Burr's and how to keep away?

dianchi

dianchi

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So have my 2yo out at grass livery, I can only get up to see her at weekends due to work but get daily checks, was told she had a few burrs in her tail.....

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OMG!

So hour later.........
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So I've coated it with mane and tail, is that the best thing? Or would baby oil or something be better??

They are a happy crew tho.....

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We have about two burr bushes on my farm, and although I cut them down fairly regularly, inevitably they spring up at certain times and someone goes digging around and gets a few burrs in their tails (never had one as bad as yours though lol!!). I use mineral oil to get the burrs out.
 
I have my mare on pasture board, 80 acres of horse heaven. Unfortunately, despite barn efforts to 'de-burr' the fields, the horses always come in covered! We loosely braid the bottom of tails and coat with baby oil or a show sheen type product. It seems to work out ok, even for those who are out once a week. There are burrs, but not a matted mess!

The girl who has an arab keeps her gelding's mane braided, just a bunch of straight braids along his neck. We find they rub out running braids. Forelocks get the same treatment, braided and sprayed/oiled. I bought a rain sheet with a neck attachment this year, which has helped a lot. I also keep her mane pulled to about 4 inches.

Good luck! :)
 
I have always used mane and tail spray... I think I would have cried looking at the top picture if that was my horse lol! Well done you for be so patient brushing the tail out!!
 
Oh I have struggled with these evil plants and their burrs this year. Such a pain. Never had them before, but have learnt about the plant now.
 
Poor you, I really don't miss having to deal with those blighters!

My old boy seemed to pick those up like he was a magnet for them. Alongside cutting down as many of the bushes we could, I used copious amounts of oils/sprays to try and make them slide off. It worked OK for a while but after a trip to A&E to get one removed from my eye (be carefully getting them out of manes!!!) my lad was subjected to turnout boots/rugs/mane and tail plaited up and as much oil as I could throw on him. I'll even admit to crying once having bought him in for the fifth night in a row covered in them, all the YO could do was laugh. Left the yard not long after that and touch wood - no burrs in sight.
 
Nasty things. My horse recently got an ulcer on his eye from rooting around in burrs, despite my best efforts to take them out his mane and forelock everyday he was like a magnet to them. I moved him into a different field for the winter as it would have been impossible to keep on top of them.
 
One of mine comes in like that most days, she seems to seek them out and roll in them. My other one rarely has any on her. I pull them out with my fingers. Not really found much that repels them. Having her rug on helps.
 
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