BUILT-IN BUG CONTROL

Between sprays and sheets and wraps and masks, you probably do a lot to protect your horse from the buggy onslaught of summer. But, of course, he has his own natural defenses against insects, and you can manage him in ways that maximize their effectiveness.

Keep his tail loose and forelock long. Your horse’s mane and tail are his natural fly mask and swatter, so don’t limit their reach and effect. Tail bags keep a tail clean and tangle-free, but some may hamper the horse’s ability to swat flies. Look for a bag that incorporates

tassels to replicate the action of tail hair against flies. For horses with sparse tails, consider braiding long strips of bed sheets or soft felt into the tail to create an “extension” that allows him to swat at bugs. Also, leave his forelock as long as you can. The movement of hair hanging close to his eyes will swish insects from the area.

Turn him out with friends. To combat bugs, horse buddies will stand parallel to each other, head-to-tail. In this position, the swishing tail of one keeps flies out of the face of the other. If your horse doesn’t have a pasturemate he gets along with well enough for this

arrangement, try to find him another buddy in a different turnout group. Sometimes two “odd men out” end up being the best of friends.

Let him roll. Your horse doesn’t roll right after a bath to annoy you. He’s combining moisture and dirt to create a natural barrier against insects. If you’re not preparing your horse for a show or other event where he needs to look sharp, turn him out after his post-workout sponging and just look the other way as he wriggles in the dustiest patch of field he can find.

While grooming trends vary among breeds and disciplines, a shiny horse is a head-turner in any arena. Some horses “bloom” more naturally than others, but there are some steps you can take to bring out the shine in any horse’s coat. 1. Don’t bathe him too often. The deepest shines come from the natural oils produced by your horse’s skin. Bathing too often strips this oil, so while your horse may technically be cleaner, his coat may be left looking dull. Skip the soap when you can,

removing dirt with brushes and using only plain water to rinse your horse after a sweaty summer ride.

2. Lay on the elbow grease. Regular, vigorous hand grooming spreads oil throughout your horse’s coat, contributing to shine. Even after visible dirt has been removed, spend another 10 minutes brushing your horse to bring out a sheen. A soft brush works best for this final touch, or you can use a clean hand towel and wipe over your horse in the direction of coat growth using a slight bit of pressure.

3. Feed him right. Good basic nutrition is the foundation of a healthy coat, so ensure your horse is getting the correct amounts of quality feed. From that start you can consider adding a supplement intended to bring out the best in his coat. These supplements typically include some combination of biotin and omega-3 fatty acids.

4. Use a finishing spray. A light spritzing with a “shine” spray can put

your horse’s glow over the top. There are many formulations of coat polish

to choose from with different ingredients, actions and scents. Some of these sprays can make a horse’s coat slick, however, so be careful when applying it to hair you’ll need to braid later or on areas where tack will sit.