Best spray or cream for midges?

[fornema]

My boy is being attacked ferociously attacked by the midges around his sheath area, apart from the really heavy stuff like Deosect, are there any good sprays for midges specifically. Know all the usual fly sprays, but most don’t seem to have much affect on these midges!

 

[Domirati]

This might help. Seems to settle mune

Biteback 'Sweet Relief' Midge Barrier Skin Lotion for Itchy Horses

Plant based lotion that forms a defence against midge bites, soothes itchiness and supports calm skin. Helps prevent seasonal rubbing behaviour in horses.

bitebackproducts.co.uk

 

[little_critter]

I was about to suggest the same. I’ve noticed as I apply the lotion the little blighters jump off the horse on to me!

 

[fornema]

I was just looking at this one! So definitely sounds worth a try.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

We are all being eaten alive at the moment I have swarms of them around my stables so have been jet washing my guttering, I made a spray of white vinegar eucalyptus oil lemon oil and a bit of water and I spray it while I'm mucking out it seems to be helping.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thing is I'm sure Arabi is allergic to benzyl benzoate I've tried other things on him with it before but will get it for Louis.

 

[Highmileagecob]

I've mixed eucalyptus essential oil into sunflower oil with some success. It's messy and leaves an oily residue but it's reduced the itching and scratching.

 

[catembi]

I have just got some Hedgewitch spray that someone on here recommended. I have only used it once so can't really report back! We have absolute clouds of the wretched things here.

 

[Caol Ila]

I have never seen so many midges at my yard. We normally get some, but we have bloody clouds of the the things this year.

 

[Gloi]

Midges don't like oily surfaces so anything really greasy is good, though messy.

 

[little_critter]

The other one I’ve tried is Neddycare oil. You apply it with a damp cloth. It seemed to work ok, and I think I’ve even seen a horsefly land, take a lick then decide to fly off.

 

[First Frost]

My gelding also suffers hugely from insect bites on and around his sheath. I have found the best thing is Nettex summer freedom cream. He doesn't get any bites when he wears it. He is also allergic to lots of lotions and potions but summer freedom desn't cause him any problems.

 

[irishdraft]

I've been using Biteback Sweet Relief cream which works but is very expensive when you have 2 big horses, so I have been using sudocreme as well I rub it on the inner thighs & round sheath/udders which stops the midges biting. Interestingly I also discovered that sudocreme has benzyl bosate (sp) which is also one of the ingredients in sweet relief x

 

[catembi]

Reporting back on the Hedgewitch. I sprayed it on yesterday & the horse was standing in a cloud of midges & none of them landed on him. The sprayer is also really good & delivers a fine mist.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

My boy is being attacked ferociously attacked by the midges around his sheath area, apart from the really heavy stuff like Deosect, are there any good sprays for midges specifically. Know all the usual fly sprays, but most don’t seem to have much affect on these midges!

Radiol fly cream is the best you can get, put it on and it lasts 24 hrs, amazing stuff --- but you cannot find it anymore . https://www.william-hunter.co.uk/index.php/radiol-fly-repellent-cream.html

hate the summer cream yuky gunky stuff.

 

[tristars]

My gelding also suffers hugely from insect bites on and around his sheath. I have found the best thing is Nettex summer freedom cream. He doesn't get any bites when he wears it. He is also allergic to lots of lotions and potions but summer freedom desn't cause him any problems.

i am just trying this and was thinking i will wash all around the area as well and the sheath interior

too much creamy stuff though can make the tail heavy and slower to flick so will be washing the tail too

 

[Sandstone1]

Reporting back on the Hedgewitch. I sprayed it on yesterday & the horse was standing in a cloud of midges & none of them landed on him. The sprayer is also really good & delivers a fine mist.

Im finding it good too

 

[AWinter]

Reporting back on the Hedgewitch. I sprayed it on yesterday & the horse was standing in a cloud of midges & none of them landed on him. The sprayer is also really good & delivers a fine mist.

I’m trying this tomorrow this has made me hopeful! Mine are just so bothered even in sweet itch rugs. Seems to be even their legs are irritated.

 

[catembi]

Oh yes, the legs seem to be the worst! So much stamping about. I am spraying the legs as well.

 

[little_critter]

Oh yes, the legs seem to be the worst! So much stamping about. I am spraying the legs as well.

I am at least partly convinced that my boys soundness issues were brought on / aggravated by his stamping last year. He sometimes stamped so hard I was surprised he didn’t break anything.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Reporting back on the Hedgewitch. I sprayed it on yesterday & the horse was standing in a cloud of midges & none of them landed on him. The sprayer is also really good & delivers a fine mist.

I was looking at this so I might give it a try

 

[buttercrupper]

I use a wetwipe, pad dry, a thin layer of flamazine (or sudocrem, depending on how severe the irritation is). I let it set for a bit as a protection barrier before applying a fly gel. She's got butter-smooth udders and belly button, her other area affected. For some of the other horses I use on armpits just the same. Gel ears and sensitive flesh, and spray the rest. I use deosect regularly (depending on how much it rains, which y'know...) and when it gets hot just make sure to do a plain water bath to get the build-up out. No hose here so its just a bucket, a medium brush and rubbing with a towel after. I also pay attention to the feltlock area as well with the gel.

 

[little_critter]

Thing is I'm sure Arabi is allergic to benzyl benzoate I've tried other things on him with it before but will get it for Louis.

How did the benzyl benzoate allergy present?
My boys sheath was swollen last night and I've been putting some biteback cream on it to keep the midges off (only done it a few times and not day after day).
I'm not sure if the swelling is from midge bites, the cream or a dirty sheath (he swelled up in the same way a few years back and just needed a good spring clean).
I've given him a clean, not used any more cream and the skin doesn't look sore or irritated...it's just a generally swollen sheath.

 

[MickeyFinn22]

Itchy Horse barrier cream is good... As for sprays I have been using Horse Lead's flymac, and have just been making it a little stronger than it suggests

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

How did the benzyl benzoate allergy present?
My boys sheath was swollen last night and I've been putting some biteback cream on it to keep the midges off (only done it a few times and not day after day).
I'm not sure if the swelling is from midge bites, the cream or a dirty sheath (he swelled up in the same way a few years back and just needed a good spring clean).
I've given him a clean, not used any more cream and the skin doesn't look sore or irritated...it's just a generally swollen sheath.

It makes his hair fall out his reactive to alot of stuff for the skin and most present as hair loss or he rubs the area and makes it sore.
I can't use hibi scrub on him either.

Is your horse ems or a bit over weight that can make the sheath swollen sometimes.

 

[Floofball]

I still use Avon Skin So Soft on mine - and myself if camping