Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
less dirt. To increase the lasting effect, some water-based repellents are made with silicone,
which coats the hair shaft and holds the repellent in place longer. Alcohol-based repellents
dry quickly and so are good for a fast touch-up, but the alcohol can have a drying effect on
both hair and skin.
Repellents can also contain sunscreen, coat conditioners (lanolin, aloe vera), and other
products, which increase lasting power. How long a repellent lasts depends on the weather,
management, exercise level of the horse (how much he sweats), and grooming (brushing,
blanketing), and whether the horse rolls.
In addition to spray-on, wipe-on, and stick repellents, impregnated strips and tags can be
attached to halters. These are especially helpful in controlling face flies, which have spon-
ging mouthparts and feed on mucus around the eyes and nostrils. Some degree of relief can
also be afforded the horse by using fly shakers attached to the crown piece of a halter or
the brow band of a bridle. These strips mechanically jiggle the flies off a horse's face when
he shakes his head. Mesh fly masks prevent face flies from landing around the eyes and
ears. Cool, open-weave fly sheets keep flies from pestering the horse on his body. Mesh leg
boots can eliminate stomping.
MOSQUITOES
Although birds are the reservoir for West Nile virus, mosquitoes can transmit the disease
to horses and humans. Birds and rodents are the reservoir for sleeping sickness—western
equine encephalomyelitis (WEE), eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE), and
Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE)—and mosquitoes can transmit these diseases
to horses. Mosquitoes and other biting insects spread equine infectious anemia (EIA), a
disease of the nervous system.
Luckily, there are vaccinations for West Nile and sleeping sickness; there are no vaccin-
ations for EIA, however, so sanitation is still key. Try to keep your horses off pasture at
dawn and dusk during prime feeding times for mosquitoes and other bloodsucking insects.
Many of the good sanitation practices that reduce fly populations will also discourage
mosquito breeding. But other specific practices can significantly decrease mosquito breed-
ing grounds. Mosquito larvae can hatch in 4 days in standing water, so be vigilant about
eliminating puddles and rain collectors, and frequently change the water in troughs.
• Throw out old tires that tend to collect rainwater and make ideal mosquito breeding con-
ditions.
• Discard cans, buckets, drums, bottles, and any other vessel that can hold water.
• Fill in or drain any low spots that turn into puddles.
