• This article has been edited and approved by Karen Coumbe MRCVS, H&H’s veterinary advisor since 1991.

Sarcoids are the most common skin tumour in horses and ponies and, although they may look like warts, they are locally destructive and are a form of skin cancer.

They are most often found on the abdomen, inside the back legs, around the sheath, on the chest and around the eyes and ears. They also often appear at the site of old scars, particularly on the legs. These are sites where flies typically congregate and insect transmission may be involved in the development of the condition.

Young to middle-aged horses are most commonly affected and there may be a genetic predisposition, meaning horses related to sarcoid-prone animals are more likely to develop the problem. It is a condition that is unique to horses. There is no clear link between colour or breeds of horses being more susceptible.

Sarcoids can appear singly as tiny lumps or in clusters. As they enlarge, the skin may ulcerate and become infected. In summer, they attract flies and can end up as open sores that will not heal.

Sarcoids in horses: Signs | Types | Is it serious? | Treatment | Causes | Prevention

Recognising sarcoids in horses

The appearance of sarcoids can vary considerably. In the early stages they may appear innocuous and are sometimes missed completely if they are concealed within the horse’s coat.

Some sarcoids look like smooth, nodular skin lumps, especially in the early stages, while others are irregular and roughened from the start. The lumps frequently become larger, irregular in shape and cauliflower-like in appearance. Some will ulcerate and become aggressive at which stage they are described as fibroblastic or malevolent sarcoids. Sarcoids can also appear as flat, slightly bumpy areas of skin with a dry, scaly appearance. This verrucose form of sarcoid is sometimes mistaken for ringworm, but it never clears up. Such plaques are often found on the neck, chest and inner thigh. In time, they may develop into other forms of the tumour.

Types of sarcoid found in horses

Occult: a flat patch of hair loss with a grey, scaly surface, which can be confused with ringworm, as they are often circular. Commonly found on the face, neck and between the back legs.

Verrucose: wart-like, grey and scaly but extends deeper than the occult sarcoid. More irregular in outline; multiple lesions often appear.

Nodular: lumps under thin and shiny skin. These vary in size, some being more than 5cm in diameter, and occur commonly around the groin and eyelids.

Fibroblastic: aggressive fleshy masses. They can begin as a complication of a skin wound and sometimes grow rapidly, often ulcerated and “hanging” on a stalk (pedunculated) or extremely invasive into the surrounding skin.

Mixed: a variable combination of two or more types of sarcoid, often of different ages, forming a “colony”.

Malevolent: A term used to describe the most aggressive type of sarcoid. These spread through the skin and even along lymph vessels, with cords of tumour tissue interspersed with nodules and secondary ulcerative lesions. They can become large and difficult to manage.

How serious are sarcoids in horses?

Sarcoids originate from cells called fibroblasts, which play a critical role in wound healing by producing the extracellular matrix and structural proteins that bind the body together. Fibroblasts also produce scar tissue, which is one of the reasons that sarcoids can be so difficult to treat. Most treatments stimulate scar tissue — which exacerbates the problem.

The site of these locally invasive fibroblastic cancer lesions can be troublesome, especially if growths appear in the girth area, groin, in the ear or around the eye. Sarcoids are very likely to recur and can become more aggressive if subjected to accidental or deliberate interference, such as rubbing by tack or failed treatment attempts.

Every single sarcoid should be taken seriously when first detected, as they become more problematic as they enlarge. Where there is one, there is always a risk of others growing elsewhere on the horse’s body. Early treatment is usually most effective, before they become large and more difficult to remove. If you notice a lump on your horse’s skin, it is best to get a vet to check it out.

Horses do not die of sarcoids, but some are put down because the sarcoids become a major nuisance that prevent them from either working or enjoying a good quality of life.

Treatment for sarcoids in horses

Although several treatments are available, there is no magic cure for sarcoids and there is always a high risk of recurrence. Treatment will depend on the position, size and number of sarcoids. Overall the prognosis is poor because of their tendency to recur despite treatment, which can become costly.

Treatment options include:

Surgery: The disadvantage of removing the tumour surgically is that there is a high failure rate – the wound often heals poorly and the sarcoid frequently recurs. If this option is chosen a wide surgical margin around the tumour is important

Ligation: This involves applying a tight band around the base of the tumour. While it will work for some horses, there is a high risk of leaving tumour cells behind to grow back and it can be painful for the horse, especially if the sarcoid is in a delicate area

Cryotherapy: The tumour can be frozen to destroy it, but it often requires repeated lengthy treatments and often general anaesthesia for treatment to be carried out safely

Immune therapy: This method involves injecting the horse with substances, such as BCG, to stimulate the immune system to eliminate the tumour. It can work well for sarcoids around the eye, but several treatments are needed, often under heavy sedation. There is a reported risk of reaction to this treatment, so premedication is routinely given to reduce this risk. There have also been supply problems obtaining the BCG.

Topical treatment: This involves special creams. In the UK a heavy metal preparation was developed by University of Liverpool, while there is also a chemotherapy cream that can be prescribed by sarcoid expert Professor Derek Knottenbelt via his Equine Medical Solutions service. The occult sarcoid pictured above was successfully treated with a combination of Bleomycin Max and Lignaine under Professor Knottenbelt’s direction. Lignaine acts as a local aneasthetic although its use in this situation is to increase the uptake of the active ingredients in the Bleomycin Max to maximise its effectiveness. Results show that the creams work well in some cases, particularly on smaller superficial lesions.

Radiation therapy: This has been shown to be effective. Unfortunately, the danger of radiation makes the treatment expensive and, again, general anaesthesia is required. Radiation therapy is only available at certain specialised centres because of the technical difficulties involved.

Laser removal: A relatively new development, a surgical laser is used to remove the tumour, along with a margin of healthy tissue to reduce the chance of leaving behind any potential cancerous cells, using standing sedation with local anaesthetic or under general anaesthetic. This technique is becoming increasingly widely used.

After surgery the site is typically left to heal by itself from the inside out, usually form a large scab within five to seven days. The extent and location of surgery will dictate the healing rate, but has usually resolved within four to six weeks. Benefits of this treatment include relatively rapid healing time, good cosmetic results with a positive success rate and it can be effective in some difficult anatomical areas, such as the ears.

Whatever treatment option is selected it is essential that treatment is continued until there is an effective response. If treatment is stopped before the sarcoid has been eliminated, there is a strong risk of recurrence, sometimes with a worse lesion than was originally present.

A wide range of home treatments are widely discussed and recommended among horse owners, but vets do not recommend this route. An experienced horse vet once summed this up by asking a client: “If you had been diagnosed with skin cancer by your doctor, would you ask your friend for advice then go online and buy a cream which claims to cure a multitude of aliments, or speak to an oncologist (a doctor that specialises in cancer therapy) and treat the tumours accordingly?”.

How does a horse get sarcoids?

The cause of sarcoids is currently unclear. It is thought that insect transmission may be involved in the development of the skin condition. Research has indicated that bovine papillomavirus¹ may involved in the development of equine sarcoids. Strangely the bovine papilloma virus has been found in both sarcoids and normal skin, but a recent study shows there is lower viral load in the normal skin.

Can sarcoids be prevented?

Is it thought there could be a genetic predisposition to the skin condition. Protecting the horse from flies may help. No vaccine is currently available.

Buying a horse with sarcoids

When buying a horse look out for any skin lumps, even if the seller claims they are ‘just a wart’. If you buy a horse with sarcoids, insurance companies will exclude cover for treatment as they are a pre-existing condition and this can prove costly. If you have any concerns, discuss them with your vet.

References and further reading:

1. Association of bovine papillomavirus with the equine sarcoid – May 2003

A pilot study on the use of ultra-deformable liposomes containing bleomycin in the treatment of equine sarcoid – 21 June 2018

H&H sought veterinary opinions on the importance of seeking appropriate treatment for sarcoids rather than using home remedies, after an owner who did the latter was prosecuted

THE prosecution of an owner for failing to seek appropriate treatment for her horse’s sarcoids, instead using a cream she had mixed herself, highlights why calling the vet has to be the only option.

Tracey Atchison’s New Forest pony Sonny had to be put down as a result of his severe, malignant sarcoids, which were “ulcerated and oozing”, having not been appropriately treated for years.

The 57-year-old, of East Howe Lane, Bournemouth, was found guilty of one count of causing unnecessary suffering, and sentenced at Poole Magistrates’ Court on 24 June.

RSPCA inspector Tina Ward said: “Sonny had large areas of skin covered with sarcoids of different types and sizes on his chest and between his front legs, between his back legs and around his sheath. Some had thick rough scabs with deep cracks that appeared to be oozing, others were bulbous with angry red areas, which were also oozing.”

Two independent vets concluded that Sonny had to be put down as a result of his condition, owing to the fact he had not had appropriate treatment in time. Atchison had been treating him with a cream she had mixed herself.

One of the vets said in a report: “He was clearly showing signs of pain around these sarcoids and would anticipate that someone touching them would be painful, and would step away and clench his muscles.

“The sarcoids on this horse were ulcerated, bleeding, oozing pus and serum, they ranged in size from approximately 0.5cm to 14cm and there was significant invasion of the local tissues. Many of them were pendulous and rubbed on the adjacent sarcoids or limb as the horse walked. Sonny smelt of necrotic tissue up close.

“In my professional opinion, this horse was suffering from pain associated with sarcoids in multiple locations and was likely to have been ongoing for a minimum period of two years. This owner failed to meet this horse’s needs by failing to seek veterinary attention when this horse required it as a result of a chronic, malignant cancer.”

H&H vet Karen Coumbe said saroids, and many other “lumps and bumps” are far simpler to treat when they are small.

“Vets don’t pretend they can always cure them; far from it,” she said. “But getting rid of them when they’re small is a far more minor procedure, and treating them inappropriately can have catastrophic consequences, as shown here.”

Mrs Coumbe said owners should not just consider what they can see on the surface; the problem could be spreading under the skin and be more serious than it appears, and that all sarcoids are different.

“Also, what you think might be a sarcoid isn’t,” she said. “Occasionally, you see people treating melanomas or hernias as sarcoids. You need to get your vet to identify it, and treat it appropriately. Coincidence can be a wonderful thing; there’s no evidence to show that toothpaste or turmeric or whatever cures sarcoids; if they were magic cures, we’d all be using them.”

Having spoken to Professor Derek Knottenbelt, a specialist in equine oncology, British Equine Veterinary Association president Lucy Grieve told H&H sarcoids are a form of skin cancer and should be treated as such.

“It always pains me to hear of homemade remedies or unsubstantiated (and often irresponsible) products being used by owners to ‘treat’ them,” she said. “If it was so easy to cure skin cancer with the flour and salt mixtures and herbal creams you find used, we wouldn’t be in the situation we are with these conditions.

“Invariably the ‘treatment’ causes temporary dehydration of the tissues or a reaction that resembles a reduction in size of the sarcoid tissue. But those sarcoids tend to reactivate with a vengeance far more aggressive than the sarcoid was in the first place. Frequently the aggravation caused by the product used causes inflammation and this can cause the tumour to become more aggressive and develop its own blood supply.”

Ms Grieve said skin cancer in horses should be treated as it is in humans.

“All we ask is that we do for our horses what we would do for ourselves in the same situation,” she said. “Just like in human cancer, no cancer in two individuals is exactly the same, and a whole raft of factors must be considered when choosing treatment. How would you feel if your doctor prescribed toothpaste or tying a tumour off with a hair for a cancer on your own body or on one of your loved ones?

“Evidence-based treatments such as recognised anti-cancer creams, specific injections into the tumours or surgery, including conventional surgery, laser or cryosurgery, should be carried out by veterinary professionals who can select the best possible treatment taking all factors into account.”

Atchison was fined £120 and ordered to pay £200 costs. It is understood that she was not banned from keeping equines owing to the length of time since the offence was committed, from 2017 to 2019, during which she had proved she could look after another horse, and because she was of previous good character.

You might also be interested in…

Changing conversations to save equine lives *H&H Plus*

Owner who used home remedy on horse’s sarcoids found guilty of welfare offence

Sarcoids in horses: what every horse owner needs to know

Rescued cob who ‘died’ for 45 minutes survives cancer and losing sight in one eye to return to work

“He has such a lovely life,” she said. “But if I hadn’t washed his willy that time, he’d be dead

Win for horses in new vet guidance on practitioners *H&H Plus*

Less frequent but targeted worming could help prevent welfare ‘catastrophe’

“Just treating at fixed and frequent intervals with no testing is the equivalent of fumbling in the dark. You will

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A woman who had been treating her pony’s “ulcerated, oozing” sarcoids with a cream she had mixed herself has been found guilty of an animal welfare offence.

Tracey Atchison’s New Forest pony Sonny had to be put down as a result of his severe, malignant sarcoids, which had not been appropriately treated for years.

The 57-year-old, of East Howe Lane, Bournemouth, was found guilty of one count of causing unnecessary suffering, and sentenced at Poole Magistrates’ Court on 24 June.

RSPCA officers investigated after concerns were reported about Sonny.

Inspector Tina Ward said: “Sonny had large areas of skin covered with sarcoids of different types and sizes on his chest and between his front legs, between his back legs and around his sheath. Some had thick rough scabs with deep cracks that appeared to be oozing, others were bulbous with angry red areas, which were also oozing.”

Warning, graphic images

Two independent vets concluded that Sonny had to be put down as a result of his condition, owing to the fact he had not had appropriate treatment in time. Atchison had been treating him with a cream she had mixed herself.

One of the vets said in a report: “He was clearly showing signs of pain around these sarcoids and would anticipate that someone touching them would be painful, and would step away and clench his muscles.

“The sarcoids on this horse were ulcerated, bleeding, oozing pus and serum, they ranged in size from approximately 14cm down to 0.5cm and there was significant invasion of the local tissues around the sarcoids. Many of them were pendulous, rubbed on the adjacent sarcoids or limb as the horse walked. Sonny smelt of necrotic tissue when up close.

Continues below…

Warnings over use of wormers to treat headshaking

Riders have been advised against a treatment being promoted on social media and in forums

Top vet warns against treating sarcoids with toothpaste

Professor Derek Knottenbelt is concerned about a growing trend of people using toothpaste to treat sarcoids

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

“In my professional opinion, this horse was suffering from pain associated with sarcoids in multiple locations on its body and was likely to have been ongoing for a minimum period of two years. This owner failed to meet this horse’s needs by failing to seek veterinary

attention when this horse required it as a result of a chronic, malignant cancer.”

Atchinson was fined £120 and ordered to pay £200 costs. It is understood that she was not banned from keeping equines owing to the length of time since the offence was committed, from 2017 to 2019, during which she had proved she could look after another horse, and because she was of previous good character.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A clever surgical technique can restore full function to the eyelid after growth removal, as Andrea Oakes discovers

SKIN masses, such as melanomas, sarcoids and squamous cell carcinomas, can be particularly troublesome when they appear in close proximity to the eye. Left untreated, a mass may grow and interfere with eyelid function or vision. Yet treatment can result in damage to the thin skin of the eyelid, inhibiting its ability to protect the eyeball and to keep it bathed in lubricating tears.

While nine-year-old Irish Draught/thoroughbred mare Rosie appeared unbothered by a cluster of ulcerated masses developing at the outer corner of her left eye, vets at Pool House Equine Clinic in Staffordshire felt that these growths were best removed.

“Treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are sometimes possible, depending on the nature of the mass, but in this case surgical excision was the favoured option,” says equine surgeon Marco Marcatili. “To preserve the eyelid anatomy and function, and to create a good cosmetic outcome, we planned a reconstructive technique called sliding ‘Z’ dermoplasty.”

DIGGING DEEP

ULTRASONOGRAPHY of Rosie’s eye revealed that the masses penetrated about a centimetre into the deeper tissue layers.

To minimise the likelihood of recurrence after excision, it would be necessary to remove

a significant amount of surrounding tissue during surgery. The aim of “sliding flap” reconstruction is to reconfigure what is left of the healthy tissue, to create less distortion of the skin and a neater scar.

The sliding “Z” flap is just one of a number of flap shape variations, explains Marco. Two triangular areas of skin adjacent to the surgical site are separated from the underlying tissue and removed. The remaining skin flaps are advanced (manoeuvred) into a zig-zag pattern, and the edges are then stitched together with absorbable suture material.

“The surgery is performed with the horse under general anaesthetic, as opposed to standing and sedated, because the surgical instruments are so close to the eye,” adds Marco, explaining that the slightest movement could result in injury.

“We always use ultrasound before surgery to evaluate the full extent of the mass and to plan the excision. Afterwards, the mass is sent to the lab for pathology.”

SEAMLESS REPAIR

FOLLOWING an uneventful recovery from the anaesthetic, Rosie was nursed at the hospital and given antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Once it was clear that the site was healing without complication, she was allowed home.

“This technique can be very useful to close high-tension wounds following tissue removal,” says Marco, adding that lab tests identified the growths as sarcoids. “All surgery carries some risk, but we usually find that the eye area heals well and fast.”

Six months later, Rosie’s owner, Ellie-Mae Morson, reports that the surgical scar is barely visible.

“She had to wear a fly mask for a few weeks, to protect the area, but after a short time in the stable she could go back out to grass,” says Ellie, who regularly feels along the scar line for any signs of sarcoid reappearance. “Now the hair has grown back, you would hardly know it had happened.”

The sliding “z” flap: how it works

The periocular region (around the eye) is clipped and cleaned, and marked with incision lines.

The masses are excised in their entirety, leaving an area devoid of skin.

Adjacent triangles of skin are removed to let the remaining flaps be drawn across into place.

Suturing completes the reconstruction. Note the tension-relieving incisions behind the site.

The eyelid is fully functioning and already beginning to heal, just 48 hours after surgery.

You can also read this feature in the 13 May issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

You might also be interested in…

Back conformation and saddle fit: what’s new in the veterinary world? *H&H Plus*

Play your part: how to help keep competition horses happy *H&H Plus*

How different grazing systems can help you control your horse’s weight *H&H Plus*

Keeping a veteran active for longer

A donkey with a severe sarcoid is recovering after welfare charities stepped in to get him the specialist veterinary care he needed to survive.

Skye, an eight-year-old skewbald who was living on the grounds of a distillery in Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, had a large sarcoid on his chest that needed urgent veterinary attention.

A local groom and volunteers looked after Skye and a pony he lived with, after their owner could no longer care for them. They were told by a vet that Skye would need specialist surgery and dedicated aftercare, owing to the severity of the sarcoid. A combination of all these factors meant that it was suggested the “only option” could be to put the donkey down.

Emma Norval, one of the volunteers, contacted the Donkey Sanctuary to ask if they could help.

The Donkey Sanctuary and World Horse Welfare worked together to explore other treatment options for Skye.

“Due to the nature of Skye’s sarcoid, the only treatment option available was to remove it via laser treatment,” said Jenna Goldby, welfare adviser at the Donkey Sanctuary.

“It was not going to be possible to remove it on site, so World Horse Welfare transported him to the University of Glasgow, School of Veterinary Medicine, for the operation.”

World Horse Welfare field officer John Burns added: “Because the sarcoid was on Skye’s chest the operation had to take place with him standing. Under the expert care of Professor David Sutton, the tumour was removed using laser treatment.

“Everyone is really hopeful that Skye will continue to make a full recovery and go on to live in very good health.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Sarcoids in horses: what every horse owner needs to know

‘They both needed a best friend’: lonely donkeys find joy with each other

A giant donkey, who lost his best friend to cancer, has found happiness with a new companion

The donkey was moved to a holding base, funded by the Donkey Sanctuary, after his surgery and his health is “continuing to improve”.

“This is a great outcome for Skye and I hope he goes on to live a happy and enriched life,” added Jenna. “The Donkey Sanctuary has a team of donkey welfare advisers around the country and we’re here to offer free support and advice to donkey owners.”

Emma said: “If it had not been for such a quick response from the Donkey Sanctuary I don’t think the lovely, gentle Skye would be here today. He is such a lovely boy.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A rescued cob who has overcome cancer and losing the sight in one eye, and whose heart stopped for 45 minutes during surgery, is back in full work a year on.

Helen Buckley told H&H her 14-year-old gelding Paddy had to have his entire penis removed as a result of the cancer, but he has adjusted to urinating backwards, like a mare, and is now healthy and happy.

“It’s been quite an ordeal,” she said.

Helen, who has owned Paddy for 10 years, said she first realised something was wrong shortly after the start of the first lockdown last year.

“There was a lot of black grease on his legs,” she said. “I thought he was being a bit mucky but it wasn’t normal. I’d also noticed that he wasn’t properly dropping his willy to wee, so something was going on.

“We gave his sheath a good clean — and found lots of little skin tags. They felt like little nodules of grease but nothing was coming away.”

A closer look revealed what looked like small sarcoids, “like lots of little Malteasers”. Helen sent pictures to her vet and friend Louisa Smith. A few weeks later, once non-emergency veterinary treatment could resume, Paddy went in for a biopsy, which showed the growths to be cancerous.

“Louisa was confident she’d be able to chop it all away and he’d be fine,” said Helen. “She got it all away but for some reason, which we didn’t know at the time, he grows a lot of scar tissue. Six weeks later, I noticed he wasn’t dropping his willy again and was straining to wee; it turned out he’d grown so much scar tissue, he couldn’t drop it.”

Further investigation found that in those six weeks, a large number of tumours had reappeared.

“Louisa said the only option would be to take all the tissue away; with no willy, there would be nothing for the tumours to grown on,” Helen said. “So that’s what she did. But when he was under the anaesthetic, he had some reaction and he died for 45 minutes; his heart stopped three or four times, for that long in total.”

Paddy went home, and Helen was told to get him moving straight away, to try to reduce the swelling to his sheath. But before long, she realised there was another problem.

“I was walking him in hand and he banged into me; it was like he was genuinely surprised I was there,” she said. “I held a treat out on that side and he couldn’t see it; the vet said he had no sight in that eye at all, because of the lack of oxygen when his heart stopped.

“It was touch and go for 24 hours but my little man held in there and fought back. Bless his heart, whatever happened, he just carried on.”

Paddy adjusted to having sight in only one eye, but was suffering at the other end as once again, scar tissue had grown around his urethra and he was struggling to urinate.

“The vet said we couldn’t give him another general anaesthetic, and the only chance was to operate so he would wee at the back like a mare, or call it a day. I said we’d come that far and he’d have been dead if we didn’t, so let’s go for it.”

Paddy underwent the procedure under sedation, after which a catheter was sewn in for him to urinate through. To try to prevent the scar tissue build-up, Helen acquired a laser machine, and used it on the operation site, which seemed to work.

“Paddy had to spend time living in the field, while Helen did her best to treat the sores caused by urine dripping from the catheter.

“We battled through it,” she said. “It’s been a really tough time but he’s such a trooper and I couldn’t give up on him. He learned very quickly to tip his pelvis to wee, and now the catheter’s out, he’s learning to hold it again instead of weeing every five minutes. He’s been through an awful lot but he’s such a lovely character, he deserved to come out the other side.”

Continues below…

Horse loses sheath and part of penis after major melanomas found during sheath clean

“He’s so much more than just a horse; he’s everything I work towards and my best friend”

‘I’ve got my boy back’: sheath bean removal transforms horse’s life

The thoroughbred had been out of work for four years before the bean was removed

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Paddy is now jumping again and hacking, and Helen hopes to start competing again soon.

He has also been “adopted” by pupils of the school Helen works at, having helped entertain them with visits during lockdown, and now takes part in various school functions.

“He has such a lovely life,” she said. “But if I hadn’t washed his willy that time, he’d be dead now.

“Always check and clean sheaths regularly; that’s what saved my boy.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Tim Mair FRCVS looks at the most prevalent 
types of cancer in horses and how they are treated…

1. Cancer in horses: Sarcoids

What is it? Sarcoids in horses, although a benign cancer, can be aggressive and spread locally. There are various different forms of sarcoid, each having a characteristic appearance, and individual sarcoids can change from one form to another. Bovine papillomavirus is believed to be involved with the development of sarcoids, although its precise role is unknown. The number and type of sarcoids that individual horses develop varies considerably, but in the majority of cases they tend to get larger and more numerous with time.

How is it treated? There are many different treatments available for sarcoids. The choice of treatment will vary depending on the type of sarcoid, its size and location.

Sarcoids in certain locations, such as around the eyes, can be more difficult to treat. Treatment may include chemotherapy drugs (often applied topically), radiotherapy and surgery (including laser surgery and cryotherapy). A recently trialled treatment that can be useful in some cases is electrochemotherapy, which involves injecting a chemotherapy drug into the sarcoid and then applying an electric current that drives the drug into the sarcoid cells. This type of treatment must be done under general anaesthesia and often needs to be repeated at a later date.

Laser surgery can also be an effective form of treatment, and can sometimes be undertaken in standing, sedated horses using local anaesthesia. Its advantages over conventional sharp surgery include less bleeding, less swelling and less pain.

Don’t wait and watch. The bigger the sarcoids become the more difficult they are to treat. Some chronic and extensive sarcoids may be impossible to treat. Unfortunately, there is always a risk of recurrence of sarcoids following treatment; once a horse has developed a sarcoid it will be prone to getting more in the future, and repeated treatments may be necessary.

2. Squamous cell carcinoma

What is it? This cancer usually affects the eyes and eyelids, and the penis and prepuce of males. It is an invasive form of cancer in horses that is often slow-growing but later can become more malignant and spread internally.

How is it treated? Effective management relies 
on early diagnosis and treatment, which 
may include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

The penile form of this cancer is most common in older geldings. Regular sheath inspection, if necessary using sedation, is important to identify and treat early lesions before they become extensive.

3. Melanomas

What are they? Melanomas are skin tumours which are more prominent in grey and cremello horses. They become more common with age and it is estimated that at least 80% of grey horses over the age of 12 years will have melanomas. They most commonly involve the tail and perineum (around the anus and vulva in mares), the sheath of males, the eyelids and the mouth.

How are they treated? In young horses, most melanomas behave as benign cancers but with age they are more likely to become malignant and can then spread internally. For this reason, removal (with laser surgery) is advised when the melanomas are small. There is a vaccine that has recently been launched to treat horses with melanomas, but currently there is limited information available about its effectiveness.

You may also be interested in…

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A leading vet is concerned about the growing trend of owners using toothpaste to treat sarcoids in horses.

The rumour that toothpaste can cure sarcoids is not new. But Professor Derek Knottenbelt — an equine dermatology expert at Liverpool University — believes that social media discussions have fuelled a rise in the number of horse owners trying the method.

Prof Knottenbelt estimates that he now sees two or three sarcoid cases a week that owners have tried to treat using toothpaste.

“It is completely ludicrous; this is cancer that we are dealing with,” he told H&H. “Imagine if you went to the doctor with cancer and they sent you to the supermarket to buy toothpaste.”

Despite there being no medical evidence for the treatment, some people claim that it does work.

An owner on the H&H forum said: “I kept reading about toothpaste and I thought, what the hell, I will give it a go.

“I have been slapping it on and much to my amazement the whole thing has come away. Who would have thought this would actually work?”

Approximately 10% of horses recover from sarcoids naturally — which is what Prof Knottenbelt believes may have led people to believe that the toothpaste treatment works.

He warns that not only does the remedy not work, but it is also dangerous because it delays treatment and can irritate the tumour.

“I see cases all the time where it has failed and it’s much worse,” he added. “These people claim to ‘love their horse’ yet they are prepared to treat them like this. It is complete madness.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (15 August 2013)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A two-year-old donkey with a sarcoid the size of a large grapefruit has arrived at The Donkey Sanctuary.

Burt has a large skin tumour on his elbow, which progressed at an “alarming” rate. It is hanging off by threads of tissue and bleeding constantly.

“Burt’s sarcoid first appeared in December but it was very small and didn’t bleed,” Burt’s owner told the Sanctuary.

“It didn’t appear to affect him but after a few weeks it suddenly became the size of a golf ball, then a small orange — it bled and it just continued to grow.

“We made the heart-breaking decision to hand Burt and his friend, Jacko, over to The Donkey Sanctuary at the end of last month, where Burt could be treated by the veterinary team.”

Vet Elena Barrio from the Donkey Sanctuary said: “This is a very large sarcoid and it is seems fairly aggressive.

“The treatment will be ongoing but we are hopeful that Burt will make a full recovery and will enjoy spending the rest of his life in our care.”

For more information visit: www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/burt

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Swiss researchers have found mistletoe extract to be an effective treatment for sarcoids in horses.

A study, carried out by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture in Frick, tested the effect of mistletoe extract on 43 horses, injecting it into the tumours.

Of the 163 sarcoids treated, 67% showed complete or partial regression with the extract, 40% with a saline placebo.

Vincent Gerber of the University of Bern led the research. He said: “If the treatment is successful, all tumours of a patient can regress, but the response was slow. In many cases therapeutic effects did not become apparent until after the end of the 15-week treatment period.”

Professor Derek Knottenbelt, a research expert in sarcoids at Liverpool University’s equine hospital, said that the study had “inherent credibility” and may have value in the future.

“Its results were impressive, but it is hard to be sure until much more work is done,” he said, highlighting that some verrucous sarcoids resolve and then recur 15 years later.

“The fact it has only a ‘remote effect’ on the more aggressive lesions indicates that the material is not a cure, but a means of encouraging some local immunity by the horse’s own immune system. It shows there is a place for naturally derived pharmaceuticals.”

But he warned against horse owners trying to home-brew a remedy.

H&H vet Karen Coumbe said there is a “lot more work to do”.

“I have seen all sorts of treatments getting the credit for curing sarcoids,” she said. “Sometimes they just disappear and there is no scientific proof that the ‘remedy’ was the reason why.

“For instance, 20 years ago, people swore by rubbing on banana skins as a cure! However, this is a credible study and looks interesting so far.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (10 March, 2011)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A horse rescued from Spindles Farm is to undergo radiation treatment for sarcoids at the University of Liverpool.

Duke, who is thought to be two to three years old, is to have the life-saving treatment to remove the growths on his eyelids free of charge.

Duke will receive iridium wire treatment at the University’s Equine Hospital — the only centre in the UK to deliver the complex procedure. Liverpool will also fund the treatment.

“Removing tumours surgically from the eyelids would be almost impossible because the scar tissue would leave the horse unable to blink,” explains Professor Derek Knottenbelt.

“Instead we kill the diseased cells from within using iridium radiation treatment, where gamma radiation is delivered through wires inserted into the tumour.”

Duke was one of more than 100 horses rescued from James Gray’s Spindles Farm in Amersham in January 2008.

He has been recovering at the Horse Trust since, but recently developed the sarcoids, which needed urgent treatment.

“Although sarcoids don’t spread to internal organs like many other cancerous tumours, they can be severely debilitating, so it is important that they are treated quickly to ensure long-lasting recovery,” added Professor Knottenbelt.

“The treatment will be delivered over a period of 10 days, during which we aim to eradicate the diseased cells to allow new healthy cells to grow in their place. The condition is very unpredictable, but we hope that Duke will make a good recovery.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Researchers at the University of Glasgow think they may have found a new and more practical cure for sarcoids in horses, following successful laboratory tests.

It is hoped that a new non-toxic cream, to be applied directly to the sarcoid, could be available by 2015.

Sarcoids are skin tumours caused by the bovine papillomavirus and can number from one to hundreds of lumps on any one horse.

“This research is the first of its kind in horses as nobody has managed to kill the virus successfully before,” said Professor Lubna Nasir of the University of Glasgow.

The tests, which were carried out in vitro and funded by the Horse Trust, have identified a viral protein in sarcoid cells that is key to the survival of the disease.

By inhibiting this protein, researchers found that sarcoid growth reduced and the cells were eventually killed off.

Prof Nasir is now looking for funding to carry out clinical trials on horses afflicted by the skin disease, which affects 6-7% of the UK’s horses.

Lorna Davis from Kent has had two horses successfully treated for sarcoids.

“The injections were great, but cost £100 each,” she said. “I also tried a cream but it could only be applied by the vet which meant regular and expensive call-out fees. A treatment you can use yourself would be much better.”

H&H vet Karen Coumbe added: “There’s no magic cure for sarcoids and the sooner something successful becomes available, the better.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (25 February, ’10)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Q: I have heard that sarcoids in horses are linked to the bovine pap virus. Can sarcoids be passed from cattle to horses?

NJ, Lincolnshire

Sarcoids are tumours that occur in the horse, only affecting the skin. Some types of the bovine papillomavirus (BPV) are associated with development of sarcoids. However, experts are still looking into the modes of transmission, for example being passed by flies to equine wound sites, or via contaminated pasture.

Researchers at the University of Glasgow’s Institute of Comparative Medicine recently stated that BPV is the only pap virus that jumps species, as it infects equids (ref 1). A further study this year by researchers at Belgium’s Ghent University (ref 2) found that BPV can be detected in normal (non-cancerous) equine skin, suggesting that some horses are simply carriers.

We asked vet Deborah Pett, of Cinder Hill Equine Clinic in Sussex, for her take on the situation.

“This is a very good question and sarcoids have certainly previously been considered to be non-infectious,” she said. “However, while there is much evidence to support the involvement of BPV in the development of equine sarcoids, the fact is that currently we do not know for certain whether sarcoids are contagious or not and genetics and breed type also appear to contribute to susceptibility.

“DNA fragments from BPV have also been detected in flies, supporting the proposal that flies may act as the vector for the virus, carrying it from place to place, and possibly from cow to horse. Therefore, if it does emerge that BPV is the causative agent, direct or indirect contact between cow and horse may not be necessary for transmission. At our veterinary practice, we have not seen a link between horses with sarcoids and contact with cattle, but it will certainly be interesting to see what further evidence emerges in the future.”

H&H vet Karen Coumbe, from Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic in Kent, added: “Sarcoids most commonly appear on the areas of a horse’s anatomy where flies congregate, such as around the eyes, the groin or at the site of healing wounds. This has made me suspect flies as part of the cause, as they may well carry virus particles, or indeed other ‘nasties’ from cattle, horses or elsewhere.

“Although cattle may well be incriminated, I think one should also consider the possible risk of other horses affected with sarcoids, especially if there are sarcoids that are traumatised, so that they bleed and attract flies.

“Certainly, there is evidence of a hereditary influence on the development of sarcoids, so some horses may well be more susceptible than others,” said Karen. “It also highlights the need for effective fly control.”

Information

Bell Equine Vet Clinic, tel: 01622 813700 www.bellequine.com

Cinder Hill Equine Clinic, tel: 01342 811335 www.cinderhillequinevets.co.uk

Ref 1: Vet Dermatol. Oct. 2008. 19(5):243-54. “Bovine papillomaviruses: their role in the aetiology of cutaneous tumours of bovids and equids.” L Nasir et al.

Ref 2: Vet Microbiol. May 2008. 25;129(1-2):58-68. “High prevalence of bovine papillomaviral DNA in the normal skin of equine sarcoid-affected and healthy horses.” L Bogaert et al.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (8 January, ’09)

Buying a horse with sarcoids is a contentious issue. Once referred to rather innocuously as “equine warts”, these lesions are best viewed as a form of skin cancer.

Sarcoids in horses are potentially serious and can develop on horses, ponies — or even donkeys — regardless of size, age, breed, colour or gender.

They vary in severity and type, but all are unpredictable and extremely difficult to remove. They require extremely careful consideration if present on a horse you are thinking about buying.

Dr Derek Knottenbelt of Liverpool University, an expert on sarcoids, holds strong views on the seriousness of the condition.

“When buying a horse, you don’t want to get one who has a problem, which is why you have the vetting, or pre-purchase examination. Also consider you may wish to resell the horse at some point. A horse with sarcoids will be worth less than one without. For example, an international show jumper worth £1million without sarcoids might only be worth £10,000 with them — the difference is that much.”

Despite many years of research, there is still very little known about the disease. Around 8% of horses in the UK have sarcoids and it seems to be a genetic problem, as some horses are resistant and some are susceptible.

Although a horse cannot directly die from a sarcoid, it can be severely debilitated by the lesions, and euthanasia may be the only option.

Sarcoids cost vets and owners heartache, suffering and money, since it is unlikely that a horse will be insurable against the disease after purchase.

However, Jeremy Mantell from Liphook Equine Hospital takes a different view with regards to buying a horse with sarcoids.

“There is a risk involved when buying any horse — but I wouldn’t suggest a horse with any condition should ever be automatically discounted,” he says.

“The real thing is to be aware and identify, prior to purchase, the type of use for which the horse is intended and the position of the sarcoid, but there are no hard and fast rules. There are some treatments available, and the vast majority of sarcoids are a cosmetic worry rather than a practical or health problem.”

Karen Coumbe, Horse & Hound’s veterinary consultant, is also of the view that every horse must be considered individually, and that the location and type of lesion is incredibly important.

“I don’t advise against purchase for every sarcoid case I examine, but I would think long and hard before buying a horse with sarcoids myself,” she warns.

“So much depends on the site of the sarcoids. The other issue the potential purchaser needs to consider is that if they are going to insure their new horse, then sarcoids will be excluded from their cover as a pre-existing condition. One of the problems with treatment for sarcoids is that it is potentially expensive.”

When buying any horse, no matter how careful the purchaser has been with their research and their vet has been with the pre-purchase examination, risk is involved.

As Dr Knottenbelt reiterates: “The only predictable thing about the equine sarcoid is that it is unpredictable.”

He stresses that the location of the sarcoid, how long the horse has had the disease and whether or not any attempt has been made to treat it should factor hugely in the final decision.

“Previous unsuccessful treatments reduce the prognosis for the next time, and horses with sarcoids can be viewed simply: the more they have, the more they will get — it’s only a matter of time,” he says.