Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

On Jul 24, 2007, at 1:37 PM, Lauren Horn wrote:

> Is it possible for a horse (with thin, sensitive skin & hair) to have a delayed reaction to poison oak? We rode through a lot of it on a two day ride and a week later my horse suddenly comes down with really swollen, stocked up legs. Kind of like elephant legs, but not quite that bad. Vet is treating the symptoms with lasix (sp)? and steroids, but neither of us has no idea why she would suddenly swell. Poison oak is the only reason that I can?think of.?
>
> BTW, I'm covered in poison oak rashes myself. I had no idea that the ride was so full of it.
>
> Lauren

I've never heard of a horse reacting that way to poison oak. Our trails are loaded with it and the horses seem to find it a real delicacy to eat if we stop along the trail!

Swanton is also loaded with stinging nettle (http://www.naturepark.com/snettle.htm) -- I itched for several days after doing Swanton (and I am not allergic to poison oak).


Lynn kinsky, Santa Ynez, CA
http://www.silcom.com/~lkinsky/