Jura now has a female companion in his paddock. After a rocky start he's decided he loves her and follows her everywhere. I think this is good for him as he seems less bored than he did. He was chewing the fence post a couple of times when he was on his own but I haven't seen him do that since the mare was put in with him. He's going to be turned out soon in a bigger 5 acre pasture and I think he will like that.
I need some advice on a couple of things. Flies are really bothering him, and I'd like to know what people consider to be a good fly treatment. Also what is the best way to apply it safely? I saw a horse today break its lead line when being subjected to a fly treatment and I'd like to avoid that kind of problem.
Also, he has a lot of bot fly eggs on his legs. What is the safest way to get them off? A fellow boarder suggested a razor blade but there's no way I want to take an unshielded razor blade near a big animal. I tried to pick them off but there were quite a few and they are stubborn.
He has now got a few more bare patches where he's rubbed on something and taken off the hair and top layer of skin. I can't tell if it's the bot eggs or the regular flies that are bothering him or if there's something else in additon to this. Are there any other things that be causing the itchiness that I should look for?
Gear It Up Update - New Oct Pics, AND groundwork is started
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Mood Swings
- Grade II Winner
- Posts: 1473
- Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:23 am
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Gotta love the flys 
In time he will develop resistance to them (to some degree). I have found that the natural fly sprays are not as effective as the insecticides. Also the water based sprays do not last as long as the oil based sprays. You can spray a towel and then rub his body instead of spraying him directly. As for removing the bot eggs you can get something similar to a pumice stone from your local tack store or even a bot knife. Good luck! He is a very lucky boy 
In time he will develop resistance to them (to some degree). I have found that the natural fly sprays are not as effective as the insecticides. Also the water based sprays do not last as long as the oil based sprays. You can spray a towel and then rub his body instead of spraying him directly. As for removing the bot eggs you can get something similar to a pumice stone from your local tack store or even a bot knife. Good luck! He is a very lucky boy "People come and go but horses leave hoofprints on your heart"
You could give him a good bath once a week with a mild shampoo (any old kind from the dollar store) and blue mouthwash (also from the dollar store). The alcohol will kill any bacteria and reduce the itching and swelling from the fly bites. Use a car wash sponge, rinse him pretty well, and then use a sweat scraper to scrape the water off. The places where the skin is scraped might actually be love bites from the new gal in town. Check him carefully, especially around the tail head, for ticks. You could try wiping fly spray on with a rag instead of the spray bottle. If you want to use a spray, though, start at the hoof and work your way up the legs so he can get used to it. Work your way UP the neck from the shoulder. Most horses will NOT let you spray their face/ears unless you have a LOT of practice. So you can use a rag there to wipe it on. A fly mask might help, they were on sale for $3.99 at Country Supply a while back. Bronco is a good fly spray.
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....
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geowarrior
- Leading Sire
- Posts: 3593
- Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:45 pm
- Location: Spokane, WA
Thanks again for the help. I got the pumice stone thing and it does require a little care and elbow grease, but was quite effective in getting the bot eggs off. The horse didn't mind the process at all. I was very glad not to have to use a knife or razor, I could see the headlines "strange woman attacks innocent horse with a deadly weapon". This grooming stuff is hard work, and it's going to take weeks to get him looking nice.
Madelyn, what proportions of shampoo, mouthwash and water are you suggesting?
I'm a bit concerned that I don't see any signs of him gaining weight, but perhaps it's early days yet.
The owner took him out to test his tying manners (pretty good, doesn't seem to pull back when tied to a post), and also lunged him, apparently he moves fine in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions. No sign of any ankle problem.
As far as the mare biting him goes, these patches don't really resemble teeth marks, more like divots or gouges. I'm almost convinced he rubbed up against the fence (which isn't hotwired) to relieve itching.
In case parasites are responsible for his not gaining weight, we dewormed him (or the farm owner did). He used Ivermectin. I'm thinking that a) he'll need another treatment after the first frost and b) if it's tapeworm ivermectin won't do anything.
The horse is as kind as he ever was, but studying him more closely, he's also lost something. When I knew him before he was cocky, and he'd eye you - it was almost like he was saying "I'm Gear It UP and I broke my maiden by 10 lengths first time out, who are you insignificant person?! He also used to be more playful, and used to ham it up quite a lot.
Jura seems a little depressed although with his companion mare and the move to a bigger pasture, things might change. It makes me feel bad that that spark has gone out of him, and as the farm owner was saying today, he acts as though he's fifteen rather than 3. Perhaps bored, perhaps missing his stall or a groom he became fond of? Or perhaps just the hustle and bustle of the track. No doubt when he was in Arlington he was thought of as a crap horse running bottomclaimers, and I bet he was influenced by the body language and tone of the managing partner, who declared that Gear It Up was crap. No matter how slow he is, or how badly he tries at something and fails, he obviously has heart.
Btw. we estimate that Jura is currently at least 16 and a half hands high, and will top out over 17 hands. If I ever do ride him, they'll have to find a special geowarrior stepladder to get me on him.
Keep the advice coming. And a happy labor day holiday to all. Drive safely if you are travelling.
Madelyn, what proportions of shampoo, mouthwash and water are you suggesting?
I'm a bit concerned that I don't see any signs of him gaining weight, but perhaps it's early days yet.
The owner took him out to test his tying manners (pretty good, doesn't seem to pull back when tied to a post), and also lunged him, apparently he moves fine in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions. No sign of any ankle problem.
As far as the mare biting him goes, these patches don't really resemble teeth marks, more like divots or gouges. I'm almost convinced he rubbed up against the fence (which isn't hotwired) to relieve itching.
In case parasites are responsible for his not gaining weight, we dewormed him (or the farm owner did). He used Ivermectin. I'm thinking that a) he'll need another treatment after the first frost and b) if it's tapeworm ivermectin won't do anything.
The horse is as kind as he ever was, but studying him more closely, he's also lost something. When I knew him before he was cocky, and he'd eye you - it was almost like he was saying "I'm Gear It UP and I broke my maiden by 10 lengths first time out, who are you insignificant person?! He also used to be more playful, and used to ham it up quite a lot.
Jura seems a little depressed although with his companion mare and the move to a bigger pasture, things might change. It makes me feel bad that that spark has gone out of him, and as the farm owner was saying today, he acts as though he's fifteen rather than 3. Perhaps bored, perhaps missing his stall or a groom he became fond of? Or perhaps just the hustle and bustle of the track. No doubt when he was in Arlington he was thought of as a crap horse running bottomclaimers, and I bet he was influenced by the body language and tone of the managing partner, who declared that Gear It Up was crap. No matter how slow he is, or how badly he tries at something and fails, he obviously has heart.
Btw. we estimate that Jura is currently at least 16 and a half hands high, and will top out over 17 hands. If I ever do ride him, they'll have to find a special geowarrior stepladder to get me on him.
Keep the advice coming. And a happy labor day holiday to all. Drive safely if you are travelling.
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kimberley mine
- Breeder's Cup Contender
- Posts: 1811
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 8:43 pm
Hi there,
Another way to get rid of those bot fly eggs is with a rasor...a disposable safety rasor from the grocery store, like you'd use to shave your legs. Run them down his leg (or direction of the hair) and the eggs should come right off.
Regarding the weight gain, tape him. You'll not likely see him making progress with your bare eyes for quite some time yet, but if you tape him 1x a week you'll have a track of his progress.
Another way to get rid of those bot fly eggs is with a rasor...a disposable safety rasor from the grocery store, like you'd use to shave your legs. Run them down his leg (or direction of the hair) and the eggs should come right off.
Regarding the weight gain, tape him. You'll not likely see him making progress with your bare eyes for quite some time yet, but if you tape him 1x a week you'll have a track of his progress.
Hi Geo - sounds like things are going wonderful for you and your boy!
Good advice on the bot flies - the pumice thing does work - just a little elbow grease
- also I've seen consignors use a the small combs that used is pull manes with and it seemed to work for them.
As far as weight gain - check with your vet - you can always have his stools checked for other parasites. Another trick of the trade is giving additional grain - instead of feeding two times a day - feed three times a day. They also suggest adding corn oil for weight gain and Body Builder does wonders.
If he has a fungal infection or you suspect it is a fungal infection that is making him lose hair there are several things you can use that are less expensive before going to the vet for a prescription medication.
After bathing him and rinsing him well and drying him off with a squeegie and letting him dry off completely you can try Lysterine mouthwash on the spots. I've also used with great success a mixture of dewormer, balmex (or another diaper rash medicine) and some neosporine. I mix this all together and then put it on the spot that are causing problems. This seems to clear it up pretty quickly. I got this from one of the Horse Management books we have. The dewormer works on the fungal infection, the neosporine helps keep infection down and the balmex (or other diaper rash medicine) acts a soothing agent and keeps the area supple but also keeps moisture away from it. This has worked really well on scratches on one of my mares who has white feet has gotten them in the past, rain rot and one of the mares had some sort of "stuff" going on - vet thought perhaps allergic reaction to something. A few days of treatment and you could see dramatic results!
Good luck and keep us posted.
Cheryl
Good advice on the bot flies - the pumice thing does work - just a little elbow grease
- also I've seen consignors use a the small combs that used is pull manes with and it seemed to work for them.
As far as weight gain - check with your vet - you can always have his stools checked for other parasites. Another trick of the trade is giving additional grain - instead of feeding two times a day - feed three times a day. They also suggest adding corn oil for weight gain and Body Builder does wonders.
If he has a fungal infection or you suspect it is a fungal infection that is making him lose hair there are several things you can use that are less expensive before going to the vet for a prescription medication.
After bathing him and rinsing him well and drying him off with a squeegie and letting him dry off completely you can try Lysterine mouthwash on the spots. I've also used with great success a mixture of dewormer, balmex (or another diaper rash medicine) and some neosporine. I mix this all together and then put it on the spot that are causing problems. This seems to clear it up pretty quickly. I got this from one of the Horse Management books we have. The dewormer works on the fungal infection, the neosporine helps keep infection down and the balmex (or other diaper rash medicine) acts a soothing agent and keeps the area supple but also keeps moisture away from it. This has worked really well on scratches on one of my mares who has white feet has gotten them in the past, rain rot and one of the mares had some sort of "stuff" going on - vet thought perhaps allergic reaction to something. A few days of treatment and you could see dramatic results!
Good luck and keep us posted.
Cheryl
"We are the people our parents warned us about" - Jimmy Buffett
"My occupational hazard is that my occupation is just not around" - Jimmy Buffett
"My occupational hazard is that my occupation is just not around" - Jimmy Buffett
If he's out in a lot of flies, I would recommend a fly mask for him. I like the ones made by Cashel that have a piece that covers the nose. If he's okay with spraying stuff on him, the flysprays I think work best are Endure and Tritec. I guess you can wipe those on, too.
If you're concerned about tapeworms, there are a number of wormers out now that kill those, too. Zimectrin Gold, Combocare, and Equimax are the ones that do.
For weight gain, I've found beet pulp and sunflower seeds to be of help.
Good luck with your new horse!
If you're concerned about tapeworms, there are a number of wormers out now that kill those, too. Zimectrin Gold, Combocare, and Equimax are the ones that do.
For weight gain, I've found beet pulp and sunflower seeds to be of help.
Good luck with your new horse!
Also, forgot to add - I've seen folks use a stack of staples to take off bots. That worked wonders too!
Also, I have several mares that totally freak out about fly spray so we wipe it on - the ones that have been from the track recently have been bathed so often that the fly spray doesn't bother them.
I have also found a "roll-on" fly repellent specifically for faces and ears. But we use fly masks on all the mares and foals. We use the roll on in the evening when we don't use the masks.
Good luck!
C
Also, I have several mares that totally freak out about fly spray so we wipe it on - the ones that have been from the track recently have been bathed so often that the fly spray doesn't bother them.
I have also found a "roll-on" fly repellent specifically for faces and ears. But we use fly masks on all the mares and foals. We use the roll on in the evening when we don't use the masks.
Good luck!
C
"We are the people our parents warned us about" - Jimmy Buffett
"My occupational hazard is that my occupation is just not around" - Jimmy Buffett
"My occupational hazard is that my occupation is just not around" - Jimmy Buffett
One of the great things about summer is that the worm larvae in the poop are killed by the heat. NOT SO IN WINTER. Worming is essential in winter. The Ivermectin should be fine for now.. a double dose of Pyrantel Pamoate also works for tapeworms, so a double tube of Exodus which is $6 is cheaper than any of the new wormers that are Ivermectin/Praziquantel for tapeworms, like Zimectrin Gold.
More than likely, Jura is a bit depressed and lonely after all the hubbub and activity of track life. Those gouges really DO sound like teeth marks.. horses have very different teeth and a good swipe of teeth on a horse will LOOK like a scrape or something from another source.
Regarding his weight, his diet has probably changed quite a bit. Also, he is in his let down time. He is overloaded with muscle tissue, so his metabolism is high and he won't gain weight until the ratio changes.
More than likely, Jura is a bit depressed and lonely after all the hubbub and activity of track life. Those gouges really DO sound like teeth marks.. horses have very different teeth and a good swipe of teeth on a horse will LOOK like a scrape or something from another source.
Regarding his weight, his diet has probably changed quite a bit. Also, he is in his let down time. He is overloaded with muscle tissue, so his metabolism is high and he won't gain weight until the ratio changes.
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....
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geowarrior
- Leading Sire
- Posts: 3593
- Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:45 pm
- Location: Spokane, WA
There are a couple of marks on his hind quarters, and a couple on his jaw that are new.
The two lovebirds are completely inseperable now, so any bites that happened must have happened the first day they were together. I haven't seen as much as a nibble since then.
Now that he has a companion, and that he's getting a little bit of lunging as well as more regular grooming, I'm hoping that's enough to alleviate his boredom. However, the owner also feels he's acting quite a bit older than his age, so when we finally get the vet in, we will ask.
The two lovebirds are completely inseperable now, so any bites that happened must have happened the first day they were together. I haven't seen as much as a nibble since then.
Now that he has a companion, and that he's getting a little bit of lunging as well as more regular grooming, I'm hoping that's enough to alleviate his boredom. However, the owner also feels he's acting quite a bit older than his age, so when we finally get the vet in, we will ask.
Regarding the bath question, put enough shampoo in the water to make a decent lather. You can throw in a few capfuls of mouthwash. If you also mix up some rinse water with a few capfuls of mouthwash, it will leave a lingering scent that will deter insects, for a while anyhow.
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....
Calm Coat
I swear by a product called 'Cam Coat' for those hairless, itchy places.
It also promotes hair growth. I mix it with just a little vasoline to form a barrier against the flies.
It also promotes hair growth. I mix it with just a little vasoline to form a barrier against the flies.
"Animals are such agreeable friends--they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms."
-----George Eliot
-----George Eliot
Just my opinion, based on my personal experience...
I've been battling the itchies with my Morgan every summer. This summer was especially bad... I finally shaved his mane down (as he rubbed a big patch off), he's rubbed the top of his tail bald... and he has some bald areas on his face & neck. I've spent a small fortune slathering him with Blue Kote, Calm Coat oil, Mane & Tail Grow, Bactine spray, Bacitracin creme, Bag Balm, Listerine, Gold Bond powder, iodine shampoo, Tea Tree oil spray, giving him baths with Microtec shampoo & using the Microtec spray... you name it. And worming him often. Nothing completely helps—I have to stay on top of it all of the time. If I dry his skin out too much (frequent baths, tea tree oil, Listerine, iodine shampoo), it just makes it worse...
My advice: if he gets really bad with the itching, i.e., rubs hair off to the point of creating leathery skin or bald spots—there's as many theories on what makes them itch as there are products to treat it—you may just want to talk to a vet about steroids. I recently talked to someone whose horse went through the same thing, and apparently it can go right in their food (no shots, which is what I thought he'd need) & isn't too expensive, from what she said (can't be much more $ than everything else I've spent money on!). And it worked wonders for her horse, so I'm going to give it a try next season...
It's getting cooler up here where I live, so I know the itching will go away very soon... thankfully!
For flies, I use the TriTec 14 spray. Isn't the cheapest, but it lasts long and works well. If you buy cheap spray, you'll find you'll use much more of it, so it evens out... I don't even go through a whole gallon with two horses (I also use masks during black fly season). My TB isn't crazy about being sprayed, but if I start low around her legs & work upwards, she's fine. Wiping it on, as others recommended, works well, too, if your guy is nervous about it...
I fed a rice bran oil supplement to help Bell gain weight, as a top dressing. I couldn't safely feed her 3 times a day, so it helped give her extra calories and adds a nice bloom to the coat. I also switched her to a higher fat grain (12% fat, 12% protein, 10% fiber) and she's maintained weight just fine.
Nutrena also has a supplement that I fed her until she got up to weight—Empower. It's (to quote their site) "an extruded combination of high-fat rice bran and flaxseed for an improved blend of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids. Highly digestible fat from vegetable sources provides the extra nutrition to help support performance and endurance.". It worked well for me. Beet pulp is also good, as was mentioned.
Just my two cents, FWIW... glad you're having fun with him, and sounds like he's doing well!
Keep us posted!
I've been battling the itchies with my Morgan every summer. This summer was especially bad... I finally shaved his mane down (as he rubbed a big patch off), he's rubbed the top of his tail bald... and he has some bald areas on his face & neck. I've spent a small fortune slathering him with Blue Kote, Calm Coat oil, Mane & Tail Grow, Bactine spray, Bacitracin creme, Bag Balm, Listerine, Gold Bond powder, iodine shampoo, Tea Tree oil spray, giving him baths with Microtec shampoo & using the Microtec spray... you name it. And worming him often. Nothing completely helps—I have to stay on top of it all of the time. If I dry his skin out too much (frequent baths, tea tree oil, Listerine, iodine shampoo), it just makes it worse...
My advice: if he gets really bad with the itching, i.e., rubs hair off to the point of creating leathery skin or bald spots—there's as many theories on what makes them itch as there are products to treat it—you may just want to talk to a vet about steroids. I recently talked to someone whose horse went through the same thing, and apparently it can go right in their food (no shots, which is what I thought he'd need) & isn't too expensive, from what she said (can't be much more $ than everything else I've spent money on!). And it worked wonders for her horse, so I'm going to give it a try next season...
It's getting cooler up here where I live, so I know the itching will go away very soon... thankfully!
For flies, I use the TriTec 14 spray. Isn't the cheapest, but it lasts long and works well. If you buy cheap spray, you'll find you'll use much more of it, so it evens out... I don't even go through a whole gallon with two horses (I also use masks during black fly season). My TB isn't crazy about being sprayed, but if I start low around her legs & work upwards, she's fine. Wiping it on, as others recommended, works well, too, if your guy is nervous about it...
I fed a rice bran oil supplement to help Bell gain weight, as a top dressing. I couldn't safely feed her 3 times a day, so it helped give her extra calories and adds a nice bloom to the coat. I also switched her to a higher fat grain (12% fat, 12% protein, 10% fiber) and she's maintained weight just fine.
Nutrena also has a supplement that I fed her until she got up to weight—Empower. It's (to quote their site) "an extruded combination of high-fat rice bran and flaxseed for an improved blend of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids. Highly digestible fat from vegetable sources provides the extra nutrition to help support performance and endurance.". It worked well for me. Beet pulp is also good, as was mentioned.
Just my two cents, FWIW... glad you're having fun with him, and sounds like he's doing well!
Keep us posted!-
geowarrior
- Leading Sire
- Posts: 3593
- Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:45 pm
- Location: Spokane, WA
Thank you everyone for all the advice. I will try as much of it as I can. He's such a nice horse, I wish you could all see him in person.
The flies will start to go away here soon too, and next year I'll be more prepared I hope.
He loves his mare so much I think he must have been lonely for a long time.
The flies will start to go away here soon too, and next year I'll be more prepared I hope.
He loves his mare so much I think he must have been lonely for a long time.