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Five Tips For Managing Biting Insects On Horse Farms

Biting insects found on horse farms can spread disease; cause hives, skin sores, and hoof damage from stomping; and create an unpleasant environment for horses and owners. Here are five tips to help you manage flies and mosquitoes on your farm.

1. Keep it clean. Routinely remove organic matter including manure, soiled bedding, and spilled feed or waste hay from horse areas. Spreading or composting these materials will prevent fly development. Managing organic matter on horse farms is the best way to help control flies.

2. Manage water sources. Overturn or discard objects that collect and hold rainwater such as buckets and old tires. Clean water tanks often and drain rainwater pooled in paddocks, alleyways, or arenas. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water sources.

3. Provide a physical barrier between bugs and your horse. Fly sheets, masks, and boots can help shield your horse from biting flies. Fly boots can also reduce stomping and head movement to avert flies. Additionally, screening barn doors and windows can help keep bugs out. Lastly, turning horses indoors overnight can limit mosquito pressure on horses.

4. Use fly repellants for temporary relief. Citronella products including sprays and leg bands can reduce fly avoidance behaviors in horses. Always carefully read and follow label instructions when using fly repellants on your horse. Dirt, sweat, and water can reduce the effectiveness of fly repellants and may make reapplication necessary.

5. Target sites where flies perch as a fallback. After managing organic matter around your farm, you can apply residual insecticides where flies perch (e.g., barn walls or ceilings)––these sites are speckled brown with fly waste. Residual insecticides last longer when applied to clean surfaces. Always carefully read and follow label instructions when using insecticides.

Visit our website for more information on identifying and managing flies and other biting insects on horse farms.

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Two Racing Quarter Horses Positive For Equine Infectious Anemia In California, Tied To Unsanctioned Racing

The following statement was released to media June 6 by California Horse Racing Board executive director Scott Chaney and CHRB chief official veterinarian Dr. Timotny Grande:

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) has recently been detected in California's racing Quarter Horse population. On May 2 and May 26 respectively, two Quarter Horses were confirmed positive for EIA when tested for entry into a racetrack. In addition, on May 20, 24 cases were confirmed EIA positive amongst exposed horses.

A previous investigation conducted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) identified a high-risk population of Quarter Horses participating in unsanctioned racing. Risky practices are believed to have contributed to transmission of this disease, such as the sharing of needles and other medical equipment or the use of illegally obtained, contaminated foreign blood products. Based on the increase in detection, the CDFA recommends increased surveillance in the high-risk population of racing Quarter Horses and requiring proof of a recent negative Coggins test for new horses entering a facility.

Effective immediately, any Quarter Horse not continuously housed at a CHRB inclosure must have a negative Coggins (EIA test) within the previous 90 days of the arrival date to be allowed to enter a CHRB inclosure. This includes both interstate and intrastate shippers.

Furthermore, any Quarter Horse that originates from a property in Tulare County must have a negative Coggins within the previous 30 days of the arrival date to be allowed to enter a CHRB inclosure.

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‘Tough, Confident’ You And I Dies At Old Friends At The Age Of 31

You and I, the multiple graded stakes winning son of Kris S, has died.

A pensioner at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement in Georgetown, KY., since 2011, You and I was 31 and was suffering infirmities of old age.

In 1993, as a two-year-old, You and I was a star right out of the box for owner Triumviri Stable and trainer Stanley Hough. He followed his maiden win at Belmont Park—where he beat future Kentucky Derby Winner Go for Gin—with a victory in the GR2 Cowdin Stakes at Aqueduct.

In 1994, You and I was sold to owner Edmund Gann and transferred to the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. The near coal-black colt went on to capture the GR3 Riva Ridge Stakes, the GR1 Metropolitan Handicap, and the GR2 Brooklyn Handicap before retiring in 1995.

In all You and I captured 6 of his 16 starts, and hit the boards three other times for lifetime career earnings of $701,235.

He stood as a stallion at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky from 1995- 2003 where he sired five-time GR1 winning filly, You.

From 2004 – 2008 You and I stood at Woodstead Farm in Washington before being retired from stud and eventually donated to Old Friends.

“When we lose a horse it's always difficult, but some are more difficult than others,” said Old Friends founder and President Michael Blowen. “You and I was tough, confident, and haughty. Bobby Frankel and Gov. Brereton C. Jones, two early, generous supporters of Old Friends, took care of You and I during his racing and breeding careers but we were honored to care for him in his golden years. To say he will be missed by all of us is a monumental understatement.”

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Research Update: Glue-on Shoes And Heel Movement

Standard shoeing practices including nails and glues restrict heel movement, which may limit shock absorption and blood flow to the hoof. Researchers in Japan evaluated the effect of new glue-on shoes that are flexible or glued using only two side clips on horse heel movement.

The researchers conducted two experiments to compare forelimb heel movement between aluminum nailed shoes and flexible polyurethane or aluminum glue-on shoes. Following hoof trimming, polyurethane shoes were glued to the soles of the front hooves of six thoroughbreds. The glue was allowed to set for 12 hours. Researchers attached displacement sensors to the horses' heels and exercised the horses at the walk, trot, and canter for 30 seconds on a treadmill.

The glue-on shoes were removed and the horses were shod with aluminum nail-on shoes and exercised again. The researchers conducted a second experiment following the same methods but comparing aluminum glue-on shoes to aluminum nail-on shoes using five thoroughbreds. The aluminum glue-on shoes attached to the hooves via two side clips.

Researchers observed little difference in heel movement between polyurethane glued shoes and nailed shoes at all gaits. Aluminum glued shoes decreased heel expansion by 14 percent and increased heel contraction by 11 percent compared to nailed shoes at the trot. However, total heel movement did not differ between the shoe types. Total heel movement, heel expansion, and heel contraction at the walk and canter were similar between aluminum glued and nailed shoes. In conclusion, heel movement between the new glue-on shoes and aluminum nailed shoes were comparable.

Read the paper here.

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