Aaagggh! The little bugger was sucking my blood!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

It looked exactly like this.

I loathe ticks! They remind me of rethuglicans!

[Sannum]

1. They have much in common

One is a blood sucking parisite, the other is a tick.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

16. ...

:rofl:

[all.of.me]

2. ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww........

they are SOOOOOOOOO disgusting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

17. I hate that snapping sound they make when you pluck them from your flesh

It gives me chills!

[CottonBear]

3. Eww! I had to pull one off of my horse's tummy

the other day. I sterilized my hands with alcohol afterwards.
I hate ticks too. They creep me out.

[ScooterTramp]

5. Use a glob of Vaseline. They'll pull their head out and suffocate.

Pulling them may leave their head. IckyPoo!

[CottonBear]

9. It was actually in her delicate "nether regions"

next to one of her teats. Sort of in her horse "armpit" (legpit?) as it were. I had to put my head under her tummy,right next to her back leg, and look up/back there. I pulled it out head and all with my bare fingers. Ewww! Gross! I put anti itch and antibiotic ointments on the spot. Fortunately, I've taught her to let me examine those "delicate" areas so she didn't mind.

[ScooterTramp]

12. I'm glad she trusts you. I do so wish more breeders knew

how to properly bond colts and fillys at birth. Their handling would be so much safer for them and for us!

[CottonBear]

14. I've been with her since right after she was born.

She waited to make an appearance while we were all at dinner, of course. I have handled her since day one. I've also worked with a natural horsemanship trainer. Cotton is almost two now and is is growing quite large. She may be over 16 hands when she's full grown. She is a well-trained filly.

Do you ride or have an equine? I just love horses! Always have!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[ScooterTramp]

15. I ~heart~ horses! Thank you. I was taught to get those slimey things

into your lap as soon after birth as possible (it helps to have a trusting mare), and breathe in their nostrils and talk in their ears. I've raised a number of what I call hip pocket horses. Seems they were always as close to me as the pocket of my jeans. :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. In my next life, I shall have a horse

and I will remember what I learned from you guys here. Fascinating! :hi:

[ScooterTramp]

27. Thank you, Goddess, but why wait for your next life?

I'm between horses myself right now, but I've owned dozens at a time, and will again. :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

36. I couldn't afford to keep one properly...

I don't even know how to ride one; though I think I may indulge in riding lessons at some point. :D

[ScooterTramp]

40. We may have a convert here. I hope you do, dear...

I believe you may have an affinity for them.

[CottonBear]

33. You can always take lessons or just visit a farm or stables!

I started out as an adult taking lessons, then leasing a horse, learning a lot and finally buying my own for my 40th Christmas present to myself!

BTW, I love your anteater (?) picture. It is SO cool.

Horses are the most beautiful of creatures. It is amazing that they will let you ride them and pull things for you and be your friend. They are very curious and emotional creatures.

[ScooterTramp]

37. As well as devoted and trusting if properly handled.

Humankind would never have progressed so swiftly without our horses and our dogs! :)

[CottonBear]

43. Don't forget about our kitties and donkeys and mules!

:)

[ScooterTramp]

46. I have had my encounters with mules and a donkey named

Madonna. She earned her name because she sang so sweetly. :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

38. I have a couple of friends who own horses...

They have such interesting personalities.

Once, after a Halloween hayride with my son, I petted the horse's nose and thanked him for hauling my fat butt up the hill; and his response was to nod his head vigorously. LOL!

[ScooterTramp]

41. ~Giggle!~ Yes, they are quite the characters.

[CottonBear]

44. All equines have very unique personalities which are based on

their sex (stallion, mare or gelding), breed, age, upbringing and training.

Mine is very curious and loves to learn. In new situations, she is brave if I am brave. Alternately, a young or highly spirited horse can feed off of your fear or worry. It's a zen exercise.

A good lesson horse is an steady going, older, well-trained animal with an equable temperament. And remember, don't ride without a proper helmet and sturdy shoes. Interview or watch an instructor give a lesson first. Always take your first lessons on the ground and learn proper handling, safety techniques as well as basic equine behavior. They are prey/flight creatures and can move quickly! Then you'll be ready to experience the joy of riding!

[CottonBear]

32. My horse is my therapy and the basis of my sanity.

You can't lie to a horse. You must be honest with them. I do love her so.
I recently posted her baby pics over in the Pets forum. Check her out! She's a cutie pie! She is much larger now and will be two years old on May 4.

We have lots of DU riders and horse lovers here at DU. SkipfromNewark (sp?) and Muserider and Friesanrider come to mind.

[ScooterTramp]

34. And now me. I adore equines, from minis to draft, mustang to

thoroughbreds. They're one of the loves of my life! :)

[CottonBear]

39. Do you have your own horse or a special horse friend?

My Cotton is an Oldenburg, which is a German Warmblood breed. Her dam (who lives on the farm) is a Thoroughbred Mare from the Northern Dancer / Native Dancer line. She is reddish bay with a white star and three white socks.

[ScooterTramp]

45. I'm twixt and tween right now. I've owned and raised dozens.

I've had a barnful of minis, and trained several stallions to the cart. My personal preference in riding is big Thoroughbreds. I love their speed and heart. I have owned and loved a number of Arabians, both Polish and Egyptians. I've also been suckered into several mule deals, and survived them intact!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

23. I'll remember that...

Thanks!

[ScooterTramp]

29. You're welcome. It works!

:)

[MADem]

50. Who says you don't learn something new every day?

Does that really work? How long does it take? Do you just toss the glob of vaseline on the whole tick and wait? Details, I plead, I have dogs...and it is only a matter of time!

[ScooterTramp]

51. That is a prefered method in an inaccessible place like under a horse...

If the tick is accessible use tweezers to grasp the tick as near to the mouthparts and as close to the skin as possible. Use gentle, steady, straight force to pull the tick out. The site should then be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with alcohol or another disinfectant.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. Poor horsie!

I still feel where it was latched on...

[CottonBear]

35. She had an icky bump for several days.

I just have an awful reaction to the nasty little critters. *shudder*
Ticks are everywhere here in the southeast.

Check her baby pictures out over in the Pets forum. Her name is Cotton.

[ScooterTramp]

4. Many: poli. Ticks: blood sucking parasite. Nuff said!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. LOL!

Too true! :rofl:

[ScooterTramp]

30. ~Tee hee!~

[baldguy]

6. Thank God!

I thought you'd let Tom Delay into your house!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

20. Nevahhhh!

Not that slimy rascalion!

[Padraig18]

7. *shudder*

I absolutely LOATHE ticks!

:scared:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

21. Normally I would've had Mr GoG remove it,

but he wasn't home yet. I can't even stand to touch the things!

[Tom Kitten]

8. ick

that's awful! Be glad it wasn't a facial tick! :)

[libodem]

11. Speaking of facial tics

Rush Limbaugh apparently has one that makes his eye twitch when he has certain ranges triggered on his cochlear implant, reminds me of the agent who chased the Pink Panther, all the time

[GoddessOfGuinness]

22. I get those in one of my eyes

when I haven't slept enough.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

28. Hi Tom Kitten,

I see you're sporting another new artwork...Is it yours? I LIKE it...Wish it were bigger so I could really see the details. Your stuff is always worth looking at!

:hi:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

10. Get a checkup

That's how Lyme's Disease is passed.

Seriously.

[ScooterTramp]

13. Thank you. I came back to caution about deer ticks

They are a serious health issue.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

26. My dog has Lyme disease...

He's on antibiotics for the next 3 weeks. :(

[ScooterTramp]

31. Oh, I'm so sorry. You have my best wishes for his complete recovery!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

42. Thanks...

He's already muuuuch better than he was. But the doctor only gave him a weeks worth of pain killer. When he ran out he started limping again, less than before. The vet thinks he has arthritis as well...

[ScooterTramp]

47. If I'm not mistaken the Lyme Disease can cause arthritis...

due to the inflammation in the joints.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. I don't think this kind carries Lyme...

It's the deer ticks that give you that. This variety can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever though... :scared:

[Dave Reynolds]

48. Yarg....

when I lived in Oklahoma I used to have to pick eight or nine off the dog every day.

But my worst thing was when I woke up one morning with an itch in a "personal" area, that turned out to be a small lump..with legs....:scared:

[ScooterTramp]

49. ~Yoicks!~

[GoddessOfGuinness]

52. My older boy went on a weekend camping trip when he was about 9...

To Prince William Forest Park in VA. Lovely park with nice cabins for the kids. Full of deer ticks! The poor kid was covered with them all over! The pediatrician put him on antibiotics, just in case.
Fortunately, he didn't contract Lyme.

[Maddy McCall]

53. That's a deer tick!

BE CAREFUL! If you have any inflammation whatsoever at the site, you must go see your doctor.

Not all Lyme disease is indicated by the bull's eye rash. Actually, a minority show the bull's eye rash.

Fever, headaches, nausea, and such = hospital ER visit.