A skunk sprayed my horse!!

[Jennasis]

Ewwwwwwwwww! I had just finished teaching for the evening (horseback riding lessons) and was helping my student put her horse away when I noticed that DH hadn't brought Phantom (my horse) and one of the other ponies in for dinner yet from the pasture. So I went and grabbed them as they waited anxiously by the gate for me since all of their pasture mates had already been brought into the barn. When I grabbed Phantom's halter and made my way to the barn I almost immediately noticed an awful smell, like burnt popcorn/burning rubber. I thought for a split second that the house or barn was on fire! It was terrible! I threw thepony in his stall and turned to Phantom who stared at me rather pitifully...and then I realized the smell was coming from his face!

I smelled his nose and there it was...overpowering! That burning rubber/popcorn/coffee smell. I called DH over and said "Smell him!"...DH did and said "must've been sprayed by a skunk."

Now we are really not country folk. Sure we live on a horse farm in a pretty rural part of NC, but I was born and raised on Long Island, about 45 minutes from NYC! Varmints just aren't my thing! I laughed so hard. My poor horse. There is no way he'll let me wash his head with tomato juice. What the heck do I do? Luckily I am taking a client to the vet tomoroow. I'll ask him. I tried to picture my horse innocently going over to investigate this stranger in his pasture, only to be punished by the "business end" of the black and white intruder! No wonder he was last to come in...the other horses probably wouldn't let him stand at the gate with them.

Gross!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hey, I think this is a spoiler, I did not see the replay on TV.

 

[Jennasis]

Well, the highlight reel was shown at 5pm, but apparently the entire "free spray" program will be shown in primetime. If you have the smell-o-vision feature with your HDTV you'll get the best experience....don't worry, I didn't tell you the best part. You'll have to watch and see!

 

[TinkInPink]

awww poor thing. that will be hard to deal with cuse even some of the gentalest horses that i know wouldnt like that. what if you just washed his face with his regular shampoo and a spounge so it isnt too rough, untill the vet calls.
also what style do you ride? im a horse person too.

 

[nhrenee]

No wonder he was last to come in...the other horses probably wouldn't let him stand at the gate with them.Gross!

Poor guy! Poor you!

 

[luvdzne]

Poor thing! There is nothing worse than skunk

 

[Disney Doll]

Mix together cup of baking soda, a quart of peroxide and a few squirts of dish soap (not dishwasher soap...regular dish soap). Don't shake this to mix it!!! Stir it until it is mixed. If you shake it, there could be a reaction between the baking soda and the peroxide. Wash & rince the affected area. You may have to repeat it a couple of times. Don't store the mixture and don't tightly cover or shake it,

I used this on my dog last fall when he got sprayed, and it really worked.

 

[salmoneous]

Don't wait - start washing your horse as soon as possible - they don't enjoy the smell any more than you do. Any number of recipies on the internet - the one above is typical. Been through this several time with my dogs - you'd think they'd learn after the first time.

More importantly, anytime a horse has been skunked you have to worry about serious diseases. Carefully examine and look for any signs of bites. If there are any, see a vet immediately. Even if there are no obvious signs of a bite, keep a very close eye on the horse's health over the next month or two. Anything out of the ordinary, again, see a vet immediately. The risk is pretty small, but it's something you want to take pretty seriously.

 

[Jennasis]

He didn't have any bite marks on him...thank heaven! I was actually more worried about his eyes. getting sprayed in the face, I was worried he might have gotten it in the eye, but it seems it is mostly on the end of his nose (it seems Pepe Le Pew has very precise aim). DH and I had recently seen an episode of MYthbusters where they tried a variety of anti-skunk washes. I remember them saying that the smell was due to a microorganism or bactieria in the liquid? Plain water just smooshes it around basically.

Tink: We ride English. I'm a hunt seat instructor.

 

[salmoneous]

Great! Glad to hear there weren't any bite marks. But do take care of the smell as soon as possible. I saw that mythbusters - fun show - they recommended the perioxide/soda/soap solution too.

 

[TinkInPink]

hope it goes well
and btw i ride saddleseat