Flies in stables

poiuytrewq

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One of my horses in particular seems permanently covered in flies. He comes in during the day but the flies come with him! The horse next door are no where near as effected.
Ive seen a few traps online, is there anything I can get that will work to maybe hang by his door?
I like to bring them in and give a break from hoods and rugs but it’s not really working for this poor guy!
 

Griffin

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I am having a similar issue with my mare at the moment. I have recently started feeding her a supplement with linseed in and I wonder if that has had anything to do with it (probably not).

You can buy tag things to hang on wheelie bins to deter flies which may work. Otherwise, I think fans are supposed to be quite helpful. I have taken to giving mine a quick spray with fly spray as she comes in to help too.
 

poiuytrewq

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It seems strange doesn’t it that they go for one horse over others for no particular reason. I admit at first I blamed my daughter for not mucking out properly ? (on turning his bed up she had... oops!)
Poor thing just has no break
 

Keith_Beef

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If you have electricity, then maybe one of the blue-lamp and electrified grid traps (the kind you see in butcher's shops) might work for some flies.

But I've read that flies are attracted to horses' warm bodies by following homing in on the infra-red radiation... I wonder if the blue lamps can be replaced by infra-red lamps to attract horse flies.

What colour is your horse, and what colour are the horses that are not snidered with flies?
 

ozpoz

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Try hanging up a large bunch of mint. I find broad leaved mint particularly good, and as it needs to be severely cut back a couple of times a year, you can easily pick a huge bunch. It’s good for peppermint tea too.
 

Shay

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After a few years without I have put our boys back on garlic. 3 days in and the flies have pretty much all gone off them. I know Garlic is controversial - and the evidence that it works anecdotal. But I have been really surprised. We don't usually have a lot of flies but the last 10 days or so have been horrible. Not horse flies or biting flies - just normal flies all around thier faces. I don't use fly masks since coblet nearly lost his one remaining eye when he dragged the mask across the cornea. Now my two might have a fly or two on them - the others are still absolutely covered with the things.

I know long term garlic use can be damaging. I'll take them back off it in a few weeks when the flies die down
 

Griffin

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After a few years without I have put our boys back on garlic. 3 days in and the flies have pretty much all gone off them. I know Garlic is controversial - and the evidence that it works anecdotal. But I have been really surprised. We don't usually have a lot of flies but the last 10 days or so have been horrible. Not horse flies or biting flies - just normal flies all around thier faces. I don't use fly masks since coblet nearly lost his one remaining eye when he dragged the mask across the cornea. Now my two might have a fly or two on them - the others are still absolutely covered with the things.

I know long term garlic use can be damaging. I'll take them back off it in a few weeks when the flies die down
I wish I could get mine to eat garlic but she point blank refuses. Like you, I would only feed it during the summer.

I think that garlic does have some repelling properties. I take it myself and I get bitten significantly less than I used to.
 

Dyllymoo

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I have been using one of these outside J's stable. It was awful the first few warm days when we moved there, and he is really sensitive to the flies.

I hang it outside to the side of his stable (so not near a window or door) up fairly high. It has caught so many and he maybe only has one or two in his stable now.

It has lasted a while (6 weeks or so) but I think we will need to do another soon as I think just the volume of flies has caused it to stop working.

You just add warm water to it and hang it (don't get the powder on your hands though as it will make your hands - and possibly steering wheel of your car - smell gross for a while!)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Top-86757-Fly-Trap/dp/B06Y34JR84
 

Keith_Beef

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I have been using one of these outside J's stable. It was awful the first few warm days when we moved there, and he is really sensitive to the flies.

I hang it outside to the side of his stable (so not near a window or door) up fairly high. It has caught so many and he maybe only has one or two in his stable now.

It has lasted a while (6 weeks or so) but I think we will need to do another soon as I think just the volume of flies has caused it to stop working.

You just add warm water to it and hang it (don't get the powder on your hands though as it will make your hands - and possibly steering wheel of your car - smell gross for a while!)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Top-86757-Fly-Trap/dp/B06Y34JR84

What a description!

  • Cratchies up to 2,000 flies
  • Outfoor use only
  • The best thing since flies brad
  • Non - Torxic
  • Biadegrudible
 

poiuytrewq

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The worst horse is grey, the others are bay/coloured (but bay coloured not mainly white type!)
He is a very hot horse, just been to check on them and he’s sweating.
I used to feed garlic years ago and actually swore by it for flies, forgot that! I may get a tub and try it. I guess it’s only for a month or so hopefully ?
Will also look at the other suggestions. Thanks
 
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