Crab Flies

[galaxy]

Had an awful experience yesterday. My firend and I went for a hack on the New Forest, which was fantastic. However, when we got back to the trailer the horses went totally crazy because of the crab flies. They had been fine all the way round the hack. I think it's beacuse they had to stand still. They were kicking and spinning around, my horse actually got away (thankfully he's a good boy and stopped and let me cach him). We were very lucky that no-one got hurt because they were being really dangerous, but there was nothing we could do. We got them in the trailer and left as quickly as possible. But obviously they still had some on them on the way home, because they both kept going beserk in the back of the trailer. I just kept driving because I knew there was nothing I could do until we got home. Miraculously neither of them have a mark on them! I don't know how. They kicked 10 bells out of my trailer!

We had such a fantstic ride, but the experience has really shaken me. Has anyone got any tips on how to deal with crab flies? I've been told that fly spray doesn't work on them We really want to go back, the ride was fantastic, but I couldn't go therough the trauma of the journey home again! Any tips appreciated!

 

[Madam_max]

I had this after jumping at Langford Farm. It wasn't until the next night I took her sheet off and she went beserk, I had to run out of her stable. I eventually got her out an no one could even hold her, she was trying to chuck herself onto the concrete. Eventually we got her to the down to the school and she settled. I don't know how you prevent them though.

 

[Kate_13]

They are slippery little suckers! The only way to rid them is to hose off and squash the flies with your nails so that they die. If you just brush them off they come back.

 

[galaxy]

That's what I was trying to do while we were there. I had brought water with me. But the horses were going so beserk it was too dangerous. So annoying!

 

[Sprout]

I live on the Forest, and the Crab flies are a real pain. My horses have got used to them, and no longer spin and buck, but they are not happy! There are no sprays that work, infact trying to spray just makes it worse as the Crab flies then move on the horse and it is the movement they hate rather than any biting. All you can do is to try to wash or knock them off, then stamp on them quickly!

 

[Bossanova]

Horrid little critters. You have to keep searching until you find them on the horse as they stick there for days and unless they move, wont make the horse show any signs. They tend to crawl right up between the legs and into the sheath so check there carefully. Theyre actually pretty easy to grab and once you have hold, dont let go!!
Snap them in half and drown in a bucket of water, anything less and they somehow manage to survive

 

[XmisshorsestyleX]

Crab flies?? how are they different to normal flies?

Im going to a show near the New forest next week and they always have alot of flies down that way. One year when we were there, there were these MASSIVE hornets, ive never seen anything like it. They must of been at least 10cms long and markings of a wasp.
The horses were going mad. Not a nice situation...

 

[XmisshorsestyleX]

Just googled crab flys, and got nothing can someone describe what they look like??

 

[Faithkat]

They seem to be peculiar to the New Forest as people in other parts of the country don't know what we are talking about! They are large flies, like the normal horse-fly but they sit on the skin and bite, big time. They do fly (obviously) but walk sideways when on the horse (hence the name "crab") and they have pincer-like legs and jaws. Their bite is really vicious and they draw blood. They settle on the fleshy parts of the horse - under the tail, inside the back legs etc and you have to pick them off by hand and crush them. Unless anyone else knows differently, there doesn't appear to be a fly repellent preparation that works on them either. The best thing to do to avoid them is to try and ride early in the morning and in the evening. Riding during the heat of the day is a nightmare!

 

[XmisshorsestyleX]

I do live nearish to the new forest, and I know they are a bad area for flies. I really hope I dont come across these Crab flies this weekend at the show as im doing ridden classes aswell as in-hand.

Do you know of these things im trying to describe, i just looked up hornets and its definately not them. They were just like massive wasps except the body was a squarer shape and they may of had green wings.. They didnt look real when I first saw them. They gave a nasty sting rather than a bite...

 

[galaxy]

Thanks Forester

We had our problem at 5.30. Maybe next time we'll go early in morning or later as you suggested. Total nightmare! Saw lots of newborn foals who had them crawling all over them! Poor things. They were trying to have a nap!

 

[Tempi]

i found a way to get them out of the horses hair is to spray fly spray really close to the hair and they all come to the surface. I was at Woodington yesterday and one of the horses in the warmup had one. Horrid little things. Apparently they are really bad in the forest this year.

 

[PennyJ]

http://www.network54.com/Forum/192078/message/1154710672/

here is a link to a photo for anyone interested... Sorry if it breaks any rules, but thought it would be useful info for anyone coming to the forest, what they need to look out for.
One of my NF's really hates them too, the other one couldn't care less.