On Thu, Sep 20, 2007 at 11:43:05AM -0500, Janice McDonald wrote:
> I just want to say--- i thought it critical my iceys be clipped early
> fall as soon as they start growing winter coat cause it doesnt get
> cold here for a while--- but now I find this early winter coat is
> doing marvels at keeping itchy bugs off them! They need it here for
> this reason. So the key, for me, is to clip only AFTER it reaches a
> point to be too warm for them while also clipping and leaving long
> enough so insects are still kept away from the skin as much as
> possible. This is something I just figured out and wanted to share.
that's a very good point. we still have some bugs here now, though
blessedly fewer than a few weeks ago...
that said stjarni will need his full coat in probably a couple of months
here, so i'd just as soon not clip its beginnings. if he gets very
sweaty (and he has a few times) i rub him down with a sponge bath of
liniment and water, and give him gatorade to drink.
--vicka
ps. for those of you considering bloodthirsty viking war costuming, i
must point out that a horse who's drunk some red-colored gatorade,
esp. if he is an icey with a bit of chin hair, will look like a
well-fed vampire with bad table manners for several hours at least.
