Summer Tips and Hints DISCLAIMER: These posts contain hints, tips and ideas from folks that have had some experiences dealing with this. It is NOT meant to be medical advice here - just related experiences. Please consult with a reputable professional if necessary. Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 23:58:08 -0600 (MDT) To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: Pat Calloway Subject: EQ-ResQ: Summer Tips Brainstorming time again! Remember last fall we did a brainstorming session for winter tips. That was archived on the Equine Rescue Mailing List's Home Page. How about another session for summer tips. What are some of the things that you do to make summer easier for your horse? Do you feed garlic to help repel flies & other flying pests? Do you pasture at night and stable during the day? Do you change the diet in any way due to the warmer temperatures? Pat Calloway, Equine Rescue/Creatures Listowner epona@concentric.net (AZ) http://pages.prodigy.com/equinerescue/home.htm http://pages.prodigy.com/equinerescue/creature.htm ============================================================ To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: Mike & Chris Smith Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Summer Tips Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 06:31:29 -0400 Pat Calloway wrote: > > Remember last fall we did a brainstorming session for winter tips. > How about another session for summer tips. What are > some of the things that you do to make summer easier for your horse? Oh, no! I'd rather de-ice water tanks than fight flies! > Do you feed garlic to help repel flies & other flying pests? We use Avon's Skin So Soft oil, diluted half and half with water. It doesn't last as long as some of the synthetic insecticide type repellants, but we don't have to worry about sensitivities to ingredients. We spray all over, then use a cloth to wipe their faces. Then sometimes use some "straight" on the tails. That way when they swish flies on their own, it spreads the aroma around and keeps a few more flies away. One thing we have learned to watch for as far as repellants go is a sensitivity to citronella in some horses. Even though its natural, it isn't for everybody. Right now our big problem is ticks! We're sort of doing a "field test" with some different things to see what works. >Do you pasture > at night and stable during the day? For those that are really bothered by flies, yes, they are kept in during the day and turned out at night. Some would rather stay out and use the run-in sheds and the "group tail swish" method. Speaking of which...we just acquired six horses as the result of a court seizure in a neighboring county....one has a docked tail, we think as a result of injury, but aren't sure, and one has lost every hair on her mane and tail due to a skin parasite. Does anyone know where we might get good tail extensions for these poor girls? > Do you change the diet in any way due > to the warmer temperatures? No, no real changes except to decrease the amounts from that fed during winter, unless of course, for some reason the horse cannot eat grass. (Thirty year old with very few teeth left, but boy, she loves the taste anyway!) Oh...and if they don't finish any meals with a lot of moisture, such as soaked pellets, remove it and make a new meal later...it can sour quickly on hot days. A couple other reminders...we need to dump and scrub the water tanks *much* more often since algae grows so fast in the summer. And some horses absolutely won't drink water with even a little funk in it. Some horses we hang extra buckets for...may drink twice as much on a hot day than in winter. We hang fans on the stalls to keep the air moving when the horses are in. They really seem to enjoy that. Also, need to stay on top of any little nicks and scapes acquired during pasture play. They heal up quickly in winter, but if the flies find them in the warmer weather, they can keep them irritated and slow healing. We use Swat to keep the flies off even though the pink swatches cause some snickering among other horses in the field. There's probably dozens of other little things we don't think about but do. Look forward to some new tips. Chris -- Equine Rescue League Leesburg, VA http://freeyellow.com/members7/erl/index.html http://equinenet.org/erl/ ============================================================ To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: Keri Lynn Basham Subject: EQ-ResQ: Summer Tips/Flies Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 09:56:51 -0400 (EDT) Rabon fly blocks. That's our fly control system. They're cheaper and more effective than applying topical fly repellant to each horse. The horse eats them like salt blocks and the rabon prevents fly larvae from developing in the manure. It is not instant gratification because the day you put thenm out the flies don't disappear but it actually reduces the fly population instead of just repelling them. Keri in Kentucky ============================================================ Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 09:57:55 -0600 (MDT) To: equinerescue@Mylist.net From: Pat Calloway Subject: EQ-ResQ: Summer Tips Mister systems. Probably not a good idea where you have humid summers, but a lot of folks have them in Arizona (where it's a dry heat) and they really do help. A mister system is generally made of pvc pipe with small nozzles spaced about every 102 feet that spray a very fine mist into the air. The other end is hooked up to water which is left on just a tiny bit. Breezes move the coolness generated by the water and it cools the air temp about 10-20 degrees or so. They're easy to install and not too expensive. Sorta like outside evap cooling. ============================================================ To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: BLRYSTROM@aol.com Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Summer Tips Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 12:28:41 EDT In a message dated 4/21/99 10:59:04 AM Central Daylight Time, epona@concentric.net writes: << Probably not a good idea where you have humid summers, but a lot of folks have them in Arizona (where it's a dry heat) and they really do help. >> Pat, we have hot humid summers here in Arkansas and the misters are the only thing that makes them bearable. They are wonderful devices. Dawn ============================================================ To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: slyshot@mindspring.com Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Summer Tips Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 21:24:11 -0400 >> Do you feed garlic to help repel flies & other flying pests? I tried this last year, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder with each feeding, and it did make a difference. While it didn't eliminate flies, my horse had fewer flies on him than the other horses in his field. I would think if all the horses were on it, the flies just might move on to greener, tastier pastures. >Right now our big problem is ticks! We're sort of doing a "field test" >with some different things to see what works. I was especially vigilant when grooming and pulled them as fast as they arrived. They especially seemed to like burying themselves in the dock, so I had to use the braille method to find them there. I've been told that smothering the tick in vaseline and then pulling it the next day after its suffocated is less likely to leave the head in the bite wound. I always put some type of antiseptic compound on the bite wound just to be safe. I understand they don't like Ivermectin, but you can't worm constantly. >Does anyone know where we might >get good tail extensions for these poor girls? Check the ads in magazines that focus on saddleseat riding, or on saddleseat websites. It seems every time I've seen these extensions its been in regards to ASBs, TWHs, etc. >We hang fans on the stalls to keep the air moving when the horses are >in. They really seem to enjoy that. An aisle fan can be really helpful for horses that get overheated or just don't stand up well to heat stress. Hose and scrape the horse and have someone stand with the horse in front of the fan. Or, if you don't have an aisle fan, hose and scrape as often as needed for the horse's comfort, especially the neck and chest area, and between the hind legs. >We use Swat to keep the flies off even though the pink >swatches cause some snickering among other horses in the field. Swat also comes in a clear formula, so your horses no longer need to be embarrassed by those unsightly pink blotches! Fly masks, fly fringes, whatever it takes. A few of our horses wear fly masks virtually all year because of eye problems, but every single horse wears one in the summer, even though we have to duct tape some of them to keep them on. A fly fringe is a brow band with fringe on it which attaches to the halter and the fringe hangs down to the nose - sort of like a super heavy-duty forelock. Don't get one impregnated with fly repellant; the risks are too great. And while the crocheted fly fringes you see on show horses are great for riding they are not good for turnout, and probably not safe for turnout. Oh, and a reminder that you will undoubtedly get questions from a few people about why your horses are "blindfolded and isn't that cruel." We do have a temperature cutoff for horses in the lesson program (actually all the rescue horses). If the heat goes above 90 degrees, lessons are cancelled and there is no riding. Sometimes grooming, cooling and tack cleaning lessons are substituted; sometimes there is just no lesson at all. Klondike (Cris May) Days End Farm Horse Rescue (MD) http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/6768 ============================================================ To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: Paul Nelles Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Summer Tips/Flies Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 21:27:21 -0500 RABON FLY BLOCKS For the most effective use of rabon blocks: 1. Keep them as far from your water tank as possible. The horses only need to eat alittle each day. If they are by the water tank, many horses will eat some every time they come to get a drink. Won't hurt them, you just end up buying more blocks than you need to. 2. Put them out 7 to 10 days BEFORE you expect the temperature to began being above 70 degrees during the day. That way the rabon moves through the horses system and is in the manure when the flies become active. Don't let the first flies multiply, and your problem for the rest of the summer will be far less. We follow these two steps religously every year, and our fly problem is small compared to before we used the rabon. deb in Wisconsin ========== Paul Nelles ====== Equine Rescue - http://pages.prodigy.com/equinerescue/home.htm To unsubscribe, send a message to equinerescue-request@mylist.net with unsubscribe in the body of the message. Please do NOT quote this footer in list responses or your note will NOT be posted. ============================================================ To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: Kim Harrison Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Summer Tips/ticks Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 06:31:10 -0700 (PDT) > I was especially vigilant when grooming and pulled > them as fast as they arrived. << >>>> smothering the tick in vaseline and then pulling it > the next day after its > suffocated is less likely to leave the head in the > bite wound. I always put > some type of antiseptic compound on the bite wound > just to be safe. I > understand they don't like Ivermectin, but you can't > worm constantly.<<< Living in Arkansas, I consider myself a bit of an expert on ticks The problem is, I can't tell you what DOES work, because I haven't found it. Vaseline doesn't help, my horses would be so coated they would look like something out of the Blob. I JUST wormed them with Ivermectin. As far as I can tell, the ticks consider it lasagna. I have a sulfur salt block and I feed garlic powder in the feed. We coat the horses with Sevin dust periodically, and I spray with Repel-X This year I've added vinegar to the Repel-x as I saw many people recommending it. I don't use Skin-So-Soft. I tried that one year and the mosquitos around here drank it. The only sure cure for ticks I've found is a HORRENDOUS winter, which we haven't had for 5 or 6 years. Chickens help a little, and they eat horse and dog manure, cutting down on fly larvae I would imagine. Sorry to be such a doomsayer where ticks are concerned. And I'm sure in non "Tick Capitals of the World" the other suggestions work. But I will give my first born to anyone that comes up with a surefire way to get rid of the ticks. Kim in Arkansas ============================================================ Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 11:38:38 -0600 (MDT) To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: Pat Calloway Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Stall Fans At 08:44 AM 4/22/99 -0700, Barry Christy wrote: >I live in Az and it is just now beginning to heat up. Can anyone living in >AZ tell me if the use of stall fans >along with misters would be a good idea or defeat the purpose by blowing >the mist all over the place? They're very common at Turf Paradise. The misters are up high on the ceiling blowing towards the horses and the fans are (generally) on the ground a bit behind the line of misters. It helps blow the cooler air towards the horses. Big thing is to be careful that you don't have any drips where the fans are sitting/plugged in! Most of the horses will be heading up to Prescott, Northern Cal or other cooler climates in the next two weeks (meet ends on 5/2), but it's really warm right now. ============================================================ To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: The Zoo Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Stall Fans Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 12:59:44 -0400 >I live in Az and it is just now beginning to heat up. Can anyone living in >AZ tell me if the use of stall fans >along with misters would be a good idea or defeat the purpose by blowing >the mist all over the place? I wish my memory weren't affected by menopause! Just a few weeks ago I was watching Horse World (I think) and they did a segment on a big fan that uses water through the mechanism to blow moistened air. It was shown being used in a rather large barn and dropped the temp 15 degrees within minutes. I'd love to remember what the name of these fans was; I'd like to try one in my barn. Janis M. :) ============================================================ To: equinerescue@mylist.net From: gafarm Subject: EQ-ResQ: Summer Tips Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 07:50:29 -0400 The gnats are bad here already in NE Ohio but I finally found something that REALLY works for hours!! Vicks Vapo Rub or any brand similar product. You have to be care full not to use it near the eyes or on tender skin and don't try to rub it in. Just put a light coat on top of the hair. I've been using it on the horses ears and it eliminates the head tossing. The vapor keeps all the bugs off but especially the gnats which several of my horses have become allergic to. Betti Goddard NE Ohio ============================================================ To: equinerescue@mylist.net From: The Zoo Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: Summer Tips Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 13:06:31 -0400 >The gnats are bad here already in NE Ohio but I finally found something >that REALLY works for hours!! Vicks Vapo Rub or any brand similar >product. You have to be care full not to use it near the eyes or on >tender skin and don't try to rub it in. Just put a light coat on top of >the hair. I've been using it on the horses ears and it eliminates the >head tossing. The vapor keeps all the bugs off but especially the gnats >which several of my horses have become allergic to. This is an excellent idea and really works. When we go riding, we put a strip of Vicks on each ear, down the center of the face, and on each side of the neck. We also put it anywhere (except tender tissue) where the equine seems bothered by flies and such. When one of them has a booboo, we put a ring of it around the booboo to keep flies away. The man we bought our mule from uses mules a lot for hunting out west. When hauling a carcass back to camp, they put Vicks around the nostrils. Keeps the mules from smelling the blood and they'll pack the carcass to camp without getting upset by the smell. One person I talked to uses it on her stallion's nostrils when riding with mares to keep him from becoming a nut-case if a mare is in heat. Janis M. :) ICQ # 7030297 ============================================================