----- Original Message ----- From: "Judy Ryder" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> . . . the little flying bugs, whatever they are, gnats? love Cookie's > ears. They pile in there. Charm may only have one or two, when Cookie has > tons. Oh my gosh -- I thought my "herd" was unique in this knat preference thing: Soley is plagued by the ear knats while the other three barely get bitten. As soon as the temps get above 45, I start applying the SWAT ointment or they chew the crap out of her ears. My fly masks have ears, but I've found those get rubbed off or pulled off by one of the other horses and then, she's got scabs in her ears. I have wondered for years why she is the favorite. . . There's definitely just as much, if not more inner ear hair in her ears, so it's not an accessibility thing. She is not the darkest horse in the paddock, so it's not a heat-sensor thing or color thing. . . I've pondered if the blood chemistry of the IR horse is more appealing to these bugs in some way??? Of course, *I've* always thought Soley smells the best of any horse I've ever owned. Maybe that's it. : ) -- Renee M. in Michigan
