TEL 0845 30 10 365 | DELIVERY CHARGES | YOUR SHOPPING BAG | CHECKOUT

Friday, May 29, 2009

Summer Equestrian Equipment advice

As well as the beginning of the show season, the start of summer also brings a whole host of possible horse related problems that every responsible horse owner should be aware of. As with most things, prevention is always better than cure. With the necessary equestrian equipment and NAF horse supplements ready in your tack room, you can sit back in your saddle and look forward to a successful show season knowing that your horse is looking and feeling in peak condition.

Sweet itch

With the warm weather also come the flies, midges, mosquitoes and other small winged critters that cause as much irritation to horses as they do to humans.

All horses suffer from insect bites but some can be affected by sweet itch which is an allergic reaction to midge bites.

Starting in March and continuing through to November, sweet itch causes horses to frantically rub their manes and tails often causing nasty sores and leaving them bald in places. As well as looking unsightly, sweet itch can make the horse irritable, unwilling to work and unable to concentrate.

Luckily there are many products available that can help prevent and alleviate the symptoms this condition causes. The fly sheets in the Dogwood range such as the Horseware - Rambo Sweetitch Hoody teamed with the NAF Off Deet fly spray and NAF D-itch ointments can also help keep the bugs off and soothe any itching they cause.

Sunburn

Unbelievably, like humans, horses can also suffer from sunburn. Although it usually only affects paler horses or horses with white muzzles, without protection, sunburn can leave horses with flaking noses and sore blisters. NAF Sun Shield offers natural sun protection for horses to keep them safe in the sun this summer.

Overheating

On hot summer days your horse can be at risk from overheating which can lead to dehydration, muscle cramping, colic, kidney failure, shock and in extreme cases even death, so it's important that you have the necessary horse equipment to keep them cool and content. Sweat rugs will help prevent your horse from cooling too quickly after exercise which can be a problem after heavy work. NAF Electro Salts will help keep your horse hydrated with its natural dietetic properties.

Laminitis

Laminitis is a painful condition and one of the most common reasons for lameness. It is caused by the inflammation of the laminae which are the connecting tissues between the pedal bone and hoof wall and if not treated properly, can cause irreparable damage.

Although commonly associated with overweight ponies, there are many factors which are believed to trigger the condition. Lush spring grass high in carbohydrates is a common cause whilst excessive work on hard ground and obesity are other known triggers.

Laminaze, a product from the NAF horse supplement range can help with the management of laminitis. Its naturally sourced antioxidants combined with key gut support, bio-available sulphur and targeted nutrients, help maintain hoof health and improve your horse's diet.

Prevention is always better, and often cheaper, than cure so make sure you and your horse are well prepared for the summer months by stocking up on NAF horse supplements.