The Legal Equestrian

Product Review: Ecovet Fly Spray

Ecovet was kind enough to send us a free sample of their fly spray to be reviewed.

If you haven’t heard of Ecovet Fly Spray, it is a fly spray that utilizes fatty acids to repel bugs from horses. It is also endorsed by veterinarians and tested by them. According to the Ecovet website, the fly spray provides an “alternative” to toxic pesticides.

What do fatty acids have to do with repelling bugs? Here is the explanation from the Ecovet “How It Works” page:

Research has shown that certain fatty acids act as insect attractants, while others are repellents. Ecovet uses a proprietary mixture of naturally occurring fatty acids that confuses and overwhelms the insect’s normal directional ability, so the insect is unable to locate your horse as its next victim. It’s like having a GPS system that is shouting confusing and conflicting directions at you … until you finally give up.

I first tried the fly spray on my horse Monte. During application, I would highly recommend doing it in an open area. The smell is a bit overtaking and irritates the throat and eyes. However, once you get outside and it settles onto the horse, this effect disappears. In fact, my barn owner commented that it smelled like baby powder.

I found the spray to be very effective. Monte was not bothered by the flies or bugs at all while my trainer was riding him. I used it two days in a row, just to be sure.

But now for the big test. We have a mare at my barn that is super sensitive to bugs, so much so that it affects her ability to concentrate while being ridden (she’s also four). My trainer asked if she could use the Ecovet on the mare to see if it would help at all. The mare eventually settled in, and my trainer stated after the ride was finished that the mare was much more pleasant and focused with the fly spray on.

So, it’s been used on several horses on my barn and found to be super effective.

There are a few drawbacks that I will outline quickly:

  • First, application. It definitely stinks when being sprayed on initially, and like I said, it’s best to do so in an open area because it has a suffocating affect on your lungs.
  • Second, I left my unopened bottle in my car for the first couple days until I could get down to the barn. Unfortunately, the heat unsealed the aluminum covering on the bottle, and half the bottle leaked all over my car.
  • Third, there is a suggestion on the fly spray for it to only be used on the lower half of the horses body. You cannot use it around the neck or face area. Additionally, it also says that if the horse is super sweaty, not to use the fly spray either.

You can purchase the product in a 4 oz., 8 oz., or 1 gallon bottle here. It can also be found at other local and online tack stores like Dover and SmartPak. In fact, it was voted the best natural fly spray by SmartPak users. You can also buy it on Amazon.

Overall, I really liked the fly spray and will continue using it on my horses. I do have to get a new bottle already because half of mine leaked, but it is not a fly spray that you have to keep reapplying so I foresee the bottle lasting a long time. The Ecovet website states that it lasts up to 3 days, and I believe this claim from what I’ve seen. It is definitely more effective than those other, more toxic fly sprays that claim to be effective for up to 17 days (and in case you were wondering, 17 days is a huge stretch).

Stay tuned to our next post for a contest brought to you by The Legal Equestrian and Ecovet! It’s great for those who want to try the product as well as users of the product that would like to try a win a much-needed refill or some other prizes being offered!

Taking the heat out of heat wave

Written by Chloe Friedheim.

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Nearing August, we are in the midst of heat wave after heat wave, and the temperatures rarely drop below 90. It is hard enough finding ways to stay cool by ourselves but having to also keep track of another animal while exercising can become tiring.

For the horses, it is smart to be aware of the heat, especially when the humidity and heat come together to produce an even more heat than what’s listed on the temperature gauge. Here is an article that provides tips for keeping a horse cool, and debunks frequent rumors surrounding horse’s overheating: http://www.equisearch.com/article/cooling-out-hot-horse-17252

Photo Credit: Practice Horsemen

Photo Credit: Practice Horseman

For the riders, there are many easy ways to keep cool while riding. There are ice fill shirts that provide comfort during a ride. These shirts are offered from companies such as Tailored Sportsman, Ariat, and Kerrits. There are also certain helmets that provide maximum ventilation. After a sweaty ride, a helmet can become smelly, so there are sprays that can clear the helmet’s odors. For instance, Charles Owens offers a helmet deodorizer.

Riding in an ice fill technology shirt can be great when schooling at home, but for horse shows there are also other cool horse show shirts. Ariat and other brands offer show shirts that are short sleeve, which can be extremely helpful on a hot show day.

Photo Credits: New Braunfels Feed

Photo Credits: New Braunfels Feed

While Gatorade may help in certain situations after an especially strenuous ride, it is important to keep cool water by you during or after a ride. Keeping hydrated while exercising is vital during these hot months, as is eating in order to stay energized. Make sure you bring water with you to the barn, preferably one of those huge water bottles so you don’t run out. For horses, sometimes getting them to drink water can be a bit difficult. There are many ways to help encourage a horse to drink water. Some people swear by putting Gatorade in their horse’s water to encourage drinking. There are also electrolyte supplements that encourage horses to drink.

And remember, if you think it’s too hot to ride – it probably is! Save your ride for another day, not just for your sake but for the sake of your horse. Horses can get heat exhaustion and heat stroke too which can lead to other complications, including death.

It’s hot out there! Keeping your horse safe in the heat and humidity

Keep you and your horse safe this summer when the heat and humidity hits hard. Horses are sensitive, and the heat and humidity takes a toll on them as it does to us! There are ways to reduce the negative affects of heat and humidity.

  1. Ride in the morning or at dusk! Beat the heat and humidity! Or if your barn allows and has proper lighting, you can ride after the sun has set.
  2. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Before, during and after drink generous amounts of water. Do not wait until you are thirsty, and always make sure that your horse has fresh water available to him/her.
  3. Cool down! Don’t forget to thoroughly cool your horse down. Consider walking in a shaded arena to protect from the sun, hosing your horse off, and thoroughly squeegee all the water off.
  4. Cool towels. Consider purchasing the towels that get cold when you get them wet and wrung out. They would be great to tie around your neck in the barn or even during riding.
  5. Equivisor. Consider purchasing a visor that covers your whole face and shoulders, which will keep you cooler and protect you from the sun.
  6. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen! Your face, arms and shoulders are susceptible to sunburn, and don’t forget your horse’s white nose!

If you are at all questioning riding due to the weather, it is best to be conservative and skip riding for the day. Also keep in mind that if your horse is in turnout during the day; they have already been exposed to the heat, direct sunlight, and humidity for a few hours already. Keep rides short and to the point, to ensure you get a good, complete ride in before you completely lose your horse’s focus and energy.

Product Review Submission: Turtle Neck Blankets

Submission by Iris.

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Photo Credit: TurleNeck.biz

I’ve been searching for a new turnout blanket for my horse since he tore his to shreds. Winter can be pretty brutal where I live so I like to have everything just in case. During my search for a new blanket I stumbled across the Ice Turtle and Snapping Turtle blankets. They fit the criteria I had in mind, and they were reasonably priced. The Ice Turtle retails for $199, and the Snapping Turtle retails for $149.

The blankets were so nice and very well-made. When I received mine I just wanted to cuddle myself in it. The blankets have the comfort of the horse in mind. There is a thick fuzzy part over the withers which helps with a high withered horse, like mine. The velcro on the neck cover, and the neck cover attachment is so strong, it’s almost hard for me to get off my horse. The buckle at the front is heavy duty. Beneath the buckles is a reinforcement of double-locking Velcro, which helps keep the blanket in place. The quality of these blankets is amazing, and any problem I’ve had was resolved instantly by their wonderful customer service.

When I first ordered the company ended up sending me the wrong blanket. An honest mistake. I emailed them asking what had happened. Minutes later I received a call from their customer service representative. They were going to let me use the blanket until I could receive the new one, and then send the one they sent me back. They told me it would be donated to a horse rescue upon returning to them. However, after seeing the amazing product quality I wanted it, so I told them I’d buy it. They ended up discounting their sale price.

Another perk is the reflector strips on the back of the tail flap, back corners of the blanket, and in the front by the buckles. Additionally, everything is replaceable: the belly surcingles, the leg straps, the wither fuzzy, and the buckles. That was an amazing feature.

I have to admit I was nervous about sending my horse out in the blanket. He plays pretty rough with the Belgian and pony in his pasture. It turns out I worried for nothing. The blanket stayed in place even when he rolled. It seemed to mold itself to his body, which was amazing. Their blankets are definitely one of a kind and I will always have at least one, maybe more. I don’t have anything negative to say about this company and its products. I hope everyone who has had or has one of the blankets is just a satisfied as I am.

To see everything the company offers, their products can be seen here.

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Iris currently owns a horse named Bandito. They do BN level eventing. She can be found on Instagram and YouTube.

What’s in your meat?

Infographic Courtesy of the ASPCA.

Infographic Courtesy of the ASPCA.

Every year about 130,000 American horses are shipped to Canada or Mexico to be slaughtered for human consumption. Horses are also slaughtered for human consumption in other countries, as horse meat is considered a delicacy there. While some areas, such as the European Union, have a specific regulatory system set in place to ensure that horses with dangerous, deadly substances in their body are not allowed to enter the food chain, other countries, like the United States, do not. This means that the horses being slaughtered in Canada and Mexico have dangerous, potentially lethal or terminal illness causing substances in them, like the ever famous Bute.

The ASPCA recently launched a new campaign, #NotWhatIOrdered, to bring awareness to this issue. Obviously, horse slaughter is a controversial subject, with some falling on the line of it being better than having abused and neglected horses overcrowding auctions and being set into the wild where they cannot fend for themselves; others believe horse slaughter is inhumane and that the consumption of horse meat is a complete taboo, akin to eating a cat or a dog.

According to the ASPCA,

Horses are routinely given chemicals toxic to humans, including anabolic steroids, stimulants and cobra venom. These drugs, over 50 of which are prohibited for use in food animals, can cause severe health problems like aplastic anemia, liver cancer and liver disease in humans.

Additionally, there are substances given to horses that can seep into a human’s skin

Infographic Courtesy of the ASPCA.

Infographic Courtesy of the ASPCA.

immediately upon contact and have an horrible outcome, such as hormonal treatments for broodmares that can cause abortions if the person the chemical comes in contact with is pregnant.

The ASPCA has put together a petition to help bolster support for the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, which, if passed, would ban the slaughter of American horses and outlaw the transport of horses to Canada and Mexico for that purpose.

If you feel strongly about the transportation of horses to Canada and Mexico for horse slaughter, you can sign the petition here.

And, if you want to bring more awareness to this issue, you can share this post on your social media pages or tweet the follow message: Tweet: Hungry enough to eat a horse? Help the @ASPCA keep horses off the dinner table. Sign the petition: http://ctt.ec/5sN7U+ #NotWhatIOrdered (Click to Tweet).