Flies

[Jessie the Horse]

Hi all, so my horse has settled into the livery after a long trip over and one thing I noticed was a lot of flies at the paddock. Not just on my Mare but on all the horses. I know this is normal but how to stop them.
Not keen on a fly hood because I've seen flies get stuck on them. What works on these nasty things. Mare seemed to not like the insect spray being rubbed on. Maybe it stings ?

 

[mini_b]

Flies are so bad this year. Nothing seems to stop them.
A fly mask/fringe is good as it helps prevent eye irritation.

you can get fly traps which hang in trees or are free standing which actually attract and trap them.

 

[Jessie the Horse]

Flies are so bad this year. Nothing seems to stop them.
A fly mask/fringe is good as it helps prevent eye irritation.

you can get fly traps which hang in trees or are free standing which actually attract and trap them.

Don't the flies get under the masks and then just eat away ? I worry this would happen to her.

 

[mini_b]

I’ve never seen that happen?
my horse gets gunky eyes if turned out without a fly mask on.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Have you tried a fly spray?

 

[smolmaus]

A lot of horses don't like fly stuff being applied, I think smell has a lot to do with it even if it is rubbed on rather than sprayed. If you make it a nice experience with some little treats (treat when she stands still and accepts it) it makes it easier for everybody!

I've also never seen flies get trapped in a mask, it should fit snugly over their nose and ears so their eyes are enclosed but they have enough space for their eyelashes etc. I like the Shires Flyguard ones.

 

[JumpTheMoon1]

We all wish flies would buzz off, downside of having horses in the summer.Fly hoods are dangerous so use a fringe instead and the usual useless repellents,thats all you can do and look forwards to winter.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I actually have found that neddy horse care stuff is working for me, i spray myself in it too and I have not been bitten since ?

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Avon Skin So soft base for flyspray, add repellent oils eg citronella, neem (I have 3/4 litre if anyone wants it!) and eucalyptus etc. I hear rave reviews about Phizer too. Beau's eyes were very gunky without his flymask. I'd love to hear how the troll thinks they're dangerous. Never had issues bar thd boy rubbing it off occasionally.

 

[Jessie the Horse]

Thanks all

 

[Bobthecob15]

I must say other than a bit of fly spray we've not bothered with any masks/rugs etc...ours are in during the day and out at night over the summer which seems to make a massive difference. Or perhaps we are lucky and have less flies about?!

 

[asmp]

I must say other than a bit of fly spray we've not bothered with any masks/rugs etc...ours are in during the day and out at night over the summer which seems to make a massive difference. Or perhaps we are lucky and have less flies about?!

You must be lucky as they’re horrendous around here at the moment! Its the dilemma of fly rug vs over heating under them.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I think because we aren't near any rivers/streams and high on a hill perhaps!! Also they don't go out in the daytime which probably makes it better...!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Flies are so bad here at the moment mine have masks but it's too hot for fly rugs and I find most fly sprays just don't work and one of mine is allergic to a lot of them, the only one I know his ok with is the Barrier H one I use the gel and tend to give them a wipe over when I ride.

 

[Birker2020]

I must say other than a bit of fly spray we've not bothered with any masks/rugs etc...ours are in during the day and out at night over the summer which seems to make a massive difference. Or perhaps we are lucky and have less flies about?!

I'm also one of those, horse won't tolerate fly sheet or fly mask.

Last night I turned him out at 5.15pm and he galloped flat out four times up and down the paddock before i was able to rescue him and bring him in, where I hosed him off again, gave him a nice hay net and let him chill.

An hour later I turned him out when he was calm. I think it was the flies.

I put loads of fly spray on and the flies don't normally bother him but last night it was quite hot by us and I think that didn't help.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I have cattle in the next field and the flies are awful between dawn and dusk so I’m putting clean fly masks on every day which have been sprayed with fly repellent and allowed to dry. I have washed their heads to make sure they aren’t greasy and so far it seems to be working. Undercarriages are liberally smeared with cream so the flies can even land on them. In this current round of heat they are coming in during the day just to give them a break from the flies if nothing else.

 

[horseman1985]

Did someone use the electric traps that are placed in the aisles of the stable? Are they effective?

 

[FFAQ]

Did someone use the electric traps that are placed in the aisles of the stable? Are they effective?

I haven't used the electric ones but I did buy the ones you put water in and they do seem to help. The fly bait stinks though!

 

[Barton Bounty]

I have a fly bucket hanging in a tree and it helps at that side of the verge!
dead simple and the wee buggers stick to it ?

 

[Keith_Beef]

Flies were a big problem at Équirando this summer, both horse flies and what I call "ordinary flies" that seem to do nothing more than accumulate around the horse's eyes drinking the moisture.

The horse I was riding is quite sensitive to flies and throws his head around and rubs it against his leg at every opportunity.

We sprayed the horses with Naf Off repellent, and on the worst days we put masks on them.

My horse wasn't keen on being sprayed the first day, and the guy driving one of the vehicles did the job, but after that he got used to it little by little.

On the second day I needed help to spray him and by the third day I was able to do it alone.

 

[Gloi]

Flies have been bad around us since it started raining again. I spray him but they still annoy my lad and he gets cross, shaking himself and rubbing his head on his leg. Today though he excelled himself when we were hacking down the lane he put the brakes on and scratched his head with his back hoof ?. Quite disconcerting. I bet the drivers wondered what was going on.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Flies have been bad around us since it started raining again. I spray him but they still annoy my lad and he gets cross, shaking himself and rubbing his head on his leg. Today though he excelled himself when we were hacking down the lane he put the brakes on and scratched his head with his back hoof ?. Quite disconcerting. I bet the drivers wondered what was going on.

If they are just black flies, i find that half and half mix of ACV and dettol to work ?

 

[Red-1]

I usually use TriTec spray but everyone is out of stock and I will run out this week.

I also use a fly rug for BH, but Rigs prefers to suffer as a fly rug over heats him.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I have been using neddy horse fly spray extra and it was great but I feel the dettol and acv works for just black flies since the horse ones are mostly dead lol and its cheaper?

 

[Wizpop]

Just a heads up. I once made the mistake of rubbing fly spray on my horse’s head and around his ears. It rained during the night and in the morning his eyes were swollen right up because the spray had washed down into them! I didn’t realise what had happened at first. Vet came out and gave some eye drops and he was fine but potentially quite dangerous with some of the sprays that are around now.

 

[Jessie the Horse]

Just a heads up. I once made the mistake of rubbing fly spray on my horse’s head and around his ears. It rained during the night and in the morning his eyes were swollen right up because the spray had washed down into them! I didn’t realise what had happened at first. Vet came out and gave some eye drops and he was fine but potentially quite dangerous with some of the sprays that are around now.

Yeah. I bought gel. I always put it under her eyes. Luckily I won't abuse you for your innocence on this mistake but I'm sure others here will.

 

[Wizpop]

Yeah. I bought gel. I always put it under her eyes. Luckily I won't abuse you for your innocence on this mistake but I'm sure others here will.

Excuse me? I posted trying to be helpful. There was no need for that comment,

 

[Bob notacob]

Excuse me? I posted trying to be helpful. There was no need for that comment,

Chill,I think you have taken this comment the wrong way.I took it as a note to myself not to put the stuff above the eyes. Been around horses 60 years ,always something new to learn.Calm down folk!

 

[Goldenstar]

We have a reappearance of flys here as well .

 

[Sandstone1]

We have the horrible big black flies. Have not had too many horse flies this year. Wonder if the very hot weather killed them off.