How to Dress the “Super-Sensitive” Horse for Fly Season

Most of us know a horse that absolutely hates bugs. Even the sight of a bug has him stomping, flinching, and swishing his tail all day long. Some horses, such as Thoroughbreds, have very sensitive skin and get easily irritated by flies and other insects in turnout. A susceptible horse like this may need the complete coverage of a fly sheet, fly mask, fly boots and fly spray, or any combination of these, to stay comfortable. Does this sound like your horse? Check out a few of our suggestions for products that go beyond your everyday fly spray and can help you and your horse beat the bugs this summer.

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How Entire Diet Builds Better Hooves

hoof growthKentucky Equine Research discusses what factors into hoof growth and how you can aid your horse’s hooves in growing strong and healthy.

Hoof growth in horses is determined by several factors, including genetics, age, breed, exercise, metabolic rate, illness, temperature, environmental moisture, shoeing and trimming. Building strong hooves can take anywhere from six to twelve months. If a horse has dull and brittle hooves, a reliable way to improve the quality of its hooves would be through balanced nutrition. To achieve this, a total diet reconfiguration may be in order. Continue reading

All About M-T-G

mtg treatment

Use these tips provided by Shapley’s to achieve the best results when using M-T-G for a variety of conditions.

M-T-G was originally developed by a barber to treat human skin and hair conditions. One of the “magic” ingredients is oil of cade, derived from a type of juniper tree. Oil of cade has been used for hundreds of years to treat skin issues.Today, M-T-G is used on animals, and horse owners in particular use it to treat dozens of conditions, including rain rot, scratches, sweet itch, dandruff and even thrush. You can also use it to loosen wind knots and remove smegma stains from the insides of your gelding’s legs. Tar, sap, and other sticky substances can be removed with a small amount of M-T-G. Reading the instructions can save you a bit of time and give you the best results. Continue reading