Equine lower-leg skin conditions remain some of the most frustrating recurring health challenges for horse owners, veterinarians, and stable managers. Despite diligent grooming and treatment protocols, many horses experience repeated flare-ups of pastern dermatitis, scratches, mud fever, greasy heel, thrush, and cracked heels that prove difficult to fully eliminate or heal.
Rather than developing another treatment after disease occurs, Zoonotic Technology believes there is an opportunity to investigate whether better hygiene practices could help reduce the conditions that allow these problems to develop in the first place. That belief is driving an investment into a scientific feasibility study evaluating the combination of controlled drying and 222 nm Far-UV technology for equine lower-leg hygiene.
Investing in Prevention Instead of Reaction
Most current approaches focus on treating moisture-associated fungal and microbial skin issues on horses’ lower legs after clinical signs appear. While veterinary treatment remains essential, recurring cases suggest there may be value in improving preventive hygiene between flare-ups.
Zoonotic Technology’s research philosophy is straightforward:
- Reduce equine microbial contamination on hair, skin surfaces, and frequently used equipment with 222nm Far-UV.
- Determine whether these two steps together can become part of routine stable hygiene.
The company is not investing to prove that Far-UV is a cure or medical treatment. Instead, it is investing to determine whether this technology can serve as a practical disinfection-support tool that complements existing veterinary care, daily stable management, and potentially reduces common fungal and microbial skin conditions.
The Research Gap Zoonotic Technology Intends to Address
Existing ultraviolet research supports investigating microbial and fungal reduction in equine-related environments. Zoonotic Technology has not identified any published studies directly evaluating 222 nm Far-UV on equine lower-leg hair, skin-like surfaces, boots, wraps, brushes, or tack under moisture-associated conditions. This gap represents an investment opportunity:
Can controlled drying followed by 222 nm Far-UV measurably reduce microbial and fungal contamination on equine-relevant surfaces?
Ideally Zoonotic Technology will obtain approval to develop a small in vitro or ex vivo feasibility study evaluating 222 nm Far-UV on equine-relevant organisms, hair, and equipment materials under controlled moisture conditions.
Why the Lower Leg Is the Right Place to Start
Few areas of the horse are exposed to as many recurring contamination risks as the lower leg (Mayo 2026). Pasterns, heel bulbs, fetlocks, and the lower cannon region are repeatedly exposed to:
- mud
- wet grass
- bedding
- sweat
- standing wraps
- turnout boots
- shipping boots
- repeated washing
- prolonged moisture retention
These conditions can soften the skin barrier and create an environment where bacteria, fungi, mites, and other microorganisms may contribute to irritation and recurring inflammation. Horses with long feathering or white lower-leg markings may be particularly susceptible because moisture tends to remain trapped against the skin (Richard, 2022). Even horses that are clipped regularly can experience persistent microbial and fungal infections. So, rather than focusing solely on treatment after lesions appear, Zoonotic Technology sees an opportunity to investigate whether improved hygiene at this stage of exposure could reduce recurrence risk.
A Practical Stable-Care Concept
The long-term concept is intentionally simple. A future device could operate in two controlled stages:
1. Dry moisture trapped within lower-leg hair and skin folds.
2. Apply a controlled 222 nm Far-UV exposure to reduce microbial burden on the hair and skin surface.
The same hygiene approach could also be evaluated for stable equipment that frequently contacts the lower limbs, including:
- boots
- wraps
- brushes
- grooming tools
- tack (Tack would not dry out but discoloration may or may not occur.)
Such a system would not replace grooming, topical care, veterinary diagnosis, or medical treatment. Instead, it would provide an additional hygiene step immediately after common situations where contamination risk is highest, including bathing, hosing, muddy turnout, heavy exercise, shipping, or routine care for horses prone to recurring scratches or pastern dermatitis.
Why Zoonotic Technology Is Investing in a Feasibility Study
The company's investment is not a product launch. It is a scientific validation program. Ultimately the goal is not to make medical claims; it is to generate evidence. The proposed research would focus on controlled laboratory testing using equine-relevant materials such as:
- wet and dried horse hair
- skin-like substrates
- neoprene boot materials
- standing wraps
- brushes
- grooming equipment
- tack
Researchers would evaluate measurable reductions in microorganisms associated with moisture-related equine skin problems before considering any use on live horses.
Priority organisms may include:
- dermatophyte fungi such as Trichophyton species
- bacteria commonly associated with secondary skin infections
- environmental fungi
- thrush
- mold-like contaminants originating from wet bedding, mud, and tack-room environments
This staged approach allows technical performance to be established before moving toward veterinary field studies or product development.
Building Science for Better Products
If laboratory testing demonstrates meaningful microbial or fungal reduction on equine-relevant surfaces, Zoonotic Technology could evaluate several future product pathways, including:
- a handheld lower-leg drying and Far-UV hygiene device
- a stationary leg-care station for barns or veterinary clinics
- a dedicated disinfection chamber for boots and wraps
- a tack-room hygiene system for frequently contaminated equipment
- veterinary-supervised hygiene protocols for horses prone to recurring pastern dermatitis
Each of these opportunities would depend on positive scientific results, appropriate regulatory review, veterinary collaboration, and additional validation.
In Summary
Zoonotic Technology’s investment is rooted in a simple principle: prevention deserves the same level of scientific attention as treatment. By funding a carefully designed feasibility study, it aims to determine whether controlled drying combined with 222 nm Far-UV can meaningfully reduce microbial contamination on the equine surfaces most closely associated with recurring lower-leg skin problems. If the results are positive, the study would provide a credible scientific foundation for future product development, veterinary partnerships, regulatory planning, and real-world field validation.
Works Cited
Mayo, D. (2026, July 16). Scratches and mud fever are common names for equine pastern dermatitis: Tips for managing this skin condition in horses. UF/IFAS Extension Jackson County. https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/jacksonco/2026/07/16/scratches-and-mud-fever-are-common-names-for-equine-pastern-dermatitis-tips-for-managing-this-skin-condition-in-horses/.
Richard, M. (2022). Mud fever (scratches or pastern dermatitis) in horses - causes, treatment and associated conditions - vetster. In Vetster Online Vets. Vetster. https://vetster.com/en/conditions/horse/mud-fever-scratches-or-pastern-dermatitis-in-horses.
