Horse

The holidays are for spending time with family, making memories, and capturing the spirit of the season. Taking horse pictures is a festive activity to add to your holiday traditions. And who knows—your equine friend might just be the star of your next holiday card. 

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Q: My new, 6-year-old gelding has big, dramatic reactions to things my older horse hardly notices. It seems like any little change in the arena triggers a big spook. Is this normal?   A: Maybe. Some horses spook more readily than others, due to their genetic makeup, age, and/or level of training. However, excessive reactivity that doesn’t change with training or desensitization could be a sign of a health issue.   To learn more about fear in horses, we spoke with Katherine Houpt, VMD, PhD, professor emeritus of behavior medicine at Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York, and Natalie Lord, DVM, a large and small animal veterinarian at Four Paws – Cuatro Patas, in Austin, Texas.  

There are many types of biting insects that seek horse blood. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, the most common are: Mosquitoes: These have been described as “the most voracious of the blood-feeding insects.” These tiny, buzzing creatures often make stagnant water their breeding grounds, laying their eggs on the surface, which is why swampy conditions are riddled with mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are especially dangerous to horses because they can transmit viral encephalitides (brain inflammatory diseases), including Western and Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (WEE/EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV). Biting midges: Also called gnats and no-see-ums, these tiny, gray, two-winged flies live in wet soil. They deliver painful bites and suck blood, and many horses develop allergies to their saliva, making them the main culprits in insect bite hypersensitivity (read on to learn more about this condition). Stable flies: These are blood-feeding insects known for pestering animals and humans alike. They look like house flies—picture your typical black fly—but slightly smaller, and they bite! Stable flies exist throughout the world; in the US, they are found mainly in the Midwestern and Southeastern states. Horseflies: These are the largest beasts on this list, some longer than an inch. Their bites are painful and draw blood, creating oozing wounds. Aptly named, these black insects with gray wings (although coloration can vary) feed off horse blood and are the hardest to kill with traditional fly repellents. Larvae develop in aquatic to semi-aquatic areas, making horseflies more prevalent in tropical climates. Horseflies are especially dangerous because they can transmit diseases, such as anaplasmosis and equine infectious anemia (EIA).,Jump to section 4 Types of Insects That Bite Horses Top 3 Risks of Fly Bites on Horses Symptoms of Fly Bites on Horses Treatment of Fly Bites on Horses Prevention of Insect Bites on Horses FAQs About Fly Bites on Horses

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Prevention of Black Walnut Toxicity in Horses Prevention is the best way to avoid black walnut toxicity in horses. Best practices include: Check any new pasture or area your horse may be turned out when moving. If possible, have walnut trees removed and clear the area of nuts and hulls before allowing your horse out. Having a nut gatherer can make nut and hull pick-up quick and easy.  If possible, horses should be kept away from black walnut trees and not allowed to graze under them. This may involve moving fence lines, or only turning horses out under supervision if removing the trees isn’t an option. Do not use bedding containing black walnut shavings. Featured Image: iStock.com/nickkurzenko,What Is Black Walnut Toxicity in Horses? The black walnut tree is a tall deciduous tree that can grow up to 100 feet tall. It has dark green leaves and a thick, ridged bark that is dark brown or black. The black walnut fruit, which is the nut, is round and about the size of a golf ball. It has a hard, thick shell that is difficult to crack and contains a sweet, oily kernel. Black walnuts are found in many areas of North America and are commonly grown for their delicious nuts. However, these trees and nuts contain a chemical called juglone, which is toxic to horses and other animals, causing serious health issues that can be fatal if left untreated.

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