I've always had a small bottle of roll-on fly repellent in my tack box to use around Lucy's eyes when we ride.
Around here we call it "eye deodorant" because that's exactly what it looks like. Why I've never tried to use it
on George and Alan before is just plain stupid. I assumed they would not tolerate me
rolling this strange, smelly substance around their eyeballs.
When Ranchsitter #2/#4//Danni was here and George came home without a fly mask for the umpteenth time,
she suggested we had nothing to lose by trying to train him and Alan to accept the eye deodorant.
And train them she did! It took all of one minute, two cookies, and no halter.
And train them she did! It took all of one minute, two cookies, and no halter.
One half of a cookie is dispensed before the application to encourage their cooperation.
They've learned that if they stand quietly, the other half of the cookie will be their reward.
The repellent is oil-based and dirt tends to stick to it, but Alan thinks that makes him look macho.
A 2-ounce bottle costs about half the price of a fly mask and by my estimation
will last about 100 times as long!
George: Next thing you know she'll be having me wear mascara.
Thank you, Danni, for teaching me and my burros a few new tricks.
There are no rules about old burros and new tricks--that's only for dogs. Those cookies look pretty good. Are those the ones you gave the recipe for?
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for those beuatiful burro eyes! I am sure they now like this careful slow massage
ReplyDeleteGood tip. Two heads are always better than one. I'll remember this.
ReplyDeleteBest always, Sandra
saving money is always good and that last picture of George is a big plus to, so sweet...
ReplyDeleteAhhh, now I know why you REALLY have so many ranchsitters. Not to help you, but so you can learn many new tricks! And just when I thought you already knew everything!
ReplyDeleteNancy in Iowa
Don't forget to factor in the price of cookies :) Excellent new tactic. Fabulous pics.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Between the burro-training and the cabinet organizing and lamp shade dusting, maybe your ranch-sitters should start a business of traveling to people's homes and solving problems!!
ReplyDeleteI know I would pay to bring them in.
I hope that you continue to improve daily!!
I will have to look into the roll on deal. First time I have heard of it...here on this ranch we get the spray out and slather when mosquitoS are out we call it shallacking this is to include the horses and mules...enuf of em to carry you and the horse off! Not sure the roll on would be effective then but maybe at our new home in missouri it will. As for flys maybe when away from all the cattle it would work....Thanks for sharin...
ReplyDeleteOHMY gosh!! that roll on bottle reminds me of my brand of deodorant back in the olden days when I had to put it on about an hour before I got dressed so it would dry ;p
ReplyDeleteOh, much better now that we can see their eyes. I'l bet they like the trade off much more now, too - and, they get treats to boot!
ReplyDeleteIt's always good to see something through someone else's filter. These ranchsitters of yours are adding to your life, in ways I know you never anticipated. Ain't life a kick in the pants????? And aren't we all the better for the sharing???? Thanks LC for the close ups of the beautiful burro eyes. Happy October the twoth, Oma Linda
ReplyDeleteI do remember that my Dad's horses had this problem. He used a salve.
ReplyDeleteOhhhhhh! Look at those sweet boys, standing so calm and patiently - good boys!!
ReplyDeleteThe learning definitely goes both ways, Carson...I didn't even know such a roll-on fly deterrent existed before seeing it at your place. I bought some the moment I got back home and I no longer have to chase my Chester around with the fly spray. He is *terrified* of the sound the bottle makes, and tucks his tail and runs. Using the roll-on on him now is a piece of cake!
Aren't cookies a wonderful thing?
ReplyDeleteGreat for them and easy for you...That works...Glad that the herd is so agreeable...oh, yes the cookies did the trick....
ReplyDeleteNow you don't have to look all over for the masks....
Have a fabulous evening...
Love from NC
Sometimes the obvious is smacking us upside the head and we don't see it.
ReplyDeleteOh, I've GOT to get some of that! Pink SWAT doesn't look too attractive on my geldings! (I accidentally bought the pink one last time!)
ReplyDelete