Actually, it's about something much less cute and cuddly.... I'm talking about FLIES. Yep, the flies have arrived. In full force. Yuck.
We do what we can: keep the stalls cleaned, use fly spray on the horses, put out fly traps and, of course, put fly masks on every day.
Piper recently outgrew her "baby" yearling mask. So now she is wearing a big horse size. It seemed that from one day to the next it just didn't fit her anymore.
We start putting Sassy's mask on even before the flies start showing up. She has has blue eyes and pink skin around one of them, so it serves as sun protection as well.
Bandit is an old ranch horse and probably couldn't care less about the flies, but it makes us feel better!
And here is where the pink bunny ears come in...
Yes, I know -- it is ridiculous! Not only the pink ears, but the whole get-up. And Phoenix couldn't agree more. BUT, he was rubbing his face right where the fleece is at on the other masks and had managed to rub all of the hair off right down to his skin. He's an old guy, and I didn't want him to rub off his skin (visions of vet bills), so I went searching for a mask with a long nose piece. This is the only one I could find. (If you think your horse is just dying to have this fashion accessory, you can find it online at Valley Vet.) 
As silly as he looks, it's working, and his hair is slowly starting to grow back. The things we do for our animals! (Looks like he is saying in this pic, "The things I do for YOU")
12 comments:
When I had my Paint mare I tried and tried to find a mask that extended down to the nose because she had a lot of white and pink (and of course tended to sunburn)
I hear you on the flies! They are so terrible!
I love the pink bunny ear fly mask! That is so great!
Brandy has to wear a fly mask all the time in the summer, she gets reactions to flies, and her eye will swell up huge!
We bought fly predators this year. Don't know if they will work. Thought we'd try it. Have you used these before?
Yes...what we will do for our beloved animals...love the pink ears. We also have a problem with flies because our neck of the woods is noted for chicken houses and they do draw the flies. We have an automatic spritzer in our house that works pretty well but outside...yuk! I think the world would be much better off without flies, bugs, spiders, worms and I could go on and on.
Oh I remember these well - we never had to use them back east - but when we moved to CA and then to AZ - the flies were wicked - it will make them happier in the long run!! Have a great day!!
Sarah
I started with masks and spray this week. All of my horses welcome their masks being put on. Our aussie is 11 months and has barked her head off at them in disguises; guess she doesn't remember last summer.
The things we do for them... I look at it as good karma.
Somedays I wish I could walk out of the house like that--especially when I have a bad hair day.
Thanks for using my comment by the way. Definitely
"treasured heirlooms".
Yup, flies are hatching out! If I put this getup on my geldings, they'd have it off or in shreds in a New York minute. I did see that one in VV and wondered if it was good or not. My mares would be fine in one. I'm tired of rubbing medication every morning on their ears before they go out and we leave the hair in their ears to help protect them. Problem is when we put the pink stuff (clear is always sold out)in there it smashes the hair down and defeats the purpose....so mine have pink bunny ears too just with the medication instead! LOL!
Being I know nothing about horses I learned something today. How cool is that! Cowgirl, you are a blessing to all your animals as I am sure you feel they are to you. The way you care for them is an example to all. Fly masks! Who woulda thunk it.
I hope the other horses won't make fun of him.
That last fly mask is too funny! But hey, if it works! I wish my horse could wear one. I had a bad experience a year ago, he wore one for a day then began shaking his head and was really irritated. So I took it off and the problem went away. Then, I tried it again a few weeks later and the same thing happened! The vet thought it was the fly mask. Something about it was bothering him, although I couldn't find anything for the life of me. Anyway,I should try it again this summer....
My old gelding hates the mask as much as he hates the flies.
If you haven't tried it yet, you might want to get some Bayer Quikbayt. It kills tons of flies in a hurry.
I get the one that's the 3rd from the left in this picture.
http://www.bayerdvm.com/products/quick-bayt/quick-bayt.cfm
Because it's a spot spray, I make it a cup at a time. 1 cup water to 3 tbsp. of powder.
Then I use spray it on top of an empty paper feed bag. Put them at the entrances to the barns and within minutes, lots of dead flies.
I use to buy the bottle that you just add water to. But with the one mentioned above you get a lot more for your money in the long run.
http://msredneck.blogspot.com/2009/06/only-good-fly.html
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