What is acid ray?
Sour ray is a bacterial fungal infection that eats into the horn, typically in the ray, and causes the horn to rot. It smells sour and the jet is often black and crumbles slightly in the affected area. The horse is often sore, depending on how deep the wound goes. If you press into the area, the horse will often pull the leg in due to pain. The horse can become lame from acid rays. The microorganism responsible is Spherophorus neaophorus, which breaks down the tissue of the ray, so that there is a black-brown float on the surface of the hoof ray.
What are the symptoms of acid ray?
Why do horses get sour rays?
Horses get sour rays because they are housed in damp and unhygienic conditions. Wet bedding is packed into the hoof and prevents the beam from getting air. It is especially seen on the hind legs of horses that are stabled in winch ropes. Acid jet can also occur on the paddock if it is too damp or muddy. Acid beam can occur as a result of lack of pruning, e.g. with long overgrown hooves. In addition, horses with narrowed or overgrown hooves are also more susceptible to acid rays.
How can you prevent your horse from getting sour rays?
Acid ray abounds
Acid ray abounds especially where horses walk on a limited area under unsanitary conditions. A horse exposed to "clean" mud that is more or less free of manure and urine is not particularly likely to develop acid beam, while a horse that stands in urine-soaked bedding most of the day is an obvious candidate to get sour ray.
