Campolina - A-Z Intriguing Horse Breeds in Pictures

The Campolina Horse, primarily found in Brazil, is a gaited equine frequently used for driving, dressage, and trail riding.

Campolina

By Amazona01

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Brumby - A-Z Intriguing Horse Breeds in Pictures

The Brumby is a feral (or wild) horse that is found in roaming free in Australia. Brumby horses have been trained for equestrian purposes, somewhat like the American Mustang. 

 

Brumby Horse by CGoodwin

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Gnats and No-See-Ums are nastier than normal this year.

Bugs are bad at the barn this year. Maybe it’s a result of all of the wet weather we have experienced. Flies, gnats, mosquitoes and the dreaded No-See-Ums are hatching in multiple waves, extending their season of oppression longer than usual.

As equestrians saddle up for outdoor schooling and trail rides, many horsemen and horsewomen may be seen swatting at seemingly invisible invaders. Even the most refined individuals may occasionally spit while mounted or on foot.

Those dreaded bugs are everywhere, and they are particularly attracted to faces. Like mosquitoes, most gnats and No-See-Ums are drawn to the carbon dioxide we exhale. That’s why they seem to want to fly right into mouths and noses.

Ugh! Does it get any grosser than that?

What is a No-See-Um?

These tiny insects are big annoyances to equestrians and other outdoor enthusiasts. Although we can hardly see them, we can sense their swarming. We know they are there.

Scientifically known as Ceratopogonidae, No-See-Ums may also be known as biting midges or punkies. They are related to sand flies and black flies.

No-See-Ums are frequently found in wet areas. Although they feed on plant nectar, the females among these insects bite humans, horses, ponies, donkeys, dogs, birds, goats, lambs, cattle, and other animals to gather blood for developing their eggs.

The resulting bites may become red, swollen, and quite sore. In some cases, bites may grow infected. Horses can have allergic reactions to No-See-Um bites, resulting in sweet itch.

 

Doesn’t sound very sweet, though, does it?

Bug repellants can help to protect humans and horses. Fly masks and fly sheets may minimize bug bites for equines, if they offer sufficient density to shield against these miniscule creatures.

Eventually, the bug season will give way to cooler weather, and the fall’s first frost will ban the bugs completely for another year. But who wants to hasten the winter?

Image/s:

Biting Midge

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W is for Waiting for Wondrous Water

W is for Waiting for Wondrous Water.

Here’s a secret for drought-ridden regions: Wash your car or truck … and it will surely rain at the barn.

Last summer, much of the American Midwest suffered serious droughts. Many areas still face hay shortages. Bale prices are sky-high in some parts.

Horse keepers all over are praying for rain, as spring approaches, hoping this year’s hay crops will be abundant. 

How can we employ Turfy’s A-Z Rules of Horsemanship? Keep washing those cars and trucks, and the rains will come.

Polish the chrome, wipe down the fenders, and pass the umbrellas and rain ponchos!

Whoopie! It’s raining. Despite the mud, which is sure to follow, we welcome the wet weather.

The Mane Point is participating again in the April A to Z blogging challenge, posting daily with alphabetical entries.

For this year's A-Z event, a month of posts will offer Turfy’s A-Z Rules of Horsemanship, with all due apologies to the original Murphy of Murphy’s Law,  which basically said, "If anything can go wrong, it probably will."

Horse lovers may have heard some of these uncannily true, yet often ironic, statements in various forms in the past. Or not.

Image/s:

Washing the Car

by Frank Vincentz 

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Turfy’s A-Z Rules of Horsemanship

Adapted from public domain clipart

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