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Trainer of Young Horses: Training Should Never Be an Assault
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The warm days are finally upon us, but so are the insects! Most of us enjoy being able to shed our jackets and jumpers, but with this comes the many crawlers and critters that can be irritating to the skin. Fortunately, we can stay indoors if we're too bothered. Horses that are out in the paddock, especially those that are in free range or on summer pasture, can be greatly affected by insects.
Horses have different tolerances for insects, so it's worth considering if your horse needs an insect rug in the paddock before you go out and invest in it. But what should you choose? There are a myriad of different types, styles, and prices. Luckily, Malgré Tout has gathered the most important information about different types of insect rugs for the paddock here.
Also check out: Spring: When should the horse’s rug be removed?
An insect rug is a mesh rug, which protects against the harsh sun, lets the breeze through, and keeps most flies and insects away from your horse. A mesh rug is a fabric that is naturally full of holes!
It can be hard to judge if your horse needs an insect rug in the paddock, as we often only observe the horse's behaviour in the paddock briefly. But the following points may indicate that your horse is bothered by insects. Remember, there's always a reason why the horse reacts the way it does. So, you should ensure that your horse's reaction is not due to pain or discomfort.
• Does it seem irritated and frustrated in the paddock?
• Does it toss its head in the summer?
• Does it kick under itself or backward?
• Does it bite itself on the body or swish its tail vigorously?
• Does it run aimlessly around the paddock?
• Does it have small bumps around its body or perhaps small blood spots?
No, actually they're not. Several scientific studies have shown that insects get confused by zebra stripes, and in the African savannah, there's a big difference in the number of flies on a zebra compared to a wildebeest standing next to it. Therefore, it's a clever trick to produce insect rugs with stripes, which are supposed to reduce the number of flies on the horse.
The zebra-striped insect rug is a common phenomenon, and most of us have probably seen what looks like a herd of zebras in the paddock. These rugs are produced in several different types and with different protection areas.
Insect rugs for the paddock can come with neck, belly, long tail flap, and extra leg protection. It's important here to make an individual assessment of what works best for your particular horse. Most horses benefit from the belly flap, as many insects seek the thin, warm skin in this area. Often, a neck cover is also worth it, unless the horse itself has a long and thick mane, which can keep insects away.
As with all rugs, you should pay attention to the closures. Never turn clips outward so they can get stuck in hay nets or the like. Additionally, ensure that the rug is comfortably fitted, that it is the correct size for your horse, and that it doesn't have loose parts, or straps that are broken and hanging.
The density of the weave in the insect rug is of great importance for its effectiveness. It can definitely be worth investing in a denser woven insect rug, as it will keep most insects out. Mosquitoes and midges can still bother the horse through coarsely woven insect rugs, although the rug can also become too densely woven, and there will be too little or no air circulation. This would cause the horse to be unable to dissipate heat.
A good way to test the density of insect rugs is to hold the mesh up to the light, where the transmission of light will give an idea of the density when comparing fabrics.
The weight of the fabric is also important and can be calculated by gsm (grams per square meter). Net fabrics generally fall in a range from 200gsm to 500gsm. Higher gsm equates to more strength. Fabric with lower gsm is usually looser, weaker, and more open-woven, while a higher gsm is generally denser and stronger woven. Therefore, choose gsm according to your horse's needs; if it tends to easily destroy rugs, or is heavily plagued by insects, then choose a high gsm. If you have a horse that easily gets hot, try to choose a lower gsm.
Some horses are not just bothered by insects landing on the skin, but can actually be allergic to them. This is called summer eczema and is caused by the 2-3 mm large mite that sucks blood on the horse. Often they settle where the skin is thin or easily accessible. The horse reacts allergic to the mite's saliva and begins to itch intensely. The diagnosis can be made by the vet, who can perform allergy tests and examine the blood's content of antibodies against mites.
Some horses also struggle with sun eczema, also known as the horse being photosensitive. This means it has an increased sensitivity to light, which causes parts of its skin to redden, swell, and itch extremely. In short, a chemical reaction occurs that weakens the skin cells' ability to withstand light exposure. In these cases, the horses either need tightly fitting and fully protective sun eczema rugs or need to be kept in the shade. It depends on how bad the sun eczema is.
The difference between eczema and insect rugs is that eczema rugs are densely meshed and fit closely to the body, covering almost all areas and are often elastic for movement. Whereas insect rugs are often not so densely meshed, have a looser fit, and therefore can flutter lightly in the breeze which will keep insects away. You can certainly use an eczema rug as an insect rug, but not the other way around.
If you're unsure if your horse is bothered, insect spray can also reduce nuisances.
It's only recommended to use insect rugs if necessary. If your horse is not affected by the insects, it may be advantageous to avoid using a rug, especially on hot summer days. When the temperature is over 30 degrees with high humidity and no breeze, most horses will sweat under any rug. Sweat and the evaporation thereof, is the way the horse maintains its body temperature when the heat rises.
