Damn horse flies!

Sparkles

Sparkles

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 April 2009
Messages
7,571
Visit site
Sat here, itching like mad. 12 bites in all from the poxy things today.

3 on my hand, which are hurting like hell...all the rest just itch like mad, but no, the ones on my hand are actually hurting now.

I hate the damn things!!! They're vile nasty and horrid and had enough of them now, had weeks of it. I've never known anywhere that has them in such vast numbers as down here!

Grrr. Tried every fly spray known to man, from home-made to LeoVets Power phaser, and NOTHING works on the buggers!


How has everyone elses weekend been anyway -_-
 
I know your pain! I somehow seem to get the bulk of my bites on my ankles, I currently sporting 15 very itchy bites around my ankles and that doesn't include the couple I've got on my hand. It irritates me how hard they are to swat- they're like super flies. I've doused myself with Benadryl anti-itch. Hope you stop itching soon :D
 
I am with you there with the itching. Two on my neck, one on my right arm two my right hand (these have swelled) and three on my left arm, one by the elbow.

Have to say, much as it smells foul, the lure of a couple of spoonfuls a day of Global Herbs Fly Free on my toast is getting very tempting - really is putting them off biting our 2 ponies, cost is the same as smothering with fly cream/gel/spray but so much easier and quicker.
 
Hate horse flies, big gleg took a bite out of my arm just above elbow last year and took a bad reaction.Arm went up like a ballon and had to take time off work (first time off work in years) and felt silly saying it was because of a fly..
 
Yep know exactly what you mean, we are plagued by the b***** here too. I got a bite on Saturday, on my hand and my entire hand is still swollen, red and very itchy!! Why does it only seem to be hands that swell with these sort of bites? Oh, but i did kill the little b*!
 
I was bitten by one last week - it was actually really painful and I can now see why they drive horses mad! Is it just me or does there seem to me more of them around this year than usual?
 
I have been taking Vitamin B (from Holland and Barratt) since spring and haven't had a bite yet (touch wood!). Apparently the insects hate something in it. Would give it to the horse if could get it in large quantities. Apparently brewers yeast powder is the same stuff but again can't get it here in horse quantities so she has to make do with garlic flakes!
 
yes Sj there do seem to be more of them around and they are bloody vicious with it. It's like being a Spitfire pilot being dive bombed by the Luftwaffe sometimes lol!
 
Did you know there is a new species of horse fly? :( It can now withstand being hit and squashed, it takes at least 5 whacks to get the buggers. I think they wear armour plating.
 
You guys made me laugh being dive bombed and armoured winged beasties....

I hate them and was told they go for certain blood types. Well they must love mine the blood sucking evil nasties cos I get eaten alive too.

Our gelding had mild conjunctivitis from evil flies and was bitten very badly all donw one side and swollen sheath while my mare (both in flyrugs with spray on) has rubbed her face bald on one side grrr.

Only thing that helped me as i take allergic reactions is anthistamines and Jungle Juice I got for going on holiday!!
 
yep out in numbers here to.

Got bitten on the little finger on Saturday and it has blown up like a balloon. Currently taking anti-histamines and putting steroid cvream on the finger as per pharmacists insructions. Desperately trying to make sure I don't have the same reactioni did last year where it ended up effecting my lymph system and having to be on these horrendously strong antibiotics which make you feel like you ahve the flu.

Why does nothing work on them but have you noticed it is the one time when you horse is only to happy for you to smack them and so satisfying when you do actually get the little sod.
 
Old fashioned remedy, but works well for us- malt vinegar.Yes, the kind you put on your fish and chips. Drop it over fly bite, and bite not only goes down, but stops hurting- usually fairly quickly. As long as you don't mind smelling like a fish and chip shop of course!!:D
 
Do they have a season? Or are they here all summer?!

And some of the little b******* WON'T DIE! It takes loads of smacks!!
 
We had them all summer last year :( They're one of the many thing's doing my head in atm!

I know, we got one on Tommy last year and was HUGE. I think it measured 2" on the ruler once we manged to kill the bugger.
 
I hate them too. My TB has very sensitive skin, and he has several huge, raised, painfull swellings caused by horsefly bites, and over the last few weeks I've have had to cancel things I had booked because they had bitten him where the saddle would sit.

I have now modified his fly rug, so that they can't bite him through it (as they were!). I have added a rouched layer of mesh over the top, so that if they land on it, they can't spike him through the rug.

The problem now is when I ride him. He reacts violently if one lands on him and he reacts even more dangerouosly if it stings him. Last week I was schooling in the field, and he was behaving very nicely, and all of a sudden, WHAM! He went up and did 3 massive bronks in succession and I fell hard onto my head, and ended up being concussed. I didn't see the horsefly, but I can only assume one was biting him somewhere. A few days later I was leading him in hand and he was plodding along half asleep next to me, and again, all of a sudden he reared up and took off, and I saw the horsefly biting him. I can't even groom him outside anymore.

I must point out that he also behave like this when the vet gives him an injection! He has to be twitched to do that, so I guess that I just have an unusually sensitive horse. I have now put him onto Garlic to try and see if they are less attracted to him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top