The skin - the horse in summer and the insects
The horse is able to adapt to any type of weather. However, if given the choice, he much prefers winter. In summer, with the heat, the limits of what is bearable are reached more quickly. He flees the sun, shelter is essential for him.
How does the horse deal with excessive temperatures?
*he no longer moves, he goes completely to rest;
*he eats less; the advantage of hay in winter (it “warms” him internally) becomes a disadvantage in summer;
*he increases his water ration;
*he sweats more, the main way to eliminate excess body heat;
*he walks and grazes at night.
Be careful not to overwork it. Transport by van or truck can be very unpleasant for him.
The horse must have a salt stone at his disposal. Since the quantity absorbed is difficult to assess, it is preferable to add a little electrolytes to your food during periods of heatwave. Even if he doesn't work, he sweats all day.
The horse will also be very grateful if you offer him a refreshing shower in the evening.
The flies
The presence of flies and other insects is a source of trouble for the horse every year.
During work, flies disturb him and distract him.
Flies can excite a hypersensitive horse to the point of making him uncontrollable. A horse bothered by flies can also damage its tail and mane by rubbing.
Fighting flies starts with prevention; so have a clean and hygienic stable. Remove manure regularly during the summer, clean the water tub and clean the box regularly. You can hang fly traps: a simple and non-polluting solution, or install a fan in the stable.
A sweating horse attracts insects: with Equi'shamp 2 in 1 you can wash your horse every day. On the mane and tail: use the product undiluted, on the body: just use a few caps of the product diluted in a bucket of water, possibly adding a few drops of Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil or Organic Lemongrass Essential Oil .
Natural products
All our means of fighting flies are of natural origin ( except Tri-Tec ), which means that they are non-polluting and do not cause any allergic reactions in horses.
For safety's sake or, especially if your horse is known to have very sensitive skin, carry out a test on a small area of skin beforehand.
The products do not kill or fight flies, they form a sort of odor screen around your horse which mixes with his body odor.
The average duration of activity of the products varies from 1 to 48 hours depending on the type of product and use, the odor and the amount of sweat of the horse, living conditions and climate. Determine the mode of wrestling that suits you best. You can, if desired, use these products several times a day. In any case, try a particular product for several days because natural means are less aggressive than synthetic products and require more time to achieve the desired effect...
If after 7 days you have not obtained the desired effect with a product, try another.
In case of wounds, scratches etc. a layer of Tea Tree Equi'baume is not only a very good healing and disinfectant, but also an excellent fly repellent.
The same goes for the ears: once a week a little of this balm inside the ear: the horse will no longer have any midges.
To protect the eyes against flies, there is nothing better than the Anti-Fly Mask : risk-free, sturdy and providing ointments and other drops.
You can even ride with it, for any kind of work, whether flat, show jumping, hiking etc. First put on the bridle and then the mask.
Apple cider vinegar and garlic are known for their depurative effects. A small daily intake will become part of your fly-fighting arsenal.
For the care of damaged skin: see “skin - conditions”.
For head care, see “from the tip of the nose to the tip of the ears”.