Fly spray…. Is it me?!

[Leandy]

I hear you. I've honestly never seen the point of fly spray, either on the horse or on myself. It simply does not work noticeably. I'm also controversial and don't use fly rugs at all. I use a mask to save their eyes and inside of ears from irritation and infection when turned out but otherwise I leave them to it. It really does seem to me that if horses are covered from head to foot most of the time in ever more elaborate ways to keep the flies off, that they will be really irritated and unused to them when we want to work them without all the rugs on. Also, I worry about them getting hot and itchy underneath anyway. I'm sure they prefer to be naked. I really don't have problems with this approach. Once you get out of walk you leave the flies behind anyway and horses are equipped with their own fly whisk if it isn't buried in a rug so they can't use it.

 

[visa_bot]

3 of us rode out together, one used the nettex summer fly cream and didn’t have a single horse fly. The other 2 of us were being eaten alive. I subsequently bought some of the cream and it definitely helped.

 

[Jellymoon]

We have terrible flies here, farm next door with cattle and near water, I’m really interested in this Spontinor stuff you speak of! Can you tell me how you apply it?

 

[Getbackboys]

pure neem oil esp around sheath teets and rest of under carriage, around ears, bottom of neck rest wiped over lower portion of face and a fly fringe or mask even for riding. human good ole skin so soft bobs your uncle. never had any reaction to neem oil but had bad reactions to other repellants incl homemade.

 

[Irish-Only]

The hyperdrug blurb says "Extra-label use of the product in the non-target species dogs and cats can lead to toxic neurological signs (ataxia, convulsions, tremors), digestive signs (hypersalivation, vomiting) and may be fatal." To me, that indicates that they do actually believe it to be safe on horses in spite of not having been licenced for horses, or horses would be in that list.
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My poor mare reacted very badly to deosect with neurological head tremors. Please be very careful.

 

[ycbm]

My poor mare reacted very badly to deosect with neurological head tremors. Please be very careful.

I understand what you are saying but that product IS licensed for use on horses. Unfortunately, a rare number of individual horses can react to anything, even carrots.

Everything should be patch tested and on some horses patch tested every time. i had a horse who didn't react at all the first time I used Spotinor but swelled at the applcation area the second time.
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[Squeak]

One thing to mention - There are times in the summer when my horse is stuffing himself in the field and taking his fly rug off so that he decides to take himself in to the field shelter for a bit is a great way of making him regulate his eating.

I wouldn't do it though if he had no where to get away from the flies or if they were so bad he couldn't go back out, eat some more grass for a bit then head back in.

 

[ycbm]

We have terrible flies here, farm next door with cattle and near water, I’m really interested in this Spontinor stuff you speak of! Can you tell me how you apply it?

One squirt of 10ml behind the wither. I have heard of others putting it in a cross on the bum.

Patch test first!
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[cariadbach10]

I’m not a fly rug fan either. Encourages them to stand still for far too long. Mine have the option to come into a shady barn if they want to get away from them. One has a mask on if he gets runny eyes. I’m trying the Hedgewitch Icardican (sp?) this year. Results tba.

 

[MereChristmas]

I’m trying the Hedgewitch Icardican (sp?) this year. Results tba.

I’m trying the Biteback Superfly, also Icaridin 20%. I’ve used it once but on a windy day. Will report later.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I was using my own concoction of fly spray but decided to give Neddy horse a try, no way will one coating deep into the coat last for three days and neither will one bottle last six weeks. It does smell lovely and I covered myself in it too as this year I seem to have taken an allergic reaction to the horsefly bites! And for anyone wishing to give it a try, they have a heatwave offer 50% off !!
just bought a ride on fly rug and mask, I think thats the only thing that might give him some relief while hacking ??

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I made my own after phaser and various other things didn’t work in their own ? I combined everything ? into a 5l drum

eucalyptus oil
Peppermint oil
Lavender oil
Tea tree oil
Ginger and lemon tea
Few drop of washing up liquid for the oils
Bottle of phaser

mixed all together this works as we aren’t plagued when we going out now.

 

[meleeka]

I’m trying the Biteback Superfly, also Icaridin 20%. I’ve used it once but on a windy day. Will report later.

I really like Biteback products, but with 4 to do, it’s stupidly expensive. I used on one horse only who was really bothered by midges and flies and was effective if applied twice a day.

 

[mini_b]

Is anyone leaving a fly sheet on? Is there a temp at which you’d take it off?

ive never had this quandary before!!

 

[Nasicus]

Is anyone leaving a fly sheet on? Is there a temp at which you’d take it off?

ive never had this quandary before!!

I've taken the sweet itch rugs off for the next couple of days and doused in Deosect. If it was a very airy, mesh-y flyrug, I'd be inclined to leave it on.

 

[TPO]

I've just doused one horse in that Hot Horse spray and a cleg literally landed on the sprayed area and latched on ?

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Nothing works this year. Deosect does nada. I'm using a heavily citronella based spray that's helping a bit, and might make a home concoction again. Similar to Cheeky Chestnuts recipe. It helped with tail rubbing a bit.

I did have the YO take his fly sheet off when he came in from the field this morning. It's a battle with him when it's over 31° degrees. He rubs because of bugs, but also if he gets hot. So going to bathe and slather in repellent later and hope for the best. Should be able to wear the fly sheet again on Weds.

I tried a spot on a few years back, but it gave him huge welts.

 

[TPO]

I shampooed them all with neem shampoo yesterday too and it didn't make a difference either. Clegs were landing while it was still sudded up on them, straight after rinsing and this morning when they were dry

 

[Squeak]

I saw someone post on another thread that at, I think, 36 degrees the flies disappear so hopefully that might mean people who are worrying about leaving fly rugs on might be able to take them off for the hottest part of today.

 

[MereChristmas]

I’m trying the Biteback Superfly, also Icaridin 20%. I’ve used it once but on a windy day. Will report later.

I really like Biteback products, but with 4 to do, it’s stupidly expensive. I used on one horse only who was really bothered by midges and flies and was effective if applied twice a day.

Here is a not very scientific report.

I‘ve used the Superfly a few times when riding. It’s not needed otherwise as pony is in during the day.

first..very few flies on body, head surrounded by small black bitey flies, pony not at all happy

second… added fly mask, no difference with black flies but pony less bothered.

third..as second but more happy. I think he realised the flies can’t land on his head wearing a fly mask, however 1 horse fly on his neck close to jaw and 2 almost under the saddle knee roll.


fourth… a different route on a cooler day, fewer flies about so no problems.

The few horseflies I saw were not deterred from landing and stayed to bite. The black flies didn’t seem to land but were a dreadful irritation.

 

[maya2008]

I have just crossed all my fingers and toes, taken the fly rug off our fly allergic horse and covered him in the citronella naf spray. Here’s hoping he isn’t covered in lumps by this evening!

 

[Widgeon]

I've just doused one horse in that Hot Horse spray and a cleg literally landed on the sprayed area and latched on ?

I don't think it really works for clegs - I've not found anything that does though :-(

 

[TPO]

I don't think it really works for clegs - I've not found anything that does though :-(

Thats what they sell it on? Their whole advert is that it confuses them and that they can't latch on?

You might have to swipe but there's videos on their website

https://neddycare.com/products/hot-horse-fly-shield-spray-wipe-on-formula

 

[Barton Bounty]

I've just doused one horse in that Hot Horse spray and a cleg literally landed on the sprayed area and latched on ?

I had that too, and I have been bitten several times since using it on me yesterday! Wondered whether it is just teething problems ??

 

[Barton Bounty]

I don't think it really works for clegs - I've not found anything that does though :-(

The owner of the company said it does lol…. ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Nothing works this year. Deosect does nada. I'm using a heavily citronella based spray that's helping a bit, and might make a home concoction again. Similar to Cheeky Chestnuts recipe. It helped with tail rubbing a bit.

I did have the YO take his fly sheet off when he came in from the field this morning. It's a battle with him when it's over 31° degrees. He rubs because of bugs, but also if he gets hot. So going to bathe and slather in repellent later and hope for the best. Should be able to wear the fly sheet again on Weds.

I tried a spot on a few years back, but it gave him huge welts.

its an absolute nightmare this year, I’m tempted to try ultrashield ? Anyone else used that ?

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Ultrasheild is the only thing I've found that works this year ?

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Yes, I use Ultrashield. It works and possibly lasts the longest in comparison to many others. Tri Tec is another good one, but I haven't used it in ages.

The Carr Day and Martin Citronella spray is alright too.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Thanks peeps, getting eaten alive by horseflies and being allergic is not fun ??

 

[Fieldlife]

One squirt of 10ml behind the wither. I have heard of others putting it in a cross on the bum.

Patch test first!
.

ycmb - I have been using spotinor a few months with no reactions. Any idea what the impact on effectiveness hosing horse off / shampooing horse has. I am thinking it is absorbed into blood stream, so after 3 days when greasy path goes - no effect. But bathing whilst it is still sitting on the fur might wash it off? Though it is oily and presumably rain resistant? I applied it this morning, and want to bath for competition tomorrow afternoon. I also quite want to hose this afternoon for cooling benefit (though today is forecast cooler than yesterday for us, and have shade and breeze.