“Bees,” yelled my friend Connie as she took off at the canter from behind me. I sent my horse into a canter and ran off with her. We were trail riding on her ranch while gathering cattle. Fortunately, we out ran the buzzing cloud and continued gathering the cattle. These were not honey bees. We were being chased by a swarm of yellowjackets defending their disturbed gopher hole home.
Come ride along with me! Get your riding the SLO County Trails Hotsheet to get started and join the SLO Horse News Herd!
What is a Yellowjacket?
It is not a honey bee. Yellowjackets scavenge for proteins and sweet liquids. Yellowjackets are not fuzzy, but like bees they do have yellow and black on their slick bodies.
Disturbing Yellowjacket’s Underground Homes
Unfortunately, disturbing yellowjacket’s underground homes can happen while out on a trail ride, or even in a pasture, especially in late summer and fall. In the spring yellowjackets are more focused on feeding off other insects, but come fall they are out hunting for other proteins to eat.
Unknowingly disturbing a yellowjacket underground nest can be catastrophic for the horse trail rider. The yellowjackets can sting both the horses and riders. Yellowjackets have the ability to continually sting. A horse could most naturally react by bucking and running off, which may unseat the rider. The rider could be stung too, most likely in the exposed face, neck and arms.
Disturbing Yellowjackets Nests While Riding
A group of local trail riders experienced a yellowjacket attack while on a trail ride near Santa Margarita Lake. Each rider was unseated and the group of five horses went running off. Tragically one of these horses was critically injured and ended up being euthanized.
Tips to Help Minimize Disaster from Disturbing Yellowjackets Nests
There’s really not much one can do in event of being attack by a buzzing swarm – except stay in the saddle and try to get out of there – but there are some actions you can take before and during your trail ride that could mitigate disaster.
Hey, head’s up. Clicking the the links or product pics that follow may result in providing us a little kick-back money. To learn more see the affiliate disclaimer at the end of this story.
- Be aware of your surroundings and watch for signs of yellowjacket/wasp activity in ground holes and holes in trees.
- Every rider should be paying attention to the holes in the ground and steer clear of any holes where yellowjackets are visible. All riders behind horses should be watching for disturbed holes from the horse(s) ahead of them.
- It may be necessary for the trail ride group to split – some going up ahead, some turning away and heading back – in the event the group encounters a swarm. These plans should be discussed prior to taking off for the ride.
- Be extra cautious on narrow trails with steep uphill and downhill corridors. Horses will not be able to turn around on narrow trails like these so moving together briskly forward will be necessary.
- Avoid riding during peak wasp hours (usually late morning to early afternoon).
- Have a code word, like BEES, to yell if you encounter agitated yellowjackets. Communicate this word – before your ride – to your group so all will know to take off at the trot or canter when the code word is given.
- Horses do generally trot or canter faster than a swarm can move. So, getting out quickly is necessary. All riders should be capable of managing their horse at the trot or canter in a group on the trail.
- Wear long sleeves and a neckerchief to minimize your skin exposure.
- Consider carrying a first-aid kit, sting wipes and antihistamines in case of a wasp sting.
Additional Help Regarding Yellowjacket Nests
The trail is not the only place yellowjackets will set up home. Horse trailers, eves, and empty stalls are additional places one may encounter or disturb a yellowjacket nest. So, keep these things in mind:
Check Your Horse’s Habitat
Know your horse’s habitat. Check under eaves and in haylofts for nests, regularly. Discovering a nest of wasps in the loft as the hay truck arrives, will put you into a panic and dangerous situation. Use caution when going into an abandoned building or putting your horse into a stall that hasn’t been used in a while. Check for wasp nests in these areas before putting them to use.
Inspect Your Horse Trailer
Inspect your trailer carefully before you load a horse, every time you use it. Bees may have moved in. Check the vents and the hitch area as well as the interior.
Check Horse Show Stalls
Before you settle your horse into a stall at a horse show, examine the stable area or trailer parking area at a showground. Empty stalls are perfect nest sites and your arrival may upset a horde of wasps? If you see bees, notify show management and other exhibitors.
Yellowjacket nests should be removed by a professional service. Do not try to manage them yourself.
Dealing with Yellowjacket, Wasp and Bee stings
Again, yellowjackets can sting multiple times so it won’t be unusual to have several stings if attacked. This is the same for horses and humans. The horse may either buck and bolt or stop and stamp while rubbing it’s face to deal with the sting. Either situation is not ideal and the best option is to get out of the area as fast as possible.
Cool water or ice on stings for horses can provide relief. Baking soda mixed with water to form a paste may provide some relief, but be sure the paste is applied to the horse’s skin, not the coat. Seek the advice of your veterinarian if the horse has an excessive number of stings or is exhibiting signs of stress and difficulty breathing.
Putting cool water and/or ice stings for humans can be beneficial. Also applying a baking soda paste could provide relief as well. Consult your doctor if you are stung an excessive amount of times.
What about bees?
A bee is different from a yellowjacket or wasp. Bees gather pollen and feed on nectar. They build honeycombs from wax secreted from their bodies. Honey bees make honey for their larva in a hive. This is the honey we enjoy eating. A honeybee can only sting once, then it dies. The stinger (and part of the bee’s digestive tract) will remain in a human or animal’s skin and needs to be removed by scraping with a credit card or something similar.
Horses and White Bee Boxes
Not too long ago a bee keeper set up white bee boxes in a neighboring field to where I stable my pony. I frequently walk my pony right past the field where the bee boxes were placed. At first, I was alarmed and wondered how this would impact the horses. As I looked into the matter, I learned that the white bee boxes are for the European honey bee. These bees are too busy gathering nectar to bother with you or your horse.
This provided relief, but I was still a bit skeptical when I walked past. Bees were buzzing in the air every time we walked past. Yet, we were never bothered by a single bee.
I did learn that having a designated water source in close proximity to the bee boxes is very important. If no water is provided, the bees will seek it elsewhere. This could lead bees to your horse’s water source, which may not be a suitable sharing situation for your horse. So, if bee boxes are set up near your horse’s habitat you have every right to ask for a specific water source to be maintained for the bees.
Hearing my friend yell, BEES as she took off at the canter was the right thing for her to do. She saved both of us and our horses from being stung by a swarm of yellowjackets. Fortunately, we enjoyed the rest of the ride and gathered all the cattle. But I’ll never forget the moment and I’ll forever BEE thankful.
Get going! Looking for trails to ride in SLO County? This hotsheet will get you going on a few of the top rides. Get this delivered to your e-mail and join the SLO Horse News herd to stay up-to-date on herd happenings. Click here > SLO County Trails Hot Sheet to get going!
