Quite a few felt I shouldn't leave ticks on my horses as I've done for 40 years. Ticks regurgitate back into their host I'm told, and some folks said within 24 hours. Others say that happens when the tick is frightened.

Haven't done any extensive research on ticks but I came to my logic after watching wild horses running in the Nevada, Oregon and Northern California areas.

I've seen wild horses brought into corrals where they were covered with a couple hundred ticks and the horses looked just fine. One mare was covered with ticks but still managed to muster enough energy to jump a 6 foot fence to get out of the corral! No one was around to remove ticks from those wild horses.  I've seen wild horses rub their necks and bodies on trees or rocks, and after they've left, I've walked over to find blood smeared on the rock or tree. I assumed it was from squashed ticks. I have seen a couple dead cows from tick infestation. The ticks literally drank the steer's blood till it died. So ticks can be a problem -- a BIG problem.

Lois e-mailed that guinea hens are good at eating ticks.

But Colette had the best "solution" for removing ticks. And it falls right into my line of thought of using something at least two ways or I won't pack it and take it camping. Her tick removal method -- hair spray!! Colette says to spray the ticks with hair spray from about 2 inches away. So the next time I go camping, I'm going to try it. That gives me my two-way uses for hair spray -- keep my hair in place AND remove ticks from Nic!

I just FORGOT where to send your stamped, self-addressed envelope for Expo Bucks. 

Send to:
Bonnie Davis
P.O. Box 14130
Fremont, Ca. 94539.

Some days I just have those black out periods.......

Bonnie  

Cheryl:  "I know certain birds and also fish will eat mosquitoes, but ticks? Maybe they're just the roach of the outdoor world because I don't know of anything that actually benefits from them, plus I could somehow survive without mosquitoes OR ticks."

Kathy F: "Easy.....they're left over from the plagues!!"

Steve:  "Bats eat mosquitoes.  Ticks, reincarnated lawyers."

Genia B: "Mosquitoes are so we appreciate nights without them.  Ticks are just plain gross......."

Charlie D:  "Let us know, Bonnie, if anyone has a method to keep ticks off horses and people. I've tried everything and nothing works.  How do you get rid of them?"

( Well, Charlie, I first try to flick 'em off with a finger tip or brush but if they're really buried in hard and filling up, I leave 'em. They'll eventually fill up with blood and fall off on their own. The most I've had on a horse at one time was 14 feeding and about 50 taken off with a finger tip or brush. I've found if I lift the little critter up, smear Bickmore Gall Salve onto the horse's hair, stick the tick down into it and then cover the tick's top with more Bickmore it will back out on its own. Ticks breathe through little holes on their body so if the Salve covers 'em they smother and then they move along looking for fresh air.)

Reply to Cheryl:  You asked about Service Dogs on trails. I'm checking that out. My friend has a Service Dog she takes on rides with her. I will let you know in a couple weeks what she does.

Reply to Gary C:  Sorry, your e-mail bounced back. Please e-mail again with your address.  And for those that may have forgot or can't find it, e-mail me at horsecamping@comcast.net or bonnie@horsecamping.com.

ExpoBucks -- Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento, California is coming up June 12-14.  It's the largest equine expo in North America. I'll be presenting "Horsecamping" and Two Horse will have a vendor booth there again. I have some ExpoBucks and discount coupons for tickets.  If anyone would like a couple, mail me a stamped, self-addressed envelope by June 4th and I'll send 'em to you. Only one requirement, you have to stop by Two Horse vendor booth and say "Hello"........

S tay safe and watch out for ticks.......  

Bonnie

I know this blog will bring some comments......few tar and feathers too -- but I really believe dogs and horses especially on trails and in camps DO NOT MIX. Not every horse likes dogs, some spook at them. Others will just flat out panic!! So dogs should not be turned loose on trails (by anyone) and if in a camp, they should be kept tied up.  Besides, in a lot of parks and on open space trails -- dogs ARE NOT ALLOWED. So why break the rules and even bring a dog on a trail?

The number one responsibility each of us has as horse owners is to protect our horse AND the public around that animal. Nic isn't scared of dogs but he puts his ears back at them. He won't kick, but I get the feeling that if a dog charges him, he will kick. So I just don't want any dogs around him especially out on the trail. I always tell people to "Keep your dog back" or "Leash your dog" because my horse might kick 'em.

Where I ride in Mission Peak Regional Preserve is an "open park".  That is, dogs are allowed to run off leash. A couple years ago a gal and guy on their horses were riding along on the trail -- multi-use -- when these hikers came by with their dogs running loose. The hikers tried to grab the dogs but they weren't quick enough. Both dogs ran up to the horses barking and jumping. One horse spun to kick just as one of the dogs jumped up. The horse's kick connected with the dog and broke its back. Of course the dog owners were upset. The riders were upset.  The dog laid on the trail whimpering until someone came by and had the "courage" to put the dog out of his pain. All of it could have been avoided if the dog had been leashed.

Often our animals suffer because of our stupidity. We think it would be so nice if Fido could run down the trail, jump that log, be a dog. But in being a dog Fido can get seriously injured or even killed. To prevent that, keep Fido on a leash if he just has to go with you. And better yet, leave him at home -- safe with a dog biscuit until you return!

Safe trails......
Bonnie 

Nic's been eating dry feed for the winter, so  before going out into pasture his feed has to be changed -- GRADUALLY.  Even though a horse is a big animal, a sudden feed change can cause colic.  So before putting a horse out 24/7, change the feeding schedule over gradually.

With Nic, he gets pellets and a flake of hay in the morning and again at night. Since I want him in pasture to cut on the feed bill, I'm changing him over to pasture. So Nic's in the process of changing his feeding regiment.

For the first four or five days, Nic grazed about half an hour around the barn. Then he went back into his stall and was on his regular ration of pellets and hay. He grazed about noon so he had his normal ration in his stomach from morning, grazed and then his normal evening feed to help push the green grass on through his system.

Over the next few days his grass grazing was increased gradually in time and now he's on pasture about 5 hours a day with only one feeding -- at night. Starting next week, Nic will go into pasture for about 8 hours with a light night time feeding when he comes into his stall. Once the weather is warm, he'll go out into pasture permanently and won't be brought back into the barn at night.

Changing feed in a horse should always be done GRADUALLY.  Luckily, over all the years I've owned horses that have never had a case of colic from feed changes. Even when going camping, any change in feed is first started in the home barn and taken out camping. If I'm planning a lot of camping trips, I will keep Nic on pellets in the morning and then out to pasture so his system is used to pellets -- plus LOTS of fresh, clear water.

It will take some time to change the feeding regimen over but that time is well spent in avoiding vet bills from colic. So if you want to put your horse out to pasture, do it in short time spans and build up to overnight.

Enjoy the spring weather!
Bonnie