FYI if you are using a Lasko box fan purchased between 2002 and 2005 you may be at risk for an electrical fire.  Read the article below from TheHorse for additional information.

Lasko Products Inc., manufacturer of home appliances such as fans and heaters, is recalling approximately 4.8 million box fans (similar to those frequently used in barns by horse owners) after an electrical problem in the fan’s motor has caused some of these fans to catch fire, reportedly causing several house fires and a barn fire.

According to a statement on the company’s website, affected fans were manufactured between July 31, 2002, and July 31, 2004, and “sold at major retail stores, home improvement centers, hardware stores, and other retailers nationwide between late 2002 and as late as 2005.”

The models affected by this recall are Lasko model numbers 3720, 3723, and 3733 and Galaxy box fans model number 4733. These fans will have “2002-03″ or “2003-04″ printed on the bottom of the frame.

Lasko requests that anyone currently using one of the recalled fans discontinue use immediately and register their recalled product online or call 800/233-0268. Those affected will be provided with a fan protection cord adapter, which is designed to “protect against a potential hazard resulting from an electrical failure in the fan motor.”

via The Horse | Box Fan Recall Could Affect Horse Owners.

While it may be a bit early to be thinking of flies, here is some news that may be of interest to you very soon.  A new study reveals that catnip oil is 99% effective in deterring flies around horses and other livestock according to an article on HorseTalk.  I was curious if there were already any products available that contained catnip oil to repel flies and other insects from horses.  Sure enough, this bit of knowledge has been known for some time and has been incorporated into several herbal sprays available, available on the Internet:

• Equi-Spa Peppermint Summer Protection
• Dr. Harvey’s Herbal Protection Spray

While I don’t have any experience with these products, the ingredients sure look a lot less harmful than the typical man-made chemicals that most sprays use.  If you have any experience with herbal products, especially catnip, post a comment and let us know!

I came across this article the other day on About.com.  It is an interesting read.  Many times when your horse goes lame, you can’t figure out which leg s/he is lame on.  This bit of information will help you determine that.

Your horse appears lame, and is favoring a leg. But because there is no obvious swelling, you can’t feel a warmer area, there are no cuts or other visible injuries you’re not sure what leg to start looking for a problem on. Here is how to tell whether your horse is lame on a front or back leg.

First of all watch the horse as it is standing still. If it is lame, and obviously resting and avoids placing weight on one leg, that will probably be the injured leg.

Watch the horse as it is ridden on a loose rein, or trotted in hand in a straight line on a loose lead rope over firm, level ground. If the horse is lame on a front leg, the horse will dip its nose down. If the horse pops its head up slightly, the lameness is in the hindquarters or legs. If a horse is obviously lame on both front or rear legs, there will be no head bob. Their strides will be choppy and short.

When the horse is lame in the front you can determine which leg is lame by watching carefully and noticing when his head is up, and which leg has hit the ground at that moment. He will dip his head down as the sound leg hits the ground. If the lameness is in the rear, he’ll drop his hip slightly on the side that is lame.

via Is Your Horse Lame on a Back or Front Leg – How to Tell if A Horse is Lame on A Front or Back Leg.