Horse News & Views - July 2006

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Ontario Association of Equine Practitioners

• A study was conducted to control nuisance flies on horses using a 1% permethrin oil-based formulation. The researchers applied 0.9 mL of the formulation by hand to the insides of horses' ears. It was applied initially every two days and, later, at 4-day intervals, starting the beginning of June and ending at the end of June, when black flies were no longer detected. After the second treatment, black flies were reduced by 99.1% on the treated herd and 92.7% from inside the ears. The mean reduction of face flies was 36.7% during the treatment period. The mean number of deer and horse flies was not significantly different from the controls. There were two downsides to the project: the accumulation of oil resulted in soiling of the horses' necks and manes, and some horses disliked having their ears handled. Treatment every four days provided adequate results. (Ref: Surgeoner GA, Heal JD, Lindsay LR, Scott KL. Control of nuisance flies on horses using a 1% permethrin oil-based formulation, Pest Management Report, University of Guelph, 1995).

Wives' tales or not?

• Hay shouldn't be fed to horses for two weeks after harvesting. This question is common this time of year. The only concern I have is that some plants, such as buttercups, have a volatile toxin, which dissipates within a few days after harvest. In actually fact, the toxin is probably gone by the time the hay is dry enough to bale. If you have any scientific facts why hay shouldn't be fed for two weeks post harvesting, e-mail me at robert.wright@ontario.ca
  
  
• Hay is just fiber (and the corollary - that horses need, and get, all their necessary nutrition from grain). This is not true. Hay is the most important part of a horse's diet. For the mature horse, good quality hay provides almost all of the nutrients needed for maintenance of the body. Grain and supplements are necessary only when hay can't meet all of a horse's needs.
  
  
  
  
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