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We’re told that summer is here, and occasionally it is! When the sun does shine we all tack up, and head out for what we think will be an enjoyable hack, but instead how often does it result in being a battle against a grumpy horse who is getting attacked by insects and horse flies? Similarly just as we feel it is warm enough to leave our horses out without any rug and not worry that they are going to get soaked or cold, they instead come in from the field sporting fly bites or with bald patches after rubbing themselves so much because of itchy skin. There are lots of products available on the market to help alleviate the irritation from insects and repel them from landing on your horse’s skin. Fly sprays and repellent wipes are a good start to helping reduce the amount your horse suffers from flies. There are also physical barriers, in the form of rugs, masks and nets which actually stop the fly from landing on your horse’s skin. A fly sheet will help to protect your horse, there is a large range of styles available and they range in price depending on coverage and the level of protection your horse needs. Basic fly rugs are often made from a nylon mesh and fit in the same way a summer sheet would, these offer general protection from flies by creating a barrier between your horse’s skin and the flies. The soft mesh will allow your horse to stay cool in the summer and won’t hold water if there is any rain. More specialised fly rugs are also available which often give more coverage and some even have insect repellent treatments impregnated into the material to help further repel unwanted flies. Deciding what kind of rug you buy depends on your budget and your horse’s needs. Bear in mind that these types of rugs are all a mesh type fabric so they do tear more easily than a turnout rug, although the mesh material does make them easy to repair yourself. Some horses suffer more than most through the summer, sometimes developing sweet itch, which is an allergic reaction to the saliva in the bite of a species of midge called Culicoides. Horses who suffer from this condition can significantly harm themselves as they scratch to try to alleviate the irritation caused by the bite. Although there is no absolute cure to this condition, there are several treatments which can offer the horse some relief.  - Try to limit the horse’s exposure to the midge, stabling one hour each side of sunrise and sunset, as this is the time when flies are most active.
- Kill the flies that are attacking the horse using insecticides that contain pyrethrins or pyrethroids.
- Prevent the horse from itching; specially designed sweet itch rugs stop the fly landing on the horse’s skin. This will mean the horse won’t scratch as much as the irritation will be less.
Following these preventative measures should help to relieve your horse’s symptoms, whether it be sweet itch or just flies in general. Some supplements, garlic, for example, are known for their fly repellent qualities but these don’t always help all horses. Try to keep muck heaps to a minimum and situate well away from any areas that your horses spend much time. A clean yard and horse will always mean that there are less flies in the area so regularly bath your horse and disinfect as much of your stable as possible. republished from http://www.robinsons-uk.com/blog/
Tags: Flies Summer
Once you have read this you will realise how important it is to be educated about equine eyesight. This lesson will change the way you approach and work around your horse, creating a safer and more trusting environment with your horse.
Do horses see color?
Many scientists believe that horses cannot see color, however, there is no scientific proof of this. There has been extensive research and studies on equine eyesight, but the topic of whether horses can or cannot see color is still unknown.
Can horses see much detail?
Horses see less detail than the human eye, but they have a much broader field of vision than we do. Their vision is very sensitive to movement, which allows them to watch for possible enemies, even in the dark.
The horse has a hard time seeing depth. This is why many hunter/jumper riders will experience that it is harder to jump wider (deeper) fences than a single fence. Horses also cannot sense very well how far an object is from their body.
How well can horses see in the dark?
They can see better in the dark than humans can, however, they take longer to adapt to light and dark than other animals. Whenever you are in a situation where you are going from a lighted area to a fairly dark area (or vise versa), be sure to give your horse enough time to adjust to the new lighting.
This explains why many horses become frightened or anxious when being lead from a lighted barn aisle into a darker area (such as a dark trailer, or to an outside paddock at night).
Where are the horse's blind spots?
Your horse has a blind spot that extends about 4 feet in front of his face, which may vary depending on the shape of his head. If your horse has a wider head, he will have a longer blind spot. If he has a narrow head, he will have a shorter blind spot.
You should never approach your horse directly from the front. If you approach him from the front, he cannot see you until you are about six inches from his face (this explains why horse will raise and/or tilt or turn their head if you approach directly from the front). Even when you are that close, he only sees your shoulders and not the middle of your body - and even that much is distorted.
Horses cannot see the ground near their front feet, and they cannot see their own knees and chest. Horses also have a blind spot directly behind them. This is the most dangerous blind spot, should the horse become frightened and kick at you. Always be careful and alert when walking behind your horse. A horse may kick at any sudden, unexpected noise.
Never punish your horse for spooking. Instead, relax...and take a second to remember that he was born with a blind spot (and with many, many predators). Punishment will only cause more fear and confusion. Speak calmly and try to reassure that everything is fine. Horses may occasionally spook or suddenly kick at unexpected noises in their blind spots, of where they cannot see.
Due to many blind spots, horses have to raise and lower their heads in order to see objects in their proper focus. This will explain why many horses will raise their head (as if to spook) when a person walks up to them directly in front and reaches to pet the horse's forehead...most likely, he is just trying to focus better on what he cannot see clearly.
Binocular and Monocular Vision:
When both eyes are focused on one object in front, the horse is using binocular vision. You will know when a horse is using binocular vision because he will usually stand alert, with both of his ears focused on an object in front of him.
Horses can see with each eye separately. This is called monocular vision, which allows the horse to watch in front of him with one eye and in back of him with the other. This is especially useful when watching for predators.
When a horse sees movement using monocular vision, he will usually turn his head to see with both eyes - switching to binocular vision (to focus on the moving object). When a horse switches from monocular vision to binocular vision, this causes objects to jump and distort - until focused on again. This may cause horses to unexplainably spook.
Horses cannot use binocular and monocular vision at the same time. It is very important to have your horse’s attention when working with them. It is a safe practice to constantly talk to your horse while working around him.
Are Blue Eyes Inferior?
Most horses have dark colored eyes (usually brown). Some people believe that blue eyes are inferior. However, there is no scientific evidence that this is true. Blue eyes are the result from lack of pigment in the iris. This does not affect the horse’s vision.
The horse’s eyesight is very different than human eyesight. What you see when you look at something is very different from what your horse sees.
Tags: Equine Eyesight
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