Wanted: Shark Suit for horses

[KarinUS]

I hate when my horse gets bitten. Especially now that it gets a bit cooler and everybody feels more energetic I see a new bite on him once a week.
I actually tried to find shark suit material on the internet to see if it would be too heavy to make a fly-sheet from it! :o
It won't be cold enough for him to wear his winter turn-out blanket.
What can I do? Do they make super tough lightweight turn-out rugs that offer protection from bites?
I really hate this and am about ready to load him up and take him home...

[galadriel]

Coat him in cayenne pepper?

[KarinUS]

Hm... or spray him with the "No Crib" spray? ;)

[virtuallyhorses]

Are the bites getting through his rugs? We do actually have rugs here made from 'bulletproof' material - 1600 denier I think - any help?

[KarinUS]

We are in Texas. I only have a winter rug for him. No rugs yet. He'd fall over from heat exhaustion.

[virtuallyhorses]

This one comes in a no-liner model - just mesh, so there's no real 'blanket' part to it - although depending on the heat it might still be a bit much :)

http://www.saddlerywarehouse.co.nz/?loc=catalogue&category=4015

Sorry - I take that back, its 1680dn 'ballistics' nylon not bulletproof -looks like they're out of the mesh lined ones at the moment, they're a bit slow with the summer covers this year - they have a 600dn rainsheet...or you could get one of the jousting groups to put you onto the nearest armourer for some chain mail for him

[Cochise]

hehe, sorry the title of this thread made me smile :)

[kiwihorsegirl]

Lol it made me laugh and i had to read it cos i could just imagine a horse with a shark costume on for a pony club dress up show or something lol.

[Cochise]

Hehe I waas picturing a horse in a wet suit, holding a surf board! Surfs up!
:D
Sorry staring at too many text books today, the brain goes more than a little awol!
Hope something is sorted out with poor DJ's war wounds and prevention soon!

[AJB]

argh Karin I know what you mean-when I went away on holiday in May the YO helpfully suggested I put my boy out in her 50 acre field as we are still having to bring in at night and I had no one to muck out as husband was coming too!!-anyway we put him out and he got serverly beaten up-I knew from texts that he had a few bites but when I got back-my poor baby-he had 18 on him and some were obviously very nasty when they first happened-fortunately my hacking buddy got the YO to move him after the 2nd day so I hate to think what state he would have been in by a week:( -however I did wonder if I had put a lightweight on him for the week that some of the damage would have been less but I think they would have trashed the rug and the horse:( -DJ has my sympathy hope he gets a lot of TLC from you!!

[KarinUS]

Yeah. Unfortunately he can hand it out just as well. Just when I went out to get him he reached out and bit the mare that has the hots for him in the bum to make her go away. (He doesn't like other horses coming close to us).

So I think at times he is the guilty party as well.

I am thinking now might be a good time to get a lightweight rug on close out?

[AJB]

yes Karin forgot to mention that some of the others were bashed and bitten as well so dont think my 650kg 16.2 baby had been bullied all the time!!!-it took ages for the bits where he was bitten to go though and some are only just going now he has his winter coat coming-at least they didnt grow back white (they did on one horse in the yard-she has a bum that looks like a appy!!and I think I know who the culprit was:rolleyes: )

[KarinUS]

ohoh... 18 bites are a lot! Mine only has 3 small ones and one big one and I get upset about them. If he had 18 I probably would squeeze him in the back seat of my little Coupe and take him home... ;)

[kelsey]

Can't the barn owner split the horses up and put the bully(ies) together in one pasture to beat up on each other (and leave the nice guys to hang out together?)

[Tootsie4U]

Karin, ever hear of Baker Blankets? Those things are tough! I think they make them in light weight sheets and even fly sheets....

Have a look at Dover or State Line tack. I know Ive seen Baker's in one or if not both

[virtuallyhorses]

Originally posted by kelsey
Can't the barn owner split the horses up and put the bully(ies) together in one pasture to beat up on each other (and leave the nice guys to hang out together?)

Bullies?? I prefer the term 'big boys' or 'heavies' ;) Our paddock is known for containing the horse mafia - Imp (mine) is the godfather and Noddy his chief enforcer, we have had various other lesser thugs in our little family . In defence of the mafia, our boys (and girls) are excellent at teaching teenage bullies a little respect - please put on your best Marlonesque husky voice for that last bit :D - and reforming their characters for harrassed owners.

But seriously - its a good idea, since our family is quite stable and there's not a lot of trouble when you get a bunch of heavy hitters together.

[KarinUS]

Unfortunately this won't work for two reasons:
#1 I am not entirely sure that DJ wouldn't be considered a "big boy". He can play pretty rough.
#2 all 10 horses stabled at our yard are turned out together. We boarders don't make that decision.

There's generally more trouble when DJ's girlfriend is in heat. I wish it was a 'gelding only' facility but that's not up to me.


I like the Baker Sheet. Tartan would be very becomming... ;)

[KarinUS]

Tootsie! You found the equine shark suit!

That's what I want!!! Baker Protective Fly Sheet (http://www.blanketbarn.com/baker_blankets/baker_protective_fly_sheet.htm)

It specifically says:
These vinyl-coated polyester mesh fly sheets are and the rage these days, and their high performance and durability is the reason why. This unique, multifunction fly sheet is designed to meet the needs of horses that are turned-out on a regular basis during the fly season. The exclusive Baker plaid fabric is nonabrasive and provides superior protection from flies and pasture mishaps. It screens out 70% of ultraviolet rays. The easy-to-clean fabric dries in minutes, resists mildew, and is virtually stain proof. Both the leg straps and girth surcingle are elasticized to keep the sheet snugly in place with just the right amount of "give".

Aha, I wonder if 'pasture mishaps' is code for 'butt bite'?

[kedwards]

Don't have a shark-suit connection, but I sure can sympathize, Karin. I'm so glad that it's cool enough to put a sheet on Bud again. He loves his pasture pal, but this summer he was coming in with new bite marks just about every day. Fortunately, they've only ever been superficial.

[Nerys]

Originally posted by Cochise
Hehe I waas picturing a horse in a wet suit, holding a surf board! Surfs up!
:D


I was picturing the big fin sticking up where the saddle would fit...

[Tootsie4U]

Yepper! A horse has one at the barn I used to board at. That thing made it through every winter I was there (3) and supposidly they bought it long before then too. The only thing about them is that they aren't waterproof (talking about the turnout blankets/sheets) The fly sheet might be just the thing...