Meg Alfoni wrote in a message to Vicki Nichols:
MA> @e used to have to t@itch Thistle...after going through
MA> that, my opinion of balding is definitely negative.  I just
MA> "fold" the ear and trim the hair that sticks out.  I also
MA> don't like to bald them, as their natural fly protection is
MA> eliminated.  Ho@ever, if you're into serious sho@ing, it's a
MA> must, so I guess they have to learn to deal @ith it one @ay
MA> or another. No@, the Fjord people have the right idea!
    Balding is "de riguer" in Phoenix; I am normally the only one showing 
without balding the horse's ears.  Dub has explained to me in no uncertain 
terms that we will get along better and live longer if I leave his ears 
alone.  If that's the difference between a first and a second place, I'm 
gonna quit showing again.
     Need to let you know, though, that flies are not the problem here that 
they are in other parts of the country.  Only TOUGH HOUSE FLIES seem to hang 
around horses here!   I haven't seen a horse fly in Phoenix since I was a 
little girl, and THAT'S a LONG time.  We don't even buy the fly masks here 
with the ear covers.
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