Summer Daze

Summer is in full swing now bringing longer daylight, hotter weather, & bugs. After the random thunderstorm or rain shower brings out the worst in the bugs hands down. I had to use a fly sheet on Ben for the evening following a rain storm that brought them out of the depths they live in. While I have nothing against them I do however have a problem when they decide to irritate Ben. I don't know about anyone else but when I see my son twitching, swishing, or stomping from the nuisances it drives me crazy! For typical fly gear during the day Ben sports the Equine Sun Visor ( which he models on the website!), Kensington Fly boots, & Endure fly spray. Sometimes we add SWAT to the sensitive areas to keeps those tiny little no-see-ums not seen.... This works very well for Ben during the day. In the evening he wears just his fly spray & SWAT as needed. I do not keep a fly mask on him at night because he has cataracts in both eyes worse in the one. So at night he doesn't need his vision impaired further. As for why he doesn't wear the fly boots it's because he dislikes wearing them enough during the day he wouldn't speak to me if I had him wear them all day & night! Fly sheet is only used on an as needed basis because he wears blankets enough through the cold months this is his time to be free & naked. I highly recommend the use of a mask & boots though. Would you like bugs flying around your eyeballs? I'm guessing not... Bugs bite legs which then entails in stomping so cover the legs with fly wraps which stops the stomping. Simple really... It also cuts down on lost shoes or chipped toes for the barefooters. Also saves your horses joints from repetitive joint concussion from stomping!

Ben seems to be enjoying his retired lifestyle very well. I have even started giving him 2 flakes of alfalfa when I'm not working. One in the AM & one in the PM. He very much likes this new arrangement! He seems to be doing well overall with everything. I have to keep a closer eye on his weight this time of year since he can drop. He is the opposite of most horses where they would loose weight in the winter he is the summer. The change to his feed to just the Cavalor Fiberforce is also doing very well for him. He has been off Gastrogard for going on 2 months now. I wasn't sure he would be able to tolerate being off it considering how bad he was when we started this whole journey. He keeps on surprising me everyday & its truly amazing the transformation he has made. He just currently takes the Sucralfate twice a day & Misoprostol once a day & liking that routine! Next test which Is mid July if he tests the same or better he can discontinue the Misoprostol & stay on just the Sucralfate. Like I've said before I'm hoping with eating just the Cavalor & even the increase in the alfalfa hay he proves even better next test!

Thank you for all the support you all have given Ben (you know who you are)!