I stall at dawn and dusk and I have fans in front of each stall. We have
an automatic fly spray system and I use flygone on them every morning. I
usually stall them in the summer an hour before dusk. I watch them closely for
any lesions. Hlekkur has developed a quarter size spot on his ventral line 2
times when I did not stick to this regimen. I have found the best thing to use
after he gets a spot is the Icelandic lotion. When he has this spot I use the
lotion and then will use swat on top of the lotion. It seems the SE season here
starts when it get much above 65 degrees. I start really being diligent by the
first of April through Oct. I have also used the spot-on fly control but this
does not seem to work for SE.
Gerill has been in the US (East Coast) for almost nine years. He has
never shown any signs at all. Hlekkur and Von have been here 5 years and
Ljosbra for 3 years. Von did stay out more than the others last summer since
she had a foal. She did not devlop any lesions.
A lot of people ask me why I would go to this extreme if they do not have
a problem. Well, I don't want to have any problems if possible. I hope that
by this gradual exposure they will develop some immunity. I love these horses
enough to try my best to keep them from this awful problem, but if they do end
up with bad SE I would have to send them to Robyn (if she would take them) or
to someone on the West Coast.
Renee
