urrrrr help - ticks!!

[oliviacharley]

I went down to see my horse tonight and noticed he had about 8 little ticks all around his nose!! He will not stand still long enough to let me twist them off and I wondered if anyone knows of a solution..? I have managed to smother him in vasaline but he tends to rub it off on his legs!! Is there something in his diet which is making him more prone to them...? I also noticed his tail is thining at the top of his dock too - which looks like sweetitch..what do you think..? He did have a fly sheet on but managed to pull it off over his head and rip it to pieces!
I do not feed him anything through the summer, he has a vitamin lick and looks in good condition. Thinking garlic powder in a small feed will help with the flys and sweetitch..? They have a field shelter which they can stand in to get away from the flies and sun. I want his coat to be more shiny too....anyone got any ideas..
My little old mare is also looking good weight wise but seems to have fluffy coat around her belly area which never goes...hoping it is not cushings...does anyone know how it starts ...she is about 30 mind you so wondering if it is just age...? Also need to feed her a supplement as again only really feed her a tiny amount with garlic powder and nature hedgerow vits.
Any advice appreciated...!!!

 

[cidermillcottage1]

i just brought mine in and found a tick high up on her back leg near her udder! couldn't twist if off so lit a match blew it out and put it on the tick (careful not to touch the horse or would have been kicked into orbit!!!) it shrivelled up and died in seconds and i pulled it out easy!

 

[tremorfa]

We use methylated spirits. Pour some into the bottle cap. up end cap onto the area around the tick. It should fall off after a short while. (Don't do this in conjunction with the last post-you might set fire to both of you!)