Re: RC: Re: barefoot and flies

["Robyn Levash" <questarabians@inreach.com>]

Just another *observation* that may make more sense. The flies still do like
my old guy a little more the the other three horses. He was shod for most of
his 19 years. He lived in a box stall for most of his years. He now lives in
pasture. It is common sense that a barefoot foot definately has more
circulation than a shod foot. The frog cannot touch the ground (or has
minimal contact with the ground) to pump blood back up the leg when shod. My
old guy is much less active (therefore has less circulation) than my other
horses. The years previously, the flies were a *huge* problem with him. It
seemed as if he were literally a HORSE FLY MAGNET. This year they minimally
bother him (since barefoot) and he does not need fly masks, or fly spray.
Because of the HUGE difference this is probably the only reason I noticed
the difference at all.
Forget talking about flies . . . I'm goin' riding.:)))
Robyn
----- Original Message -----
From: Robyn Levash <questarabians@inreach.com>
To: Tiffany D'Virgilio <dvirgilio@mindspring.com>
Cc: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2001 7:46 AM
Subject: Re: RC: Re: barefoot and flies


> Never said less flies were *absolutely* because of being barefoot. I
simply
> noted my clearly noticeable OBSERVATIONS since the only thing that changed
> was being barefoot. My old guy used to be swarmed with flies every year
when
> shod. He would stock up all the time to. It was ridiculous! Within two
weeks
> after taking shoes off, the flies *significantly* decreased. His stocking
up
> disappeared to.  It was a HUGE problem before. When I leased him out for
six
> months last year the person leasing him put shoes back on him. Guess what,
> the flies became horrendous again, and he started stocking up. When I got
> him back (shod) the flies were beyond ridiculous. He was my only horse
shod
> at the time. I took the shoes off, and within a week the flies
tremendously
> decreased. They are really a problem for my shod neighbors horses. So it
is
> not that they are just not around, or my horses smell better ect. Laugh
all
> you want, and just don't beleive it if you wish! Like I said before,  it
is
> simply my *observations* and nothing more. I have also friends in
different
> parts of the country that have noticed this same observation too. It is
not
> that far fetched that *possibly* flies are more attracted to horses that
> have decreased circulation in their bodies? Notice very carefully that I
> said the word *possibly* and *not all horses*. What I have stated in my
> observations are based on *facts* not my *opinion*. So if you got nothing
> *kind* to say, perhaps you should keep your *laughing* *closemindedness*
and
> *opinions* to yourself.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Robyn
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tiffany D'Virgilio <dvirgilio@mindspring.com>
> To: Robyn Levash <questarabians@inreach.com>; <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2001 11:48 PM
> Subject: Re: RC: Re: barefoot
>
>
> > on 10/1/01 9:18 AM, Robyn Levash at questarabians@inreach.com wrote:
> >
> > > The weirdest observation is that last year when shod, I noticed the
> flies
> > > always really bothered my two shod horses, while the two barefoot
horses
> has
> > > little to no flies on them. This year all the horses are barefoot, and
> it
> > > seems as if the flies must be on vacation or something. They sure like
> my
> > > neighbors shod horses though.
> > I'm sorry, but I find it hilarious to think that not shoeing a horse is
> > going to be responsible for every little thing good that happens. They
> > excrete toxins better, make your horse sweat less, and now ripping the
ol'
> > shoes off makes the flies stay away! What is next? Taking shoes off will
> > make him trailer load better or make him smarter? I'm not attacking you,
> but
> > don't we think these claims are getting a wee bit preposterous? That
seems
> > pretty far fetched as do most of these claims and I own a barefoot
horse.
> > There ain't a darned difference in the two except the barefoot mare gets
> > ouchy after a couple hours riding in the sharp rocks.
> > Tiffany
> >
>