Sonja

Pretty roan! Poor girl needs some netting to protect her eyes from the bothersome flies... Nice capture!

Sonja.... Wild horses have diff't immunities and tolerances.... If you look closely, you can see the swelling of the mucous membranes around the animal's eyes indicating that the flies are indeed having an adverse effect --- this sort of thing could lead to infections of the eyes which are very painful. Interestingly, too, as I've noticed with my own horses, not all horses have the same sensitivity either. My Gypsy Vanners, American Paint, Mustang, Friesians & Belgian aren't bothered that much by flies, but my Andalusians & Arabians need eye protection most summers. I think it's due, in part, to the nature of the diff't breeds.... The ones with the long manes & tails also tend to have thicker eyelashes besides part of their manes flowing over their eyes to protect them naturally. And the American Paint & Mustang are designed by nature to handle the annoying bugs. Horses living in herds also fare much better because they form close friendships with other members and they help each other with grooming and also stand tail to head with each other and swat flies from each others' eyes =)

The roan coat coloring is pretty common and some breeds -- often outgrown, by the way.... Can't really tell what mix of breeds this little horse is. I do seem some draft & Haflinger characteristics in it...