Fly supplements - any recommendations?

[JustMeThen]

Today reminded me how much my poor boy suffered last year. He had a full fly rug and mask on every day but really struggled, just taking them off to brush/tack up, etc was a nightmare for him I also used repellent and a citronella wash but it didn't really help.
Has anyone got any recommendations for a feed supplement which might help? Thank you.

 

[JustMeThen]

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[Lego]

My previous cob wore a fly mask - mostly for his pink nose - and nothing else. Found out after I'd had him a while that he had had sweet itch Fed him brewers yeast, garlic and apple cider vinegar and he seemed fine and his coat always looked fab, even when we were at a midgey yard...

I tried global herbs flyfree with current horse last summer - wet field with masses of horse flies and midges. He wasn't that bothered but constantly coming in with blood spots from bites He eats anything that doesn't run away usually, but had to coax him to eat it, whatever it was mixed in with, it stank, stained everything if I spilled any... When I finally got him to eat the full ration, it didn't seem to keep the flies away at all...

Will be going back to brewers yeast this year if I need anything I think...

 

[Izzyella]

Last year I added a spoonful of garlic and also of brewers yeast to their evening feed and sprayed them with a concoction (based on a recommendation on here) of:
1 cup strong tea (mine are dark- might stain a grey!)

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup Avon Skin So Soft bath oil

A large spoonful of citronella oil

A large spoon of either lavender, tea tree or eucalyptus oil

I used a cloth around the face and avoided the eyes completely. Not sure which of these ingredients worked (!) but it kept the bitey blighters away and I still have a lot left for this year... I would add that I didn't try this until August, so can't guarantee it will will work on the flies more common in early summer, but it must be worth a try

 

[JustMeThen]

Thank you. I was going to start feeding garlic but hadn't heard of brewers' yeast so will try that too and thanks for the recipe!