Equine Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Clinical Descriptive Study at the University of California, Davis (1980–2011)

This retrospective study at the University of California, Davis, characterized equine alopecia areata (AA) by analyzing 15 horses from 1980 to 2011. The prevalence of AA was 0.017%, with Appaloosas and quarter horses being the most commonly affected breeds. The median age was 9 years, ranging from 3 to 15 years. Alopecia primarily affected the mane, tail, and face, and more than half of the horses were presented for other medical conditions. A seasonal pattern was noted, with symptoms worsening in spring and summer. The study concluded that AA is a rare, typically cosmetic disease in horses and is the first to investigate its epidemiology.