We all sigh with relief when the midges are on their way out and we can relax our sweet itch regime for a few months.But for those of us who keep their horses and ponies out all or most of the time (as we know it’s what they thrive on),…

Mud Fever is a bit of a mystery.  It seems to come from nowhere.  The microbes responsible are probably already on the skin just waiting for an opportunity to get in a bit deeper and cause trouble. Horses prone to mud fever include the elderly, those with compromised immune systems from…

I’ve woken up so terrifyingly early this morning, so early that I’ve given myself a headache … no work to do as such and yet I’m up not only with the lark but before him, typical.Skipping (gazelle like, as if, ha ha) off downstairs it seems that even the majority…

Why am I worried about clean paws at this time of year?  No – it’s not because I’m house proud. With two big dogs, 3 horses and young grandchildren around, that would be daft.  It’s actually because of the increasing prevalence of what were once exotic diseases in dogs.  …

This time of year – late February and March - when the days are lengthening, we get a lot of queries from people who are wondering whether to start their sweet itch regimes as their horses have started to rub. My response to this is to be careful that you’re…

I read many posts and receive messages from owners of horses with sweet itch who are at their wits end having ‘tried everything’.For someone who feels they’ve tried everything, where can you start to help them?  The answer is to break things down for them and help them work out…

In response to the shocking news regarding the effects of insecticides on France's bird population, I ask what can we can all do to help prevent this problem worsening.

There are lots of different remedies out there for mud fever (and other related winter skin conditions), but my approach is primarily preventative.   Infection starts when microbes enter a small break in the skin's surface.  The organisms are omnipresent and only seem to become aggressive in certain conditions:  (1) compromised…

Well, I have been slowly dispensing with a winter turnout rug for Bea, my non sweet itch girl. Over the last few years I’ve been putting her rug on later and later and taking it off earlier and earlier so this winter I thought I’d try to do without.  I…

A number of natural plant oils have an insect repellency effect and have been used as such for many centuries. The ‘natural’ aspect of these oils is very appealing and they can prove useful in protecting both your horse and yourself.   Their very naturalness can have downsides, though, including…