Here in the northeast, spring means “wet and muddy” – and that can mean scratches.  And as anyone who’s dealt with that problem can tell you, this is one case where an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure.

Hose or wash the mud off your horse’s legs, and either allow them to air-dry or use a towel to remove as much water as possible.  If you keep the hair on the cannons, fetlock joints and pasterns neatly trimmed, it won’t hold as much water and dirt, and will make your job much easier.  Check for scratches during your daily grooming routine – if scratches do develop, catching them early will make them easier to deal with.  Zinc oxide cream is the usual treatment – Desitin diaper rash ointment works wonders.