Garlic? For bug control?

[Audrey]

Hi, I live on the coast of NC where it is skeeter season all year! I have all horses current on West Nile ;-).

I would like to try feeding garlic. Anyone do this? Experience with it? Price?Where is the cheapest place to buy it?

Thanks! Audrey

[Christi]

I have two thoughts on garlic. First, the only horse I have ever known on a garlic supplement was ostracized by the rest of the herd. I guess they thought he smelled funny, so they started picking on him. Who knows? (he did smell bad, I have to say)

Second...About five years ago, I read an article that warned of health hazards of feeding garlic to horses. I have since searched high and low for that article, but I can find no references of it anywhere. Since that was the only bad thing I have ever heard, and I know lots of people feed garlic without problems, I can't give you a reliable source of any bad info for feeding garlic.

As for the reliability of keeping bugs off, I have no idea.

Hmmm...I guess that info wasn't so helpful after all.


Christi

[Christi]

Aha! I found a reference to that study! This is a great garlic info page. It says the study is not reliable, and it also gives recommended dosage of a garlic supplement for horses.

Here's the link:
www.theherbalhorse.co.za/articles/garlic.htm

Two more links:
Saying the study was actually for onions:
www.dropinbucket.com/cat4.htm

From the vet who wrote that article, in her defense:
horses.about.com/care/nutrition/eqgarlic528/index.html?terms=garlic


Hope that helps!

Christi
(edited to add two more links)

[ClaireLV]

I only heard the 'garlic controversy' when I moved over here. In england many people feed garlic, and so did I. I never knew any ill effects and plenty of positive ones. My understanding off the argument is that it is an allium and causes thinning of the blood. Something like that. Anyway, I do feed it, it does help keep the bugs away and they seem to like it if you introduce it slowly. You can get garlic powder from Stateline Tack Petsmart, or from Dover catalogue (I think it might be on clearance at the moment online, and a good brand), or you can get garlic powder from the grocery store and feed that.

[Christi]

Well, I'm glad to have finally found the references to the study. Considering how the study wasn't accurate, and that soooo many people feed garlic with no problems, I wouldn't hesitate to try it in moderation.

And as one of those links stated, you can always request a blood test to make sure there is no anemia.

Christi

[Linda]

I have a propane mosquito killer and it made a tremendous difference around our house. I will be getting one more very shortly. The expensive ones are called Mosquito Magnet, but you should be able to get one for about $300. I believe you can still read all about these at >www.mosquitomagnet.com<

I suspect that garlic is a lot like repellents. They work a lot better if only one of the animals is protected. The mosquitos then tend to feed more on the "easier" victims to find. Mosquitos have a very small home range. If you can wipe them out early, you can decimate their breeding population. That way, nothing warm-blooded will have to serve as the "easier victim".

We used to have a horrible mosquito problem. It was not unusual to have several hundred mosquitos on the bellies of the horses. Nothing was very effective. By using the propane traps, keeping the vegetation down, and using all the other management techniques, we have made great headway on making our property a nice place to be in the evening.

If you can destroy the breeding population where the horses live, then you only have to worry about protecting them when they leave your property. That is where the repellents and things such as garlic have the ability to shine. At that point, your horses aren't the usual (and perhaps only) food source for the local mosquitos. If the chemical does a good enough job of covering up the CO2 that attracts the mosquitos, then lunch will NOT be served.....

Linda

[Kat]

I first heard of doing it when I worked at the racehorse farm - all those horses got it twice daily in there feed - among a ton of other supplements. It actually seemed to help, especially when the owner went through a phase when we werent allowed to use any flyspary other then th enatural herbal stuff. EEK - ever tried to ride a 3 year old fit stud colt, or an unbroke baby - crazed out because of ALL the Ga bugs?!?! The Vinager at least helped, but I definatly like it in combonation with a GOOD flyspray :-)

[Christina]

I have a friend that swears by apple cider vinegar. You put it in the water supply. Since the vinegar also has other health benefits (as does garlic), it's worth a try.