Are the flies extra angry this year?

[k1994]

My native is usually fine/not too bothered by them and lives out with just her mask, but this year they’ve been swarming her and she’s needed her fly rug.
Is anyone else experiencing extra angry horse flies this year or have I just done something to annoy them, even I’m being bitten more than usual!

 

[Birker2020]

They didn't really make an appearance by us until about three weeks ago (or at least not that I noticed anyway) and some days they seem more angry than others. I think the hotter it is the more they appear.

My horse won't wear a fly rug having destroyed three already so I gave up. He has a good spray of fly spray and is turned out with a mask. I see them biting his belly and think "it's your own silly fault".

I've never had a horse that won't tolerate a fly rug before.

 

[xxcharlottexx]

Ours were pacing up and down the fence line yesterday being pestered so got brought into their stables for a break from them!

 

[Birker2020]

Ours were pacing up and down the fence line yesterday being pestered so got brought into their stables for a break from them!

Mines out at night but I turn him out early so around 4.30-5.30pm. I think they are worse during the day.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Awful. The usual trusty Phaser Gel isn’t touching them at all

 

[RHM]

I killed 8 just bringing my two in yesterday. They are everywhere and absolutely furious. Ordered some different fly sprays to try on the hope that one of them works!

 

[k1994]

Awful. The usual trusty Phaser Gel isn’t touching them at all

I know was spraying it on her before our ride yesterday wasn’t even a minute before they started landing on her!

 

[k1994]

I killed 8 just bringing my two in yesterday. They are everywhere and absolutely furious. Ordered some different fly sprays to try on the hope that one of them works!

let me know if you find any that work! My naf citronella one that usualy works isn’t doing a thing this year!

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I ll own up..I’m back to using deet products for horses and jungle formula for me…and the girls are still being bothered and I’ve been bitten ?

 

[Birker2020]

I've been using some citronella fly spray that I bought from the feed merchant, probably the cheapest one on the market and its worked better than all the other stuff like Phazer or NAF fly sprays.

I have to say that I am beginning to dislike the Phaser, it's such a strong smell which you then get covered in and take with you when you have left the yard to the shops or the gym. Not nice.

 

[Sealine]

I haven't noticed them being particularly bad this year but I do ride and do horses in the morning before 8.30pm and it may just be that they aren't around at that time of day. I haven't bothered with fly spray when riding recently and haven't found an issue with flies.

 

[babymare]

Even just walking dog they are biting me. Never had that before

 

[HashRouge]

I went up in the middle of the day today for the first time in ages (I'm normally morning or evening) and my poor gelding was covered in an absolute swarm of them. I felt awful for him, but it's tricky because atm it's far too hot for his fly rug (we're south coast, so very hot) and fly spray makes naff all difference. I'd bring him in but unfortunately my stables are wood and get very hot. Still, at least there is some let up overnight!

 

[Zoeypxo]

very rarely get many flies at the yard in past years but the past 10ish days they have been horrendous, masks and fly rug on mine as she gets hives otherwise ?

 

[MereChristmas]

We seem to have less horse flies now, perhaps they are ‘finishing’?, but they have been pretty bad. My pony was just about manageable sprayed with neem. I swatted a great number too.

Now we have swarms of small black bitey flies.
The pony is very good tempered but he became extremely distressed by them earlier this week.

I tried a ride on fly sheet last year and almost had a pony with heat stroke, so that’s no good.

I bought an icaridin spray which seems OK as I haven’t seen any flies land. However the pony was still very distressed around his head. I found an old ride on ears, mask and nose, possibly an Equilibrium, and used that. After 3 rides the pony seems to have realised the flies can’t land and although not perfect, is much better.
I think that a ride on net that fits under the head as well would be even more effective.

 

[smolmaus]

I have never personally been bitten by flies as often as I have this week. One on each bum cheek, through THICK leggings.

It is the last week or so here they have just exploded. Someone said the winter was too mild or something, I don't know but it is miserable. At least ponies are out on a breezy hill so aren't being tortured all the time.

 

[PurBee]

Horse flies are bad currently west ireland - their hatching has coincided with the weather finally increasing over 14 degrees. Despite it being largely cloudy, there’s a fair few of them.
Ive been strimming in fields, close to a stream, bordered by trees and have bites from head to bum! I also got a hawthorn stuck in me so feeling very yukky all over - last night i was hot and waking up lots itching. I’ve got more to strim tomorrow….i need a zebra print boiler suit! ??

 

[PurBee]

This should scare them off! Gardening couture dahhlings! ??

 

[dorsetladette]

We get a bad 3 weeks June/July time every year. Then they pretty much seem to disappear, but it does feel like the '3 weeks' might be heading into 4-5 weeks this year.

 

[scats]

Ours are at their worst now until they disappear around the end of July.

 

[southerncomfort]

We're high up and don't usually have any issues with flies, but hacking out the other day poor pony easily had a good hundred flies around his head. He was really quite upset.

I'm going to get one of the fly nets that attaches to the bridle I think.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I'm getting at least 3 bites from clegs a day. Couple of them have actually left bruises. Poor pony comes back from our walking in hand (KS rehab) bleeding from bites that I've not noticed and flicked off her in time.

 

[Archangel]

I had a horsefly on my lip this morning.

A wasp crawled out of the air vent in the car and got very cross, then a bug flew in through the window, hit me in the eye and stung me.

Insects are right out of order at the moment.

 

[NinjaPony]

My pony who is mostly stabled at the moment whilst I reintroduce grass (recovering from a lami episode) has managed to have two nasty fly bites on his hindquarters and top of his tail which are oozy and sticky. He’s tried to kick me a few times when attempting to fully investigate, so I know they are bothering him. Best I can do at the moment is slather with sudocrem out of kicking range, I’ll have to get some help and do a proper wash to really get at them, but I’m risking life and limb. Why can’t the bastards bite him somewhere else?!

 

[HashRouge]

My pony who is mostly stabled at the moment whilst I reintroduce grass (recovering from a lami episode) has managed to have two nasty fly bites on his hindquarters and top of his tail which are oozy and sticky. He’s tried to kick me a few times when attempting to fully investigate, so I know they are bothering him. Best I can do at the moment is slather with sudocrem out of kicking range, I’ll have to get some help and do a proper wash to really get at them, but I’m risking life and limb. Why can’t the bastards bite him somewhere else?!

NP, I really recommend this where you have wounds that need covering https://hyperdrug.co.uk/vetalintex-...IgXFUFx3neHPdX8gXzb74BNbUv-kWLeRoCNFkQAvD_BwE

I think it is technically supposed to be used with a dressing, but I've found that it actually works quite well just applied and then left. It forms quite a good barrier to keep the flies out. I used it years ago when my mare's belly whirl was getting attacked by flies constantly, and this kept them off the wound and helped it heal in no time. More recently, I've used it on a nasty cut on her nose.

 

[MereChristmas]

My pony who is mostly stabled at the moment whilst I reintroduce grass (recovering from a lami episode) has managed to have two nasty fly bites on his hindquarters and top of his tail which are oozy and sticky. He’s tried to kick me a few times when attempting to fully investigate, so I know they are bothering him. Best I can do at the moment is slather with sudocrem out of kicking range, I’ll have to get some help and do a proper wash to really get at them, but I’m risking life and limb. Why can’t the bastards bite him somewhere else?!

Would a sponge on a stick help with washing or applying cream. It would keep you out of harm.

 

[NinjaPony]

Sponge on a stick is my plan this evening! I’ve got some soothing antibacterial shampoo the vets recommended so I’m going to try to wash it, clean it, dry it (in the sun is probably the safest…) then apply a barrier cream. Hydrogel is a good recommendation thanks, I’ve got some gold label ‘wonder gel’ which is quite similar and comes in a spray so I can apply from a distance…

I’ve had him 15 years and he is 22 so you’d think he would know better by now but it’s always the same if he has a sore spot on his hindquarters. It’s actually easier when it’s on a hind leg as then I can just hold on for dear life!

 

[Highmileagecob]

We having a bit of success on our yard with Vicks vapour rub, or any eucalyptus based preparation. The horses go out in various attire smelling like the doctor's waiting room in winter, but at least it gives them some relief for a short while.

 

[Antw23uk]

Horrendous buggers, they seem to ignore all types of fly repellent and my horses head is just swarming with them. I've washed his head pretty much every other day thinking he smells and he wears a mask but they are relentless. I have to hold my breath whilst i catch him as they are landing on my face, my lips OMG its horrendous!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I got stung by a horse fly and reacted badly never had this reaction before looked like a nipple , livery saw horsefly about 2 inches long