Fly masks, Aural Plaques, OTTBs

[vhf]

My 'new' lad (13yo, retired after 8 years as a sprinter) has an aural plaque that he is uncomfortable about; and he hates, hates flies near his ear. He was reactive to bridle, solved that by putting on like a headcollar and scrapping the brow band and noseband. I can scratch all around it, look in it, treated the rain scald on the back of it (but don't touch inside please servant).
I thought I'd try a fly veil with ears, but he's terrified of it. (Fine once it's on a few minutes, but the process seems to be very traumatic). He lives out and is blooming on his new lifestyle, but I'd like to make him more comfortable with his ear if it's possible.
Does anyone have any relevant experience to share? Should I persevere? Buy a different type? Let him get on with it as he's mature and set in his ways?

 

[ycbm]

There is no chance that I could get a fly mask on my current OTTB, or the last one I had either. They both had/ have aural plaques and have to have the bridle undone. I use a clip on browband for ease of use.

I use a pour on cattle fly repellent which is licenced for use in horses in Italy but not in the UK. Easily bought online, Spotinor. If you try it, patch test carefully, I have had 2 horses who got raised patches in the skin with it. It seems to work well keeping flies off the eyes, which helps a lot.
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[vhf]

There is no chance that I could get a fly mask on my current OTTB, or the last one I had either. They both had/ have aural plaques and have to have the bridle undone. I use a clip on browband for ease of use.

Thank you. That is exactly what I was thinking, it may simply be that he's never going to accept it and I don't want to upset him trying when he's accepted that I am 'safe hands' with the bridle so nicely. (May invest in a clip on browband if I get brave enough to compete! At which stage, I'll be googling exactly what I can enter without a noseband...!) Been considering trying the spotinor for a while actually so maybe buy that and not another fly mask...

 

[Pinkvboots]

My Louis has had ear plaques they have improved and for quite some years I got a fly mask on him, but this year he has refused point blank to have it near him, it's weird as they are not that bad and I can tack up fine I can touch his ears even wipe them with a baby wipe.

I use the barrier H super gel on his face around his ears and his not had any bites in his ears, I check them daily and try and keep them as clean as I can.

I was going to get a fly fringe and put it on a field safe headcollar then try and add some ear covers somehow and see if he will tolerate that.

I'm pretty stumped as to why the mask is now an issue he looks terrified of it and literally spins and snorts at it.

 

[Cragrat]

Our OTTB has plaques, and wears a Liemeux fly mask with ears all summer - luckily so far she's fine with it.
If she ever decided she wasn't, then I'd look at something like Spotnor.

 

[ycbm]

Our OTTB has plaques, and wears a Liemeux fly mask with ears all summer - luckily so far she's fine with it.
If she ever decided she wasn't, then I'd look at something like Spotnor.

Is quite strange with plaques, isn't it? The two I have had who are/were paranoid about it are/were both ex racers. I've had others with them who couldn't care less unless you tried to touch inside the ears. My last horse had them too and they were never any problem.

 

[ycbm]

Thank you. That is exactly what I was thinking, it may simply be that he's never going to accept it and I don't want to upset him trying when he's accepted that I am 'safe hands' with the bridle so nicely. (May invest in a clip on browband if I get brave enough to compete! At which stage, I'll be googling exactly what I can enter without a noseband...!) Been considering trying the spotinor for a while actually so maybe buy that and not another fly mask...

If his skin reacts to Spotinor you could try plaiting cattle fly tags into his mane

 

[vhf]

My Louis has had ear plaques they have improved and for quite some years I got a fly mask on him, but this year he has refused point blank to have it near him, it's weird as they are not that bad and I can tack up fine I can touch his ears even wipe them with a baby wipe.

I use the barrier H super gel on his face around his ears and his not had any bites in his ears, I check them daily and try and keep them as clean as I can.

I was going to get a fly fringe and put it on a field safe headcollar then try and add some ear covers somehow and see if he will tolerate that.

I'm pretty stumped as to why the mask is now an issue he looks terrified of it and literally spins and snorts at it.

Hmm. Yes, my lad is pretty laid back about most things, but he seems quite traumatised by the idea of a fly mask. Tolerated a veil for riding, but it's the other 22.5 hrs a day I am more worried about, typically! Think I may play with the gel route...

 

[vhf]

If his skin reacts to Spotinor you could try plaiting cattle fly tags into his mane

Came in yesterday with a nasty raw rash all around his forelock, rubbed raw... midge bites?? told him a mask would have prevented that, he was unrepentant and now looks piebald.. His skin does seem very reactive, (spurs, numnahs, rugs, bites; rain scald/mud rash cleared eventually, incredibly itchy all the time!) so I am wondering how wise deltamethrin would be... tags might be a good alternative, thank you.

 

[vhf]

Is quite strange with plaques, isn't it? The two I have had who are/were paranoid about it are/were both ex racers. I've had others with them who couldn't care less unless you tried to touch inside the ears. My last horse had them too and they were never any problem.

One of my ponies had them a million years ago, never knew what they were at the time and they never bothered him at all. I'd love to do some research on them - desk based probably - when I have the time... bloodlines, husbandry, geography, temperature, immune, so many avenues to explore why some have them, some go, some grow, some are bothered, some aren't...

 

[ycbm]

One of my ponies had them a million years ago, never knew what they were at the time and they never bothered him at all. I'd love to do some research on them - desk based probably - when I have the time... bloodlines, husbandry, geography, temperature, immune, so many avenues to explore why some have them, some go, some grow, some are bothered, some aren't...

I was told in no uncertain terms by a vet on this forum a few years back that they never go once they've got them, but I've seen them disappear. Apparently they can be chemically removed but it's stuck a nasty process it can leave the horse permanently headshy, so I wouldn't go there.

 

[Meredith]

My sympathies. It is always difficult when the help you offer is not understood or accepted.

My first pony had the all his life ( 1960’s ). They never bothered him. When they got too crusty he would let me rub the worst off with my fingertips.
A little mare I had a couple of years ago had sweet itch. She had plaque in her ears too. I wrapped her up completely, ears, head, neck, body, brisket, udder and tail. The plaque cleared up although she was always reactive to any midges, visible or not.

I cannot comment on fly repellants but I know the best healer for my sweet itch mare was Bite Back Silver cream.
It might be worth investigating. They are helpful on the phone.

 

[vhf]

My sympathies. It is always difficult when the help you offer is not understood or accepted.

My first pony had the all his life ( 1960’s ). They never bothered him. When they got too crusty he would let me rub the worst off with my fingertips.
A little mare I had a couple of years ago had sweet itch. She had plaque in her ears too. I wrapped her up completely, ears, head, neck, body, brisket, udder and tail. The plaque cleared up although she was always reactive to any midges, visible or not.

I cannot comment on fly repellants but I know the best healer for my sweet itch mare was Bite Back Silver cream.
It might be worth investigating. They are helpful on the phone.

I've heard a lot of good things about Bite Back so will investigate, thank you. This lad's skin responds well to GL Wonder Gel. I'd used it years ago on a run-down mare's disaster skin, it was like a miracle potion then too.
I'm not pushing anything because at 13 my he is accustomed to a very style to the life he has with me, but he gets no 'softly softly' either. He says no way to going inside the ear, but it's not the 'yikes, what the...' that the mask produces. We had some conversations about applying mud rash treatment but once he agreed it cleared up well, and I can now mess about with most things. Weirdly, although he clearly can't stand midges and is so itchy he shudders and groans when I scratch the right bits (mostly tail) he never rubs his tail himself.

 

[vhf]

I was told in no uncertain terms by a vet on this forum a few years back that they never go once they've got them, but I've seen them disappear. Apparently they can be chemically removed but it's stuck a nasty process it can leave the horse permanently headshy, so I wouldn't go there.

I've heard that too. But then, there's "disappeared", and "gone into hiding", and I wouldn't guarantee that because I could not longer see the evidence, it wasn't there. If you put that horse back into the same conditions, would it spontaneously reappear? If it did, is it the same infection or a new one because they're susceptible in some way? It's no surprise to me they're related to sarcoids biologically speaking (papilloma virus).
I've read the chemical removal thing, not something I'd try unless the horse was too distressed to leave be.

 

[GinaGeo]

One of mine has them. As a baby they were thick, white and covered the entirety of the inside of both ears. Six years on they’re vastly reduced. Still present, but dots of it as opposed to the whole ear.

He also had horrendous hives as a young horse and had extensive allergies. Once we sorted his hind gut out, which seemed to be the cause of all the issues, it all improved.

I‘ve since noticed that when his tummy flares up, the aural plaque gets worse too. Interestingly I have since noticed it in other horses as well.

 

[Squeak]

I've got a tb with them too. Luckily he doesn't mind a fly mask but a previous horse who was funny about fly masks I found it helped if I stood next to him and put it on like a bridle rather than standing in front etc.

Failing that - would a fly fringe like this maybe be worth a go as it's not as big as a fly mask but would cover the ears and offer their eyes some protection?

Saxon Fly Fringe with Ears Black

Buy Saxon Fly Fringe with Ears from VioVet.co.uk, FREE DELIVERY available over £29. Great prices and super easy to use website, see for yourself now.

www.viovet.co.uk

 

[vhf]

@Squeak I have actually been considering exactly that!

 

[vhf]

He also had horrendous hives as a young horse and had extensive allergies. Once we sorted his hind gut out, which seemed to be the cause of all the issues, it all improved.

I‘ve since noticed that when his tummy flares up, the aural plaque gets worse too. Interestingly I have since noticed it in other horses as well.

Mmm. Good thought. The last of his mud rash went when he was on oily herbs, but I've dropped them off again now, and he's definitely itching more and seems more bothered by flies near his ear. Will put him back on them again.

 

[Meredith]

I've got a tb with them too. Luckily he doesn't mind a fly mask but a previous horse who was funny about fly masks I found it helped if I stood next to him and put it on like a bridle rather than standing in front etc.

Failing that - would a fly fringe like this maybe be worth a go as it's not as big as a fly mask but would cover the ears and offer their eyes some protection?

Saxon Fly Fringe with Ears Black

Buy Saxon Fly Fringe with Ears from VioVet.co.uk, FREE DELIVERY available over £29. Great prices and super easy to use website, see for yourself now.

www.viovet.co.uk

I always used one of these when riding
.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I've heard that too. But then, there's "disappeared", and "gone into hiding", and I wouldn't guarantee that because I could not longer see the evidence, it wasn't there. If you put that horse back into the same conditions, would it spontaneously reappear? If it did, is it the same infection or a new one because they're susceptible in some way? It's no surprise to me they're related to sarcoids biologically speaking (papilloma virus).
I've read the chemical removal thing, not something I'd try unless the horse was too distressed to leave be.

I feed Louis Niacinamide it's a form of vitamin B it's meant to stop them itching it's what they use in cavalese the sweet itch supplement, I think it definitely makes a difference but you have to feed it early before the itch cycle begins.