Fly management is a crucial aspect of horse barn management this time of year. Flies—here we're talking about stable flies, horse flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and more—​are a nuisance to horses and humans alike. They cause our horses discomfort, stress, and even the spread of diseases, such as Potomac horse fever, West Nile virus, pigeon fever, and vesicular stomatitis. And many horses exhibit signs of insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), and allergic reaction to the saliva of biting flies that results in hives and severe itching. Effective fly management involves a combination of methods, including eliminating breeding sites, using insecticides and repellents, and providing alternative attractants for flies. It's a constant struggle!

In this episode Dr. Clair and Michelle talk about:

-Using fly traps and tape;
-Effective manure management;
-Nutrition strategies that might help horses cope;
-Applying insecticide and repellent sprays and ointments; and
-Water bucket and feed tub management to limit insect breeding grounds.

Join us as we discuss implementing a multifaceted approach to fly management!

Thanks for riding along with us!

Temperatures are starting to rise across the country! We start to think about ways of keeping our horses cool in the summer months. Switching turn out times to overnight hours, hanging fans and adding electrolytes are some of the common things that people do. Horses rely heavily on sweating to keep cool. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Samantha Brooks from the University of Florida where she heads up the Brooks Equine Genetics Lab. In this episode we talk about:

How horses cool themselves;
What is happening when their cooling systems don't work;
What is anhidrosis;
Is this a permanent condition;
Best practices to help keep horses sweating and cool;
The state of equine research funding in the US;

And so much more!

To learn more about Dr. Samantha Brooks and the Brooks Equine Genetic Lab http://www.ufequinegenetics.org/home.html

Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com

Thanks for riding along with us!

As we start our second season of the podcast, Dr. Clair takes time to answer listener questions. In this episode Dr. Clair answers questions about:

-the difference between dry milled flax and flax oil;
-feeding instructions on feed bags;
-adjusting feed based on exercise;
-and more!

If you have questions about feeding your horse, please email us at info@scoopandscale.com

NRC Equine Nutrition Calculator - https://webassets.nationalacademies.org/nrh/

Thanks for riding along with us!