Summer lovin'

With the delights of summer come potential risks to your horse’s soundness and health. Alex Robinson looks at common problems and how to deal with them

- Alex Robinson

Flies

IF your horse is suffering from fly bites, Imogen Burrows MRCVS from Lingfield Equine Vets advises washing the horse off and using a non-irritating oatmeal-based shampoo before leaving him to air-dry.

“Look at the environment the horse is kept in and change it accordingly,” she says. “Is his field near a muck heap or has it rained excessively recently?

“If he has a big plaque of swelling, hose and ice-pack the area locally, before sourcing some anti-inflammatory treatment from the vet. An aqueous cream can be applied to bites accompanied by oozy heads to soothe.”

With a myriad of options on the market, it can be hard to know where to begin when choosing a fly spray.

“I find that the success of a particular fly spray is environment-specific,” says Imogen. “Certain sprays work better in different areas of the country, so use your local network of equestrians as a resource.”

“Ensure you choose only products that are suitable for horses,” says Kate Hore, head nutritionist at NAF. “Legally, all fly repellents must be registered with the Health and Safety Executive. We advise only using products showing their registration and we’d advise against homemade repellents, as traditionally used ingredients – like essential oils – can be hazardous if used incorrectly.

“Registered fly repellents will be based on a number of different active ingredients, including the widely researched DEET.”