I am in Horse & Rider magazine!!!!!

[Heidi]

It is a mis-quote, but I am published!

March issue, page 21, "Barn Call"

It appears the question I posted on the H&R magazine website was used for this issue's Barn Call section. My question has been changed to represent the demographics of the magazine (breed/age of horse) and my question wording has also been changed to represent the most common symptoms that readers would observe their horses experiencing.
Still, I'm happy this horse health issue has been addressed and MY NAME was published as the person-with-the-question!
Heidi

Here is my original question:
This was my Colorado filly's first year in Georgia and she had a terrible time during late summer with culicoidies sensitivity. (she had an allergic reaction to biting bugs) She itched her face, chest, shoulders and belly raw. No amount of fly spray or soothing ointment seemed to help. She was 2 during the summer and is pasture kept with a run-in stall.
What can I do to prevent her having such a miserable season this coming year?

[SandyMM]

:D Fame and fortune (?) - you take it when and where you can get it... ;-)

[DebbieS]

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

[Heidi]

H&R Editor (Deb) has sent me an email from a person who contacted her about my question. She would like to give me a free bottle of a new product of theirs that they feel would help Q. I'm going to check them out and respond to her email tonight.
I'll try darn near anything to help Q not be miserable this summer.
Heidi

Barb with: avVaa World Health Care Products

[Pasogirlz]

Awesome! Congrats. Let us know how the product works.

[paintedhorizon]

When I lived in Augusta, GA, my mare Sage had the same problem. It was mostly those little black biting flies. Only thing I ever found that helped was a sheet, fly boots and fly mask. I was going to buy a full sheet (with neck) but then I sold her. Good luck!

[pnalley]

Heidi,
Please keep us (me in particular) updated on how this product works. I have an App gelding that suffers horribly from culicoides sensititvity. He has become the DESTROYER of fly sheets masks etc. Last summer he destroyed 3. This summer I plan to keep him in at least as dusk & dawn (when the gnats are at their worst) He will have Bandits old high powered fan on him. I had a vet (Coosa Valley Equine Center) tell me fans were the best thing. To make things worse he is very sensitive to many fly spray products. You can give them steriod shots but it increases the risk of laminitis, so thats pretty much out.

[PASOFAN]

That is really neat!! Congratz and I Hope this new product works!! :D

[CarolU]

Cool Heidi!!!

Where my sister rides in Spain has a horse with the same problem. I sent them a full body fly sheet with neck and mask...worked fine.

Make sure you try their product carefully. A lot of horses that are sensitive are senstive to a lot more then bug bites.

[Brigitte]

Cool 8-)

[Blameitonbrio]

I hope it works for her. And congrats on you H&R fame!!! :lol:

[Terry Wallace]

Have you ruled out habronema? Do you frequently worm with Ivermectin?

[Heidi]

I've never heard of habronema, what is it?

I worm every time the farrier comes out and I follow some rotational worming schedule that comes in a 'wheel' that you turn to show you what products for what time of year...so I am sure I do use ivermectin, but not every time.

[Heidi]

These are the wormers I've used in the last year:
Ivercare (ivermectin)
Equimax (?)
Ivercare (ivermectin)
ComboCare (moxidectrin praziquantel)
Equimax (?)

I googled habronema ...I tried to spell it habanero! (laughing)
I'm fairly certain Q does not have that. She would be exhibiting colicy signs, not itchy signs and she did not get any 'summer sores' at all.

She itched her face, neck, chest, shoulders and belly. Her belly was raw and her face was losing hair. She 'butched' her forelock to just above her eyes. :-( She would get little welts on her skin from the bites. I tried to keep her fly sprayed but if she got bit, she got itchy.

[Moniece Dickerson]

Well I certainly do hope the new product will help Q and CONGRADS on your success!!!!!!!Your paso friend,Moniece

[Mellifluous]

Heidi -

I used to have one that did the same thing. I braided an insecticidal cow ear tag in his mane and one in his tail - He stopped itching that day and the tags lasted for a couple of months before they needed replacing. It makes your horse look like Minnie Pearl but it works.

I went to the farm supply store and read all of the boxes to find one that sounded the best. I was able to purchase a broken box so I didn't have 50 of the darn things for one horse. They do have an expiration date so you don't want to stockpile them. Wear rubber gloves when you put it on.

I think I learned about this on the old paso board. Someone was talking about farmers tying them on their mule's halters?

[motorgypsy]

The tags do work. There are a few other things you can do to minimize the fly and "noseeum" problem.

The wasps do work well for flies but if you have cattle or horses next door you may as well just do more bag fly traps.

We hang about 30 bag fly traps all over the property where the horses are fed and near the bathroom areas. They are amazing. Replace them as they fill up. Lowe's carries them and so does Jeffers and other catalog suppliers.

We buy the 10% permethrin and dilute it to about triple the strength listed for horses - I think we use 50cc per quart and use a big syringe to measure it. We don't just spray - we put on gloves and use a rag or sponge to be sure they are covered. It lasts for several days.

We have also used the cow tags and they work well.

Fly masks on everyone 24/7 and there is a riding fly mask that is very transparent sold by Cashel.

The Bucas silver flysheet and the Weatherbeeta heavy duty white dust and fly sheet and the Rambo Dust buster are the sturdiest and strongest fly sheets. You can also use a turnout sheet but be sure to get a white one or very light color with the mesh lining, not the satin lining so the sweat will evaporate and cool them. They will actually keep any but a very light colored horse cooler than no sheet at all and keep them from sun bleaching. They are a must for blacks and black bays.

We switched to pellet from sweet feed because the sweet feed gets dropped on the ground and attracts all sorts of insects.

[Heidi]

Q is the only horse for at least 3-5 miles, I'd say. Neighbors do have dogs who do their 'doodie' outside and I'm pretty sure it doesn't get scooped up. I pick up Q's corral daily.

I had a lady call me Friday morning! She read my question in the magazine and wanted to contact me to tell me about the remedies that she has used. She lives in Alabama and has been involved with TWH and TBs for many years.

Here are some of her ideas:
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
mix 1/2 bucket of water and a 1/2 Qt of ACV, use a sponge and rub the horse all over to keep bugs away

fill a spray bottle 1/2 with water, then almost to the top with ACV. At a local pharmacy get eucalyptus oil and citronella, put several squirts of each in the spray bottle, mix and spray horse thoroughly

In the African American hair care section, use for mane/tail;
Tea Tree Carrot Oil
orange colored product, red lid, red/green/black jar

Anyway, she was very nice. She said she read the response and felt that the solutions offered were too expensive and wanted to offer some home remedies that she found to work well for her and her horse charges.
Heidi