Flies getting inside fly rug!

[Wizpop]

Hi all- just wondering
if anyone else has had this problem? And more importantly has solved it.
Both my horses are in the horseware protector rugs which are quite roomy around the legs by design. For the first time this year, I’ve had a problem with flies getting under the rug, probably due to the roomy design, and I’m looking for suggestions as to what I can do to stop them. If you have any thoughts/ experience, please let me know!

 

[Tiddlypom]

I've got the Rambo fly busters, so a similar style. I may be stating the obvious, but are you inadvertently getting flies trapped underneath the rug when you put it on? I've had that happen. I always check the side of the horse that I can see, but sometimes there's a little fecker on the off side. Recently it must have been a wasp , horse freaked but allowed me to whip the rug off pdq, the belly straps were thankfully not yet done up. She came up in big bite lumps which lasted for a couple of days.

I always put fly rugs on in the stable, but even so there's often at least one ruddy black fly in there .

 

[Wizpop]

Yes, I’ve checked that. Took rugs off and checked they were fly free before putting them back on. Within 10 minutes, they were back

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I've actually ditched fly rugs at the moment it's so hot but there is quite a breeze and doesn't seem to be that many flies around at the moment so they have been ok, I noticed the small black bitey flies last night so covered them underneath in fly gel and they all went thankfully.

 

[welshcobabe]

I have to say I only use fly rugs in the horse fly season, for weather like this it is a fly mask and his bits covered in fly gel etc because I had just the same problem as you it didn't matter what I did not much help but I decided better naked than having the little blighters trapped under.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I have to say I only use fly rugs in the horse fly season, for weather like this it is a fly mask and his bits covered in fly gel etc because I had just the same problem as you it didn't matter what I did not much help but I decided better naked than having the little blighters trapped under.

Thats what I tend to do as well as they don't cope without rugs when the horse flies are out, but we don't seem to get alot of household flies here mine often don't even have masks on as they don't need them.

 

[Wizpop]

They have been aggravated by the small,black flies as there are a lot of trees nearby,but I think I’m going to go for protecting the ‘delicate’ areas instead with gel as suggested. Mine need to live out and the fly rugs were partly to keep them clean!!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Friend is having the same problem. She has a swish fly rug and she's finding dead flies all along her horses spine.