ummm, not a good start

J

jes_nibley

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30 September 2006
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Location
Wiltshire / Dorset borders
www.languedocgundogs.co.uk
... to the year.
ok, so there are reasons i'm still riding my 11.2hh welsh section A after 6 years. (i'm 5'7")
He's green, sharp, and can be unpredictable.

But today was the first day i've ever felt he was behaving dangerously - he was bucking, rearing, spinning around (infront of cars) and at one point i thought he was going to throw himself on the floor!
Now 9 times out of 10 i could see a fly or a shadow of a fly but he was smothered in fly spray.

Last year i bought him a fly mask to attach to his bridle, but he didn't adapt to it very well - he's 90% blind in one eye and can see out the back of it (so, things we've been past). I think where it attached to his bridle it was blocking his line of sight so we gave up with it. (after a fair amount of perserverance)

But, we have our first ever proper lesson booked for saturday and (aside from panicking that we're going to be laughed out of th arena anyway) i'm worried he's just going to be a dangerous twit!
Does anyone have any ideas as to help this? Any really good fly sprays/ointments/ anything really? Or any other ways to help?
Anyone have any similar problems and found a way through them? It's only April, i can't believe i'm up against the flies already!
Thank guys x
 
I must say that if he is bucking rearing and spinning I doubt its flies which are setting him off. Is it possible his sight has deteriorated further or that there is some other physical problem?
 
thanks.
spaniel, forgot to say, he's just had his vets visit, she specialises in eyes so always checks it. Also, he's recently (in the last month) had his back and teeth checked and his saddle was new in February, it's had it's reflocking and was re-fitted by my saddler.

Bex, will try to find it in local stores, name rings a bell though. thanks!
 
Agree with Spaniel

My horse hates things he can't see properly. He's fine with huge tractors, lorries, busses... But if something is half-hidden on the ground, or in shadows, he panicks because he doesn't know that it's not a monster! Your horse's sight problems probably make his fear of 'lurking' things more likely. Or perhaps he has a sore back?

Hopefully your instructor can help if it's just behaviour stuff
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If you're after a decent fly repellent, Deosan Deosect is the best one we've ever used...by far!
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And we have a mare who is unbelievably hyper-sensitive to flies!
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It's a bit expensive, but you only put it on once a month (once every 2 weeks max.), so it probably works out cheaper than most of the sprays you use daily.

Here's a link - it's the fourth one down. Other places will sell it too, but it's not the type of thing you can buy at any old tack shop. We get ours from this place:

http://www.wormers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_First_Aid_Fly_Products_14.html

We make up a solution, then use a sponge and sponge it all over them. You could just use a spray instead, but it's more effective with a sponge / cloth.

Oh, but if you DO get it, dont put in on on a hot day when the horses' pores are open - it's a bit strong!
Good luck!

Lou. x
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