

Many saddles, tack and blankets have straps or cinches that come underneath the stomach. Make sure straps and cinches lie flat against the abdomen without twists that can create pressure spots. Be sure the strap or cinch isn't too loose or tight. If too loose, it can ride back to the flanks and tickle, causing the animal to buck and kick. If too tight, the horse may not be able to move or breathe properly.

CONCLUSION

By understanding anatomy and physiology you can easily identify the sensitive areas and learn that a gentle touch is more than enough when working with these areas.

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