Best fly repellant for horse flies!!!!!

fuzzle

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We are full of horse flies at the moment with the very hot weather, even though i have fly rugs on its driving the horses mad!!! also making the riding not fun batting them off every two mins, has anyone got any ideas which is the best fly repellent for these biting little *******!!! xxxx
 
I don't know about a spray which works but I am delighted with the cashel bug armour I bought recently. The horseflies are dreadful here at the moment but riding in this rug, my horse is absolutely fine while the others with us were being driven to distraction by these biting monsters. It could be the gentle constant wafting of the light netting prevents the horseflies from landing.
 
Absorbine ultrashield. In the UK only licenced as premises spray, however in the states it is a fly spray. We have been using it for 3 years and works a treat. I don't think with horseflies you'll ever get a 100% but we see a minimal amount. out hacking over the last few weeks if we had one horseflie or other flying bug in 90 minutes it was alot. we even came across other people hacking being stung to dead.
 
Absorbine ultrashield. In the UK only licenced as premises spray, however in the states it is a fly spray. We have been using it for 3 years and works a treat. I don't think with horseflies you'll ever get a 100% but we see a minimal amount. out hacking over the last few weeks if we had one horseflie or other flying bug in 90 minutes it was alot. we even came across other people hacking being stung to dead.

Would that work on a sensitive TB, can't use Neet on him as it takes his hair off
 
Would that work on a sensitive TB, can't use Neet on him as it takes his hair off

my welsh is sensitive skinned and is fine with it, I just don't use it on her face, use a bit of powerfacer on that when we go hacking but don't seem to need it ultrashield keeps them at bay!
 
Bathed my three in Deosect then went for a hack at 8pm the night before last and we got eaten alive :( I am so fed up I am contemplating giving them the summer off and starting them again once the cooler weather comes :(
 
It shouldn't be long before they die off { you are on about horseflys and not what I call face flys} they are only about for 4-6 weeks, we are coming towards the end of them now.
 
I've tried deosect and neem but neither did the job. in desperation I bought the Geetac ride on fly rug. I feel a bit foolish in it but we can be seen by traffic lol and having used it for the first time on Wednesday, horse was a lot more chilled! We did see flies but they didn't land on us.
 
The little blighters hunt by sight and have no sense of smell (thank you channel 4 documentary at 3am) so repellant doesn't work on them I'm afraid so they will come bite anyway regardless. The only thing you can do is ride in a fly rug but then they'll bite you instead - can't win!!
 
I dont buy fly repellant, I Make it with Dettol, I put two caps full per every 500ml but my friends also add Avon skin so soft and vinegar to theirs but personally I believe the Dettol alone works really good and isn't difficult to make :)
 
I do my own too: MUCH cheaper, and just as effective IME. Its possible to throw good money after bad on proprietory brand fly sprays - in this country they're not allowed to sell you anything that actually WORKS:(

I also ride in a cover-up ride-on fly sheet. The only way to get any peace - and the blessed critters still manage to get in underneath!!
 
I always used barrier hygiene because i thought it worked and I liked the smell lol but I've recently tried NETTEX advance and hacked out with friends, my horse had none on him and the others were really bothered so I would say it works. Another one that is supposed to work is Phaser it apparently stinks but works. Effol do one too which stinks but worked but I couldn't stand the smell
 
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