AAAARRRRGGGHHHH - Clegs/Horseflies Driving Us Berserk!

TGM

TGM

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I am having a huge problem with cleg flies (also known as common horsefly) - this pic shows one:

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For some reason my mare seems to attract every cleg fly in the area who descend en masse and suck her blood
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. She also seems to be allergic to the bites and is obviously distressed when they occur and when returned to the stable after a ride she immediately starts rubbing where she has been bitten.

In previous years the main problem has been in the local woods and I just avoid the woods for a few weeks during the main clegfly season. However, as soon as I took her out of the stable today several clegflies descended and started biting and we were plagued by them throughout our whole hack even though we avoided the woods. Sprite was obviously very distressed and it wasn't a relaxing hack at all.

Does anyone else have this problem? My daughter's pony doesn't seem to be affected much - the flies aren't interested in her at all
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.

I've tried liberal application of 'natural' fly repellant (neem oil/tea tree/citronella) to no avail so would welcome any recommendations of repellants that will actually work. Was considering Naf DEET or Coopers.

Any advice most appreciated!
 
I have the exact same problem with the Ginger Pig (or Ten Bellies as he's affectionately know at the moment) TGM. I've found Coopers to be the only defence.
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Thanks Sally - will try the Coopers if the Phaser doesn't work. I'd love to know why some horses are much more attractive to the flies than others
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Had to thwack one of those off poor Beano yesterday when he was having his feet trimmed
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Toff also has a huge swelling near her udder so asume she has been bitten as usually ok with flies
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[ QUOTE ]
I'd love to know why some horses are much more attractive to the flies than others
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.

[/ QUOTE ] Me too. And why do the little b*st*rds insist on biting me too!
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Good luck with the Phaser.
 
Would you believe that I haven't seen a single cleg yet...(will now be covered in them, of course) but I hacked through a wood and long grass last week and didn't see or feel one. My mare is grey and the blood - and annoyance - are very visible when they come. I have invested in Cooper's too this year ...but I'm hoping there has been a freak reduction in the population in Lancs!
 
Same problems here TGM.
Went out for a hack this afternoon but returned 10 minutes later and banished to the school.
They are everywhere horses just cant get away from them.
Phaser is the best, but i left my blinking bottle on the lorry at home, so was left with the Equine America stuff which didnt do a thing.
Horses are getting so upset now its not even worth trying to hack out unless covered in Phaser, that always gets it
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Do you have Absorbine Super Concentrated over there? We have tonnes and tonnes of horse and deer flies and the horses were getting bitten like mad. I imported some Coopers - didn't touch them! I was disappointed as have used this forever and it's always been fantastic.

Anyway I have tried everything and they just don't work - although I have to say that my trail horses are sprayed with Deep Woods Off which has DEET in it. They have to go up our forest and there are loads of deer flies up there. This works well, but because it has DEET in it, I don't like to use it too much.

The Absorbine you have to dilute and I am finding that it really does work for the horses in the fields. I am pretty impressed I have to say as I really didn't think I was ever going to find something that I was happy putting on the horses every day, that worked.
 
One of ours seems to really attract every type of fly too. Have given up on repellents and he has a fly rug on which has been brilliant.

You can buy some kind of fly sheet which fits under the saddle for riding if your horse gets really bothered. Can't remember if it is Crusader who makes them, or who it is. Might feel a bit like a Medieval jouster riding out with one on, but if your horse gets really bothered might be worth a try? I haven't had to resort to one - yet...
 
[ QUOTE ]
but I'm hoping there has been a freak reduction in the population in Lancs!

[/ QUOTE ] Probably cos the little blighters have all moved down here
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Thanks Tia - I've googled it and can't find a UK supplier. I googled the active ingredient too and couldn't find it in any other repellents sold here either, so I presume we are not 'allowed' it here
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. Will keep my fingers crossed that either Phaser or Coopers do the job.
 
Thanks for that - if the repellents work then I will try and get one of those. I'd rather look like a medieval jouster than not be able to ride at all!
 
You and me both! Hope that Phazer or Coopers does work for you though. TBH the Coopers one scares me, as I think that if we have to wear gloves to put it on, what on earth is it doing to the horse. So haven't ever been brave enough to try it.
 
I think you must have all the ones from up here too
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, not seen any so far this year. They're never that bad up here though. If the sprays don't work, the riding fly rugs do (unless they can bite through it
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)
 
my lad came up in HUGE lumps all over like the elephant horse, and they went weepy and scabby too, now some of them have little bald bits where the bite was

good job i wasnt planning on showing
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Wish I hadn't read this thread earlier. We hadn't seen any horseflies this year either - until today. The horses were going demented, there was pretty much a swarm of horseflies, which I have never seen before, only the odd one or two. A friend's horse was practically falling over trying to scratch his shoulder against a wall when he was bought in, where he had been bitten. Flaming things...
 
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