Competing with these nasty flies everywhere!

[Jango]

My horse has been on a hacking holiday for the last month (and I've been gallivanting in Africa too!) and so we've got our first competition in the heat this weekend.. Doing BD and I'm booked into 2 novices, but if he's fed up after one I'll come home! I was just wondering if people have found the judges making allowances for head shaking and tail swishing etc because of the flies, and also if you would get marked down for swatting horse flies during a test?!

He's been trying hard while I've been schooling this week, but the horse flies are awful and he does shake his head to get them off. I know the behaviour is down to the flies rather than resistance as when I swat one he stops!! So also any tips for good fly spray that will actually banish them? He's ok with normal flies, it's just the horse flies are they are everywhere at the minute!

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

fly veil and LOADS of leovet power phaser.

ive swatted a few during the walk part and not been penalised, think judges are well aware what a nuicance horse flies are.

 

[Ponyclubber11]

Also do not use barrier health care fly repellent as it stops sweat flowing through pores.

 

[Jango]

PS - Ooohh thank you, I've heard good things about the power phaser, I've ordered some just now! Good to hear you weren't penalised for swatting them too.

Ponyclubber - I don't even know what that is so I think I'll be safe there, but thanks!

 

[Auslander]

I use Tritec 14 - and its the only one I've found that really works. If you spray it onto a horsefly, it drops dead - which is EXTREMELY satisfying! I ran out a week ago, and have noticed a massive increase in the number of flies around him. I put it on every 3-4 days, and he is usually the only horse in the field not tail swishing/head nodding