Anyone else been bitten by a horse fly?

[Field04]

I was bitten/stung by a horse fly yesterday whilst out on a hack. Has anyone else been bitten by one and got any good tips to help the swelling go down? Its very annoying as it feels like my whole arm is bruised, and the swelling is a large area of my arm! It is also quite itchy but more painful than anything.

I popped to the chemist and got some insect cream but its not doing much, so wondered if there are any other ideas? Thanks

 

[Keenjean]

Antihistamine will do the job, the docs recommend the sainsburys own brand ones with the green and orange packet, I have massively bad reactions to horseflies I.e hospital and take these after and they really help.

 

[bryngelenponies]

I got bitten by one last year and had a similar reaction- the whole area was very swollen and hot. I just bought some antihistamine tablets, cleared it up within a few days.

 

[Bertolie]

I usually take allergy/hsyfever tablets. Helps with the itching and swelling.

 

[smokey]

I take horrible reactions to bites, and horse flies love me! Get some portion or similar, and just watch for infection. I have needed antibiotics in the past because infection has tracked up my arm to the point I couldn't move it properly. Hope it feels better soon, try not to scratch! Make sure in fixture you have anti histamine available, the quicker you take them the better.

 

[Field04]

Thanks, will take a dose of antihistamine tonight.

 

[Field04]

I take horrible reactions to bites, and horse flies love me! Get some portion or similar, and just watch for infection. I have needed antibiotics in the past because infection has tracked up my arm to the point I couldn't move it properly. Hope it feels better soon, try not to scratch!

Its itchy, but I get no relief from scratching it. Its is also like my arm is stiff as it feels so tight where it is swollen. Just very annoying, especially as I think said fly was attacking pony as she got very agitated and biting herself, so I bent forward to remove annoying fly and I guess it decided to bite me instead!!

 

[mulledwhine]

Yes, and one question.. Why do the little bleeders always get you on or near a joint ? Grrrr

 

[Nettle123]

Nettex aloe vera gel is brilliant for cooling and soothing. You do need several applications but it really helps. Not seen any horse flies about yet.

 

[4leggedfurries]

Get bitten on a regular basis unfortuantely it sucks and hurts and many of mine have resulted in me needing antibiotics and rarely steriod cream for the itching. I've found a combination of tea tree cream, anti histamine and packs of frozen veg the best thing for me!

 

[Field04]

Yes, and one question.. Why do the little bleeders always get you on or near a joint ? Grrrr

OMG so true!!! I have been bitten just by my elbow, so lower arm and elbow swollen!!!

 

[Mince Pie]

Neem oil is a fantastic bug repellent!

 

[Littlelegs]

Loads of times, horrid things! Benylin spray is the best thing imo to relieve the itching.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Aloe vera gel takes the heat out and helps the swelling go down.

 

[lazybee]

I've been bitten loads of times. We take the horses down an old railway line near ours where they congregate, we get dive bombed by hundreds of them though there. They're the ones that look like a grey moth.

Useless bit of info time.......the males are harmless hover flies that feed on pollen. The females are horse flies who need a blood feed before they lay eggs

Cover up is the best protection. Or even better get your backside out of bed early; and ride before they come out

 

[Field04]

I've been bitten loads of times. We take the horses down an old railway line near ours where they congregate, we get dive bombed by hundreds of them though there. They're the ones that look like a grey moth.

Useless bit of info time.......the males are harmless hover flies that feed on pollen. The females are horse flies who need a blood feed before they lay eggs

Cover up is the best protection. Or even better get your backside out of bed early; and ride before they come out

Backside out of bed any earlier ain't gonna happen

Actually quite an interesting piece of information about the males and females!

 

[MrsHutt]

I (luckily) haven't ever been bitten (hope this year isn't the first time) but my friend is bitten every year at least a couple of times - it must be one of those things that you are either prone to or not - she is obviously more tasty than me!

She was got on the bum (through her jods!!) a couple of years ago - couldn't ride for a fortnight!

 

[domane]

Yup..... they love me too I get hot, red, large itchy patches - pic is AFTER oral and topical antihistimes - and I NEVER feel them bite me...

I once jet-washed a rug in a pair of shorts and got bitten seven times on my legs.... that wasn't a fun time, I can tell you.

They bite me through clothing but for the last couple of years I have had great success with Jungle Formula's Extra Strong Fly Repellent. I keep a can in the car and spritz myself whenever I am outdoors, over all my clothing. Didn't get ONE bite last year and the year before I was only "got" on the back of my hand, which is where I hadn't sprayed! (swelled up like a good'un it did too! *sigh*)

 

[smokey]

I (luckily) haven't ever been bitten (hope this year isn't the first time) but my friend is bitten every year at least a couple of times - it must be one of those things that you are either prone to or not - she is obviously more tasty than me!

She was got on the bum (through her jods!!) a couple of years ago - couldn't ride for a fortnight!

This, I've been bitten through jeans as well. I"ll second the aloe Vera gel, it's fab stuff. If your arm continues to feel tight after anti histamine and gel etc, please see a doctor, as it may be infected

 

[cambrica]

I would rather be stung by a wasp. Horsefly bites last ages and I do react. Worse for me are red ants - one bite and my whole arm comes up, formic

 

[cambrica]

I would rather be stung by a wasp. Horsefly bites last ages and I do react. Worse for me are red ants - one bite and my whole arm comes up, formic acid. Ceterazine works for me.

 

[cambrica]

Damn phone! Ignore 1st post.

 

[Madam Min]

One of my mates got bitten last year and ended up in hospital the reaction was that bad

 

[Kellys Heroes]

Sorry guys I've already seen 3 this year!!!! Crazy weather.

Horse flies (or Tabanidae) are attracted to dark clothing too, so light jods and tshirts help reduce the attraction - although if you have a dark horse, there's not much you can do about it!!
Neem oil is a good repellant - I think also the fly repellant we found most useful was SuperPlus Fly Repellant gel - although it made our chestnut quite greasy, it stopped flies even trying to feed on her, the minute they landed they flew off again.
K x

 

[Parker79]

I react horribly to horseflies...Piriton never seems to work.

The worst bites are by something known as the Blandford Fly (strangely enough found in Blandford and surrounding areas).

I am well known for my many Blandford Fly bites...worst was on my hand...resulting in swelling so bad that my knuckles were no longer visible, hand went kinda purple! soooo painful and sooooo itchy! Couldn't walk when it got me on the knee once...horrid

 

[Slightlyconfused]

My mum has a very bad reaction to horse fly bites.....it swells up and you can start to see red veins tracking in all directions. she has to have very strong antibiotics but also uses tea tree oil on a it and then a plaster over the top to draw it out, change every few hours then twice a day then once until its gone.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Yes and bl**dy painfull for a week.

 

[honorgon]

I put my a few squirts of my horses citronella spray on me in hope that it keeps flies away -- and it smells good too!!

 

[Ladyinred]

One of my mates got bitten last year and ended up in hospital the reaction was that bad

That happened to my neighbour a few years back. She was stung on the leg and it swelled so much it looked like it was going to burst. She ended up on IV antibiotics and steroid creams.

 

[LollyDolly]

Sorry I really don't want to worry you but I strongly suggest that you keep an eye on it, I was bit by a horsefly in my thigh last year and I nearly died. I only left it three days however I became unable to walk and developed severe Cellulitis which in laymans terms is blood posioning. Luckily I went into hospital when I did, 24 hours later and I would have died because it had begun to spread and had it been left much longer then the posioned blood would have passed through my heart and caused my organs to fail.
I really don't mean to worry you, and as it turns out I am allergic to them however please keep an eye on it! These things can be worse than you think!
Also, here is a picture of my leg. The infected area measured 20cm by 16cm, as you can see it is terrbily swollen and ugly!
SQUEAMISH LOOK AWAY NOW!

Ps. Sorry if the image is huge, I have no idea how to resize it!!