July 2003

Fight Ear Insects

Summer insects can torment your horse’s ears.

Horses pastured near wooded areas may have more problems with ear insects and other biting insects.

Your horse’s ears are one of the most sensitive areas on his body, and insects can put them in agony. You can do a lot to deter these buggers, but dripping a glob of fly repellent in the ear isn’t one of them.

Your Options

• Skip The Trims: Closely trimmed ears look elegant, but they deprive the horse of one of his most efficient biting insect barriers: the hairs inside the ears. Don’t clip unless absolutely necessary. …