Spillers’ equine nutritionist Clare Barfoot provides one H&H forum user with some helpful advice on how to feed a barefoot horse for optimum health

Q: “Feeding a barefoot cob — I’m very new to horse ownership and want to research the best diet I should be feeding my part-bred cob, who I believe has been barefoot her whole life (she is nine-years-old). She’s on full livery, so gets fed as part of that, but I want to make sure she’s having what she should be to keep her and her hooves in the best condition. Could anyone give me some advice please?”

A: The importance of healthy hooves has been known for generations of horsemen with the saying “no hoof, no horse” often quoted. Hoof problems are a very common headache for horse owners and while good hoof trimming is essential, the importance of sound nutrition is often overlooked. Nutrition can play a vital role in the cause and prevention of many hoof problems therefore the growth of healthy hooves is dependent on a well-balanced diet.

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A balanced diet is key

Hoof formation is a highly complex process requiring good quality protein, vitamins, minerals, fats and not least energy. All of these need to be present in sufficient quantities and in correct proportions to produce a strong hoof so the entire diet needs to be balanced. Adding lots of one particular nutrient to a poor diet is unlikely to be of any benefit and some nutrients can even cause more harm than good if given in excess; for example, vitamin A and selenium can actually cause hoof problems if they are added to the diet at very high levels.

Good doers, like your cob and horses in very light work often get all of the calories they need from grass, hay or haylage, but forage-only diets often lack some essential nutrients. As far as diet is concerned, the first step towards maintaining optimum hoof health in horses on forage-only diets should be to provide a good quality feed balancer. Some balancers include hoof-supporting nutrients such as SPILLERS Lite and Lean Balancer or a broad spectrum supplement could be fed instead. This also applies to horses receiving less than the recommended daily ration of compound feed.

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What about additional supplements?

If you are confident that your horse’s current diet is fully balanced and meets all of his normal requirements, additional supplementation may help with poor hoof quality. Biotin is probably the most well-known nutrient as far as hoof supplements are concerned; this member of the B vitamin family is a key component for hoof horn quality and there is scientific evidence to support this. Biotin should be fed at around 15 to 20mg per day for a typical 500kg horse i.e. 3 to 4mg per 100kg bodyweight. Calcium, phosphorus, zinc, MSM, lysine and methionine may also be useful additions to a hoof supplement.

For more information on feeding to support weight gain call the SPILLERS Care-Line on 01908 226626.

Do you have ‘feeding’ clothes.  Or, maybe ‘barn’ clothes?

They are clothes, but you only kept them because they couldn’t be worn anywhere else so you grabbed onto the only category left for their survival…

“I’ll use them to feed!”

I think my assortment of feeding attire was formed from a mix of laziness and the ‘play clothes’ chip my mother installed into my brain.

Mother:  “Don’t go outside in your good clothes, go get changed into your play clothes.”

To my mother, play clothes could be destroyed and I wouldn’t get in trouble.  Good clothes, not so much.

To me, feeding clothes = play clothes.  It’s all good if they get wrecked.

FEEDING CLOTHES = PLAY CLOTHES, ONLY WORSE.

Except… I really don’t need to feed in my adult play clothes.  I mean, I have enough clothes…  This ‘feeding clothes’ thing is just an excuse.

I mean, at least when I was a kid, I outgrew clothes soon enough that none of them got particularly ratty or stained.

As an adult, I’ve quit growing so there is really no reason to throw out a good pair of … whatever… stained favorite painting shirt, floppy 80’s era puffy pants, flabby decorative tshirts, ripped sleeves, shrunken sweatshirts… you know the drill.

Now, I hold onto ‘favorite’ clothes that have ABSOLUTELY bitten the dust (so much so that they aren’t even GOODWILL worthy…), and I tell myself I’m repurposing  them as feeding clothes.  When in actuality, I’m just not willing to tell my floppy, puffy, flabby ripped and shrunken friends, Adios!

When feeding, I am a vision.

OR, THE PAJAMAS THAT DOUBLE AS FEEDING CLOTHES

I feed first thing in the morning… after I brush my teeth.  (I figure horses always like minty breath.)  Generally, I pretty much just put a jacket over my pj bottoms – or sweats – and go outside and do the job.

There are two problems here.

1.  If we have AirBnB guests, I really have to step it up a notch.  Not that they are awake when I feed at O Dark Hundred… but I at least have to put on a bra.
2.  If I feed in PJs, invariably, they will become full of hay stickers.  So what once was a nice, soft fleecy pair of pants, is no longer nice and soft, but full of prickly things – mostly around the ankles.  So, until I take them off – or rip out the stickers while I’m drinking coffee and reading comics- I feel this nagging, sticking, prickles that drives me CRAZY.

I know you know what I mean…

THE “I’M ALLERGIC TO HAY ON MY ARMS” SUMMER LOOK.

For me, I’m allergic to hay on my arms.  I get welts and itchy.  So, I always have to have a ‘slippery to hay’ shirt/coat.  I don’t want any hay to stick on my arms or onto the shirt covering my arms because I don’t want to spread the hay all over the house.

In the winter, this is easy.  I just throw on a canvas jacket, or a raincoat, and I’m good.  Brush it off and no remnants of hay.

But in the summer, when it is 110 degrees, I use my lightest throw-away long sleeved cotton shirts that I’ve shrunk in the dryer.

So, I look like a sweating reject from an office party on top, with mismatched shorts and cowboy boots.  A good look.  Invariably, when I’m dressed like this, I’ll accidentally meet up with one of our AirBnB guests who has decided to take in the sunrise/sunset or go for a morning run.

Oy.

NOT ENOUGH HOOKS TO HANG ALL THE CLOTHES

My feeding clothes hang in the garage.  As I go out, I grab whichever garment is the proper weight for the weather.

Invariably, I have repurposed so many clothing items, I have them stacked upon each other on the measly 2 hooks I have there.  I keep telling myself that I only need 2 hooks – day and night hooks – and I can change out per season.  But, I never change out per season, and I never throw away, only add.

So, now I have about a dozen feeding garments hanging on two hooks plus an assortment of temporary hooks that don’t really work.  Oh, plus some hats.

DON’T TRIM BACK THAT TREE!

I have taken the feeding ritual behavior to a new (low) level recently…  We have a huge weeping California Pepper Tree that pretty much obscures our guests’ view of me as I feed.  It is glorious.  The guests know I’m out there, but they can’t see me.

Well… Hubby decided to trim back the tree to let light stream into the AirBnB… thinking I’d be delighted.

I cried.  I literally was flumoxed because, as I said, “Now I’ll have to wear a bra when I feed!”

And sadly, I meant it.

The post WHY do I tell myself that it is OK to feed in clothes that I would never, ever, EVER wear in public?! appeared first on Horse and Man.

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Dear diary,

So, thank you for your words of wisdom last week — many of you wrote to me and told me not to lose hope, that one day my talent would be recognised and that the British eventing team would get over their fear or their featherism (or indeed their fear of the feather), and welcome me with open arms.

Thank you for your support — it means a lot. Especially when I am stuck with a mother who is about as supportive as an aged second-hand sports bra found lurking in the bottom of the school lost property basket.

She was on a mission this weekend to try and get the “fizz” out of me. Now admittedly I do share several characteristics with fine champagne — I am appreciated only by the discerning, am fruity with extra zing and clearly (in mother’s mind) can cause a hell of a headache — but I really do take umbrage to this desire of hers to tame my natural exuberance. I am like Zebedee — I’m supposed to have more bounce per ounce than Tigger on Columbian marching powder. If she wanted slow, steady and boring she should have bought a knackered old carthorse… ah ok… well swiftly moving on…

So, it’s fair to say she spent all weekend trying to tame the beast.

To be fair she would have been better spending the weekend trying to pick up every piece of hay in the barn using chopsticks: she’d have had more luck. Look I am a force of nature, a Hovis-sized hurricane, a feathered fury, a muscled mass of manliness — and even a long way from fighting fit I’m strong, faster and fitter than she is. The one thing I can’t take away from her is she’s dogmatic.

She started the weekend with a plan; but as Mike Tyson once said, “everyone has a plan, until you get smacked in the face”. Well in this case it was less smacked in the face and more spun around like a weather vane in a typhoon as I decided walking around on the lunge was boring, executed a walk to gallop which would have made Frankel look like a sea side donkey with an acceleration of a tortoise with arthritis, and dragged mother halfway across the school. That will teach her to lunge me in a headcollar: seriously that’s like trying to catch Moby Dick using a garden cane and a piece of string.

I do sometimes wonder what goes through that woman’s head — admittedly in this case it was nearly my rear right hoof as I gaily kicked up my heels at a height only seen in Las Vegas shows and pole dancing bars (and on that note, why do Polish people get their own dancing bars and the rest of us have to mingle? Always wondered…).

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Anyway after 30 minutes of trying to bring me back to a sensible (in her mind) speed using every trick in her rather limited repertoire — “whoa”, “steady boy” and then a series of threats punctuated by increasingly flowery language — I was dragged back into the barn, thrust under a cold hosepipe and turfed back into my field to “contemplate life”. Which I did. I contemplated life as a heavy weight racehorse, as a polo pony and as a stunt horse. All of which I then re-enacted the following day. She was thrilled I’d taken my homework seriously and spent a lot of time discussing how my ancestry plays a huge part of my talent. At least that’s what I think she was saying — it was hard to tell with the wind rushing in my ears and her tendency to get a tad high pitched when she’s clinging on for grim death…

So, it’s fair to say, despite the mugginess of the weather, I’m feeling a definite cold front wafting from her direction and a general sense that I might not be her favourite horse in the world right now. I’m thinking of placing an advert for anyone wanting to adopt me? Even on a part-time basis? If there’s enough of you I could work some sort of time share arrangement where I move between you all on a weekly basis? What do you think? Anyone up for it?

Laters,

Hopeful Hurricane Hovis

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

A life-sized horse sculpture in memory of the millions of equines who served and died in World War I will be unveiled to the public at Belsay Horse Trials (2-3 June).

Artist James Kemish created the installation using horse shoes and it will stand among 100 crafted poppies, symbolising the centenary of the war.

The artwork is called “The Spirit of Freedom” and will be situated on the cross-country course at the Northumberland fixture, sponsored by Barbour.

“I wanted to make something to remember and honour these beautiful creatures and the extraordinary sacrifice they made during the Great War,” said James.

“We wouldn’t be here today enjoying our own freedom if it wasn’t for horses — I only hope that I have done their memory justice,” said James.

“My wife rides and has competed at Belsay Horse Trials, so it seemed fitting to contact [organiser] Laura de Wesselow and ask whether she would exhibit ‘The Spirit of Freedom’ at the event.

“I am looking forward to talking to competitors and visitors at the trials and gauging their reaction.”

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Laura said she is “absolutely delighted to show-off the amazing sculpture”.

“I think it is a wonderful way for James to reach out to a wider audience of people — who have an interest in all things equestrian — and highlight the plight of all those amazing horses who perished one hundred years ago to safeguard our liberty,” she said.

“We are incredibly proud to be showcasing this beautiful work of art and I hope that visitors will go and marvel at it.”

The sculpture is the second war horse memorial to be revealed in as many months.

In April, Featherstone Town Council unveiled a 20ft sculpture, surrounded by 353 trees — one for each of the men from the town who died in the war — in memory of their sacrifice and to honour the role horses have played in the town’s history.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

This week’s edition (31 May) is a training special, including a look at the world’s top trainers and whether you should have multiple coaches. Also check out our summer clothing guide, interview with showjumper and recent winner of the Hamburg Derby, Matt Sampson and feature on health problems in miniature horses

Drooling over beautiful young horses is one of the great joys of watching horse sport… imagining how they might become stars of the future, winning Badminton, Burghley or an Olympic medal.

Here is a selection of six-, seven- and eight-year-old eventers who have caught our eye so far this season…

Above is Cola III, an eight-year-old by Catoki. He landed the seven-year-old British Eventing title last year and followed up with second in the under-21 CCI2* at Houghton last weekend. Cola is owned by Rachel Upton and ridden by her daughter Bubby, who has two horses on the young rider European Championships long-list, including this one.

Chris Stone’s Chilli Knight is certainly bred in the purple — his sire is Badminton winner Chilli Morning and his dam is four-star mare Kings Gem. Ridden by Gemma Tattersall, the eight-year-old recently finished third in the CCI3* at Houghton on his dressage score.

Alex Wakeley’s Cristal Fontaine, a six-year-old by Chef Rouge, has had no less than four wins this season, including in a CIC* at Bicton Arena and a novice regional final at Tweseldown. His pilot is Kitty King.

Diachello II, owned by Kent Gardner and his rider Jesse Campbell, was recently the runner-up in the CCI* at Houghton. An eight-year-old by Diorado, he only started eventing last year.

Piggy French is on flying form this season and the eight-year-old mare Graf Cavalier, by Grafenstolz and owned by Trevor Dickens, has been playing her part. She has had three wins, including in the CIC* at Great Witchingham and was second in the CCI2* at Houghton.

LVS Movistar, an eight-year-old by Iroko, impressed when second in a CIC* at Bicton Arena for owner-rider Bella Lloyd Webber.

Pippa Funnell is an incredible producer of young horses so pretty much anything she rides is worth watching. Maybach, owned by SHE Eventing AB, is an eight-year-old by Jaguar Mail. As is Pippa’s way, he has not been pushed against the clock, but he won an intermediate at Aston-le-Walls.

Another who earnt a spot on the young rider long-list with a strong performance at Houghton, Rehy DJ and his rider Yasmin Ingham topped the under-21 CCI2*. He is an eight-year-old by Tinaranas Inspector, owned by Edwin and Sue Davies and their daughter Janette Chinn.

Christopher Makin’s Ars Vivendi seven-year-old Rehy Royal Diamond is quietly on the up with woman-of-the-moment Ros Canter. With an open novice win at Aston-le-Walls under his belt, he landed sixth in the CCI* at Houghton.

Which one would you like to take home? We can all dream…

Pictures by Peter Nixon and Hamish Mitchell.

OPINION

The senior selection panel’s aim this year is to choose a team to travel to the World Equestrian Games (WEG, 12-16 September) to qualify for the Olympics in 2020. We have to finish in the top six at Tryon so we’ll need average scores of 75% — no mean feat. The riders must perform at international competitions to be selected, then the onus is on them to perform when it matters most — at the championship.

Selection policies cover CDIs and the senior championship and we set the bar quite high — riders should be competitive.

The Nations Cup series is helpful in team selection. While riders work with support teams, rarely are they put in a position where they have to consider others and the impact of their own performance on a team.

At Compiègne CDIO a few weeks ago, Becky Moody had to withdraw Carinsio before the trot-up, adding pressure on the remaining three. Hayley Watson-Greaves suddenly had to ride the grand prix special test and not the freestyle as planned — she was a great team player.

We’ll send teams to Aachen, Rotterdam and Hickstead CDIOs and announce the WEG team and non-travelling reserves at the end of July.

I’m in constant contact with World Class performance manager Caroline Griffith and the British Dressage (BD) international officers Lianne Martin and Sharon Weir. Caroline keeps me updated with riders’ comments, as well as feedback from the support staff on equine and human fitness.

Building bridges

In February, BD released the findings of a useful under-21 strategic review. As a result, I now head the selection panels for the youth teams to provide continuity and share best practice from the seniors. It’s exhausting, but I enjoy meeting so many riders. Selection must be based on openness and trust. We’re keen to develop the FEI’s newest championship, children on horses, which is for 11- to 14-year-olds with elementary tests. It’s a great bridge to juniors as riders can bring on a younger horse if they don’t have the means to buy a pony or junior team prospect.

Selection for the European Championship Team NAF youth squads will be fierce. A home pony championship at Bishop Burton (7-12 August) adds pressure to secure a podium spot. Bolesworth (13-17 June) has added pony squad viewing classes, so those not in the pony classes at Hagen the same week can ride on a big stage.

Fontainebleau (9-15 July) hosts the junior, young rider and children on horses championships. Our juniors are in a transitional phase so we may not send a full team, while there are six or seven young riders all scoring at selection level, so it’ll be tight. Our talented under-25s could well be in the medal zone at Roosendaal (13-18 August). I’m mindful members’ money funds the teams, so it has to be used wisely.

Our next step is to appoint a youth performance manager to oversee the teams.

Selectors need discretion and a politician’s diplomacy — and, at times, the ability to act as an agony aunt.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 31 May 2018

The sales catalogue has been released for an elite sports horse auction that is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK.

The Kingsman Elite Sale will open its online bidding on 25 June, with the auction culminating in a VIP evening at Wellington Riding, Hook on Saturday, 30 June.

The catalogue offers 35 potential showjumpers with world class bloodlines, sourced from around the UK and Europe.

Top lots include a stallion by Big Star out of a London mare, a stallion by Baloubet de Rouet out of a Quidam de Revel mare and a mare by Nabab de Reve out of a Goodtimes mare (pictured top).

All of the horses will be available for viewing and loose jumping sessions at Wellington on 30 June, with the event also being livestreamed on Kingsman’s online platform.

The full catalogue including X-rays of all lots are available from the auctioneer’s website. Horses are open to further vetting during the day.

Buyers will then be able to bid in person during the VIP hospitality evening that ends at 9.30pm.

“We believe it’s the first auction of its kind in the UK,” said spokesman for Kingsman, Celeste Wilkins. “Essentially it’s an online auction that closes with a party with the option of live bids.

“We’re looking to bring the luxury hospitality you find at continental auctions to the UK.”

Tables of 10 for the close of the auction can be booked as a whole or as individual places. The evening will feature a three-course dinner prepared by former Manoir Au Quat’Saisons chef Jonathan Richardson, priced at £48pp (without wine).

“This is our first Kingsman auction and we’re hoping that we’ll get lots of support and uptake so we can run subsequent ones,” Celeste added.

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The concept behind Kingsman auctions stemmed from founder James Atherton-Ham’s struggles to find top-quality sports horses.

”I knew that if I was able to bring like-minded individuals together – ostensibly with the same goals – it would allow everyone to achieve their objectives more easily,” he said.

“Our aim was to buy and sell elite sport horses using simple methods, on a global platform, for fair value, in an open and transparent way. The true basis for the Kingsman model is ‘quality of the horse, honesty in the sale’.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Recent dramatic storms across Britain have highlighted the ongoing dilemma about whether it is safer to keep your horse in or leave him out during thunder and lightning. We take a look at the pros and cons of each approach of dealing with horses in thunderstorms

While cases of horses being hit by lightning are, thankfully, relatively rare, when storms are forecast it is understandably a cause for concern for owners. As well as direct strikes, there is the worry that horses will hurt themselves while galloping around, so is stabling your horse a better option?

Stabling during a thunderstorm

Horses are very sensitive to electricity, particularly lightning, and the British Horse Society’s official advice is to house horses in thunderstorms.

“If you have access to well-grounded stabling, we would advise keeping an eye on the weather forecast and stabling your horse if there is a threat of a lightning storm,” says BHS Head of Welfare Gemma Stanford.

While some horses appear unconcerned by wild, stormy weather, others become very unsettled. For this reason alone, some owners prefer to stable their horses rather than have them galloping about and putting themselves at risk of injury.

“We always bring them in now,” says eventer turned showing producer and judge Michael Cooper. “We had one bolt badly [during a thunderstorm] — it smashed through and then got stuck in the field gate and was a real mess.”

Horses’ natural herding instinct during a thunderstorm can also increase the risk of injury or death from a lightning strike. Often, they will group together for protection from the elements and, if the storm includes heavy rainfall, will shelter beneath a large tree — often attractive targets for a lightning strike.

If this also happens to be near a water trough or wire fence, the combination of a tall tree, good electrical conductors and rain-sodden ground can be fatal for horses. The risk is heightened for horses wearing steel shoes.

The out option

Some owners, however, feel leaving their horses out is the better option. Breeder Julia Hodkin, of the Future Sport Horse stud near Beverley, has lots of youngstock at grass, as well as competition horses grazing during the day.

“We generally don’t bring them in as I’ve actually never really seen any of our horses that bothered about thunder; they almost seem to know it’s part of nature and isn’t going to physically hurt them. If the thunder was being accompanied by serious lightning, howling winds and driving rain, however, we would bring them in because of the detrimental effects of those elements on them,” says Julia.

Showjumper Derek Morton is another with youngstock at grass.

“We always bring young foals in out of heavy rain whether there are thunderstorms involved or not, but once they are over six weeks old I wouldn’t bring any stock in out of thunderstorms. I’m a true believer in treating my youngstock as if they were in the wild and they certainly wouldn’t get a stable in the wild to get away from the elements,” says Derek, who houses all his competition horses at night.

For those who choose to house their horses during thunderstorms, the advice is to ensure the buildings are well grounded and have lightning rods. The grounding system in a building can provide an easy route for electricity to run to earth in the event of a lightning strike or power surge.

While nowhere outside is safe from lightning, as emphasised by lightning expert Grant Kirkby, if you are put in the position where your horse will be turned out in a storm, the advice is to make paddocks as safe as possible.

This includes:

• Site shelters on lower ground rather than in exposed, isolated areas (which can make them a target for a lightning strike).
• Avoid using fields with streams running through them and be aware that lightning can travel along wire fencing, water courses and even ‘jump’ from a tree to your horse. It may be worth fencing off large single trees in exposed locations to stop horses sheltering beneath them. Of course, this decision has to be balanced against the benefits of using these trees to offering shelter for horses from flies and the heat.

Finally, the safety of those handling horses during stormy weather also has to be considered. Planning ahead and bringing horses in before the forecasted bad weather arrives is ideal, but in situations where this hasn’t been possible, it may be too dangerous to safely bring horses in during thunder and lightning.

This article was first published on 6 June 2016

Flies are ever-present pests in summer, with horse fly bites being a particular problem for horses and riders alike. Biting flies can pierce the horse’s skin and feed on its blood, while nuisance flies lay secretions in and around the horse’s eye, mouth, nose and other sensitive spots.

Flies can carry disease and an allergic reaction can result from any fly bite, while all flies cause annoyance and irritation to horses and humans alike – an important consideration when working or competing horses.

Types of flies that trouble horses

Horse flies (Tabinidae) emerge in June and July and are most active on warm, sultry days, especially around woodlands. Favourite feeding sites include the horse’s underside, legs, neck and withers. The bites appear as painful papules (pimples) and wheals (small lumps) with a characteristic, central ulcer. These flies will rarely venture into dark areas, so stabling can offer some protection.

In general, home-made fly repellents are of little benefit against horseflies, as they are robust creatures. Insecticides known as synthetic pyrethroids – especially permethrin or cypermethrin – offer the best solution and can be bought from tack shops. Follow the directions on the product, as many are not suitable for daily use.

Black flies (Simuliidae) are small in size (approximately 2mm-5mm) and breed in rapidly moving water. High-risk times are dawn and dusk during spring and early summer, when stabling may be helpful. These flies commonly feed around the face – particularly inside the ears, where they trigger allergic skin reactions to their saliva, and distract the horse – but also on the horse’s neck and underside. Bites form as painful lumps, often with pin-prick areas of bleeding and crusting.

Synthetic pyrethroid fly sprays can act as a deterrent, although physical barriers such as ear nets and oil-based products – oil of citronella, for example – will discourage these flies from landing on the horse. Petroleum jelly applied inside the ears may prevent the insects biting.

Midges (Culicoides) are 1mm-3mm long and hover in swarms at dawn and dusk. Eggs are laid in standing water, so avoid stagnant areas. Different species of midges feed at different sites on the horse. Classically, mane and tail hairs are broken or rubbed away, exacerbating sweet itch in animals that are allergic to the bites.

Insect repellents can be very effective against these pests. Permethrin-based products are best and should be applied in late afternoon. Oil-based products can be applied several times daily to prevent flies landing. Bringing horses in before dusk and using a fan to create a brisk breeze helps keep midges away, while rugs may also be useful.

Stable flies lay eggs in moist, rotting vegetation – typically, hay or silage that is contaminated with urine, water or manure – so are associated with poor hygiene. They feed on horses’ legs and abdomens, and bites typically appear as itchy or painful wheals or papules with a central crust. The best prevention is to maintain high hygiene standards, but repellents can also be used. Permethrin-based products are most effective directed at the legs.

Other problematic insects include mosquitoes, bees and wasps – these produce uncomfortable bites, as well as causing alarm to horses. While wasps and bees are present throughout the day, mosquitoes are at their worst in the two hours after sunset.

How to treat horse fly bites

For a one-off bite, apply an ice pack or bathe with cool, salt water (use a teaspoon of salt to two mugs of water). However, with multiple bites, a mild horse shampoo can help to remove irritating scurf or bacteria and cool the inflamed skin. A topical anti-itch preparation such as colloidal oatmeal, witch hazel, calamine lotion or zinc oxide cream can also help. In addition, try to prevent the horse making the affected area worse by rubbing.

As they are alkaline, wasp stings should be bathed with a dilute acid, such as vinegar or lemon juice. Bee stings, however, are acidic and should be bathed with bicarbonate of soda. The bee leaves its sting behind, so try to remove this with tweezers, as venom will continue to enter the skin. If the stinger is below the surface, it will be shed with normal skin healing.

It is rare for a bite to turn septic; if the area is open and weeping, bathe with a mild antiseptic solution, and if this does not help, consult your vet.

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Preventative measures to prevent bites

• Use fly barriers such as anti-midge/fly turnout rugs and neck covers, plus fly masks and other protective gear
• Apply a long-lasting fly spray, using a spot test on a small area first to test for sensitivity
• Spray the stables with insecticide or use fly-trap tapes
• Eliminate puddles and ponds of still water, where midges might breed
• Practise good hygiene around the yard
• Worm horses against bot flies in winter
• Keep horses in when the flies are bad
• Use a fan in the stable to blow away flies

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

An equine vet involved in a terrifying hacking incident has pledged to push her case “as far as possible” to raise public awareness of the horrific abuse riders are subjected to on the roads.

Natalie McGoldrick, H&H’s vet of the year 2017, was hacking her eventer Tricky Johnie near Waterlooville in Hampshire on Tuesday morning (29 May) when she heard a car horn behind her.

“I was out hacking on a quiet country lane. It’s a single track with some passing places to pull in,” Natalie told H&H.

“I was on Tricky Johnie, my intermediate horse, who fortunately is my safest one. We were just riding along and I heard a horn sounding quite a distance behind me. I thought ‘that can’t be anything to do with me as it isn’t even close’.”

She added she heard a few more beeps as the car approached and took her phone out of her pocket as she wanted to record the numberplate.

Natalie said the driver wound down the windows and started shouting at her. With nowhere to safely let her past, Natalie put her phone away and continued riding towards a layby around 100 yards further up the road where she could pull in.

As she was riding away, the driver held her hand down on the horn and Jonnie started to become unsettled.

When Natalie reached the layby, she decided she needed to call the police, so jumped off, dialled 999 and put herself between the horse and the car.

Natalie said the driver then drove “albeit very slowly” into her legs.

“What must have been three seconds felt like about a minute — it went through my head that she was going to keep going and I had Johnnie behind me so I couldn’t get out of the way,” said Natalie.

“I was screaming on the phone to 999, I said ‘she’s hit me’.

Natalie said the driver reversed back, before pulling forwards into her legs again, clipping Johnnie’s hocks as Natalie tried to walk him away.

The driver got out of the car, pushing Natalie backwards and then started to pat the horse.

“It was pretty horrific,” she said, adding nothing much scares her, but Tuesday’s ordeal was “terrifying”.

“I’m a pretty strong person and it shook me up. I’m constantly abused on the roads, but that was a step further.”

Thankfully both horse and rider were not injured in the incident.

Natalie added she was so thankful that she was riding her most sensible horse at the time.

“If I had been on one of my others, that would be a completely different story,” she said.

Natalie posted the clip on her Facebook page and it has since gone viral.

“I posted it thinking that I have a following of a couple of thousand and at least it would make people [in my area] aware,” she said.

“The reaction has been 99% supportive and encouragement to press police as far as I can go.

“I don’t have an arena or fields to ride in, my horses do all their work and schooling on the roads. It is a serious sport for me, I have no other way to keep them and this is how the majority of us do keep our horses exercised.

“I’m going to take this as far as possible — that’s the only way it is going to change is when people realise they can’t get away with doing things like this.”

A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary told H&H there have been no arrests at this stage.

“We are investigating an incident involving a car and a horse/rider in Hyden Farm Lane, Waterlooville between 11.05am and 11.14am on 29 May,” he said.

“Anyone with information about this incident should call 101 quoting 44180198842.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

This week’s edition (31 May) is a training special, including a look at the world’s top trainers and whether you should have multiple coaches. Also check out our summer clothing guide, interview with showjumper and recent winner of the Hamburg Derby, Matt Sampson and feature on health problems in miniature horses