Scratches is a potentially painful skin condition in horses that most commonly affects the heel, back of the pastern, fetlock, and cannon bone and can be caused by a bacterial, fungal, or parasitic skin infection. Scratches often develops in moist or excessively dirty conditions and with repeated wetting and drying of the skin. Horse owners should have a thorough understanding of how the condition develops and the best ways to treat their horses to prevent associated soundness problems from developing.  

To help horse owners better understand scratches, Phovia Equine has partnered with TheHorse.com for Scratches Awareness Week, starting March 20, 2023. 

Look for scratches content all week on TheHorse.com, our Facebook page, and in our e-newsletters.