SUMMER AILMENTS: From Bugs to Allergies to Dehydration
This article first appeared in EQUUS magazine. After a long, dreary winter, most horse people look forward to the coming of summer with great anticipation. Whether we are pleasure riders who live to hit the trail or serious competitors gunning for the top prize, summer is prime horse time, and we want our horses to be at their very best. Fortunately, horses generally have fewer health problems in the summer months, but this doesn’t mean we can take their health for granted. In fact, there are a number of ailments associated with the insects, heat, sun and activities of summer – some of which can be quite serious. Therefore, if you want your horse to remain hale and hearty throughout the summer season, you need to know what problems to look out for, and what you can do to prevent them. What’s Bugging You: The serious health threats The presence of insects is an inescapable and irritating part of life in the summer -- b...