Bloomin horse flies

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somethingorother

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There's hundreds of them around, they are biting the horses to absolute pieces and can't find anything that works to keep them off. The fly spray we are using at the moment is made of tea, tea tree, citronella and vinegar, and lavender oil. It doesn't seem to put them off at all, in fact i have sprayed it directly on the flies and they don't seem to care. Is there anything which people have found to work particularly well for horse flies?

Midges don't seem to be a problem, ironically. Since said fly spray would probably work great for them.

Help? (I'm also scared of being bitten by the horrible things!)

It would also be good if it was something which could be added to said fly spray, as there are quite a few horses to do and it goes very fast!

Wine and cookies await responses :D
 
I am trying fly spray from my herbalist (she makes me arthritic mix for my horse's knees which in 6 weeks got her sound again with no bute, a knee rub, skin lotion as she rubs alot from bites/allergies in summer and now the spray) which I can use on me as well as my horse and so far it is working well combine with their flyrugs and for me too.

I usually get bitten alive and yesterday there were clegs galore in the field attacking her so I came out and sprayed some more whic seemed to help then my hubby on gelding in field had a moment where gelding snapped at chest cos cleg on it and his reins got caught round bit and he freaked out but all okay and he sprayed some on him which helped too and came out of field.

Its a nitemare. Blasted evil clegs!! One day before got thi spray using our usual one she had swollen tummy and he had swollen sheath cos of bites!!
 
Try doing a forum search for fly spray. I have just started using Power Phaser, it's brilliant, smells horrid though. A lot of people seem to agree that it is the most effective!
 
I've had a look at several threads on fly sprays, but haven't come across anything which can point out a particular active ingredient(s) for horse flies. Most seem to work best against midges. And i've not seen any midges round our field.

mja- do you know what she puts in it?
 
I have come to the conclusion that evil horse flies evolve each year! I use Power Phaser which I have to say is excellent last year horse flies wouldn't go near us when wearing the stuff, however this year they don't seem to be so anti it, no matter how much I put on. Still think its the best on the market just think these evil insects with no purpose have evolved since last summer to resist it!!!!
 
I found out this morning that its only the female horse flies that bite

My mare is so lucky nothing ever bites her but my gelding poor thing i keep finding them attached in all places, I splat them which he seems quite greatful for, fly spray wise so far nothings working part from his fly rug.
 
My boy was stung by a wasp last year so really hates any flies landing on him - bless him!! I used phaser last year which was brill but unfortunately he had an allergic reaction to it this year, so I have got some 'Barricade' from the vet, and I have to say it is brill! about 18 quid which will make 5 litres, even when the horse flies approach they don't land but fly away. Avon skin so soft works too but it is an oil so I worry about him burning in the sun with that on, have made my own with neem aid which is ok but nowhere near as good as barricade! Human stuff like autan/ jungle formula works but works out to be expensive! As you can see I have tried everything!!
 
belive it or not just have an old spray bottle of water and about 5-10 drops of citronella oil works great on them
 
I had an awful ride this morning: one blimmin great horsefly thing just attached itself to us and I swear it came with us for the whole ride. My boy got so stressed out and it just spoilt what should have been a lovely ride.

Also, we got onto some open ground adjoining a wood, and underneath a chestnut tree we stopped as my mobile rang, and all these horrid black things about the size of a ladybird (maybe a bit smaller) swarmed all over us, on me, on his neck, in his ears, over his face, he just went frantic. Anybody know what they were? I don't think they were biting things (tho' not sure) but they were just horrible.

I'm so desperate for my boy to be protected that I'm thinking of getting a lycra hoody or something (don't like lycra but desperate coz gotta do summat). Anybody tried the Cashel Bug Protector things on the Premier Equine site? Perhaps I could make something up myself.

B***dy fly sprays, they're nothing but P***s water, and twice as expensive.
 
Hrm, it has some citronella in but maybe not enough, since it's doing nowt! I have some skin so soft for me, for my hols next week, so i will put whatever's left in their spray when i get home and see if it works. I know it's good against mozzies and midges, but wasn't sure about horse flies. Worth a go though. Even tried some Jungle formula in the mane and tail (whilst old mare was going bonkers at the flies whilst being shod) and it made no difference. I put some on her headcollar too, and then a big fat horsefly came and landed right where i'd put it! So that doesn't work either. Didn't want to spray it on their skin, i guess it's pretty toxic.
 
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