Fly supplements do any work?

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Sven

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My black horse has been really bothered today by flies, he was sprayed to an inch of his life but they still got to him and seem to prefer him to any other horse around. So I am thinking I need to feed him something, but since no fly sprays work I am sceptical - so does anyone here with a black horse found anything that works? Fully appreciate this won't be a quick fix we are in it for the long haul
 
In regards to fly spray- mix some dettol and water. It’s the best I’ve found.

I feed turmeric and before I’ve fed a global herbs fly free I think it was called which I’m sure is turmeric based. Not sure if it makes any difference or not though.
 
I paid fifty quid for bottle of Tri Tec on recommendations from this forum, only to find that a two year old bottle of 50/50 Dettol/vinegar works better. Be careful, though, it can cause lumps and slight burns on thin skinned horses.
 
Chinchilla said:
Dettol, water, TCP and citronella works on our black/seal bay TB who is otherwise eaten alive.
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I must be doing something really wrong as I've used exactly the same as above and it has not made a slightest difference! Literally sprayed every inch and the flies were still swarming.
 
I have just discovered Avon's Skin So Soft. (https://www.avon.uk.com/product/507...VVuDtCh1PeABqEAQYASABEgJUAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds ). I saw it on the neighbouring horse's box and asked the stable manager what it was there for (thinking she had left it behind). I was told that the horse's owner was using it as a fly spray. I thought huh??. Went onto Avon's website and there it was with a little note that some had said it worked for biting insects. I have tried a few citronella based products and the Tritec ycbm mentions. I bought a bottle of the Avon Skin So Soft and as my horse isn't a spray person I sprayed the Avon stuff on a sponge and wiped it on. Took her out to her paddock and watched the flies land on her mane, hover around her body but not actually land. You do need to be careful that your horse isn't sensitive to the product but I must say, I am sold and it is only £3.50 a bottle
 
Green Bean said:
I have just discovered Avon's Skin So Soft. (https://www.avon.uk.com/product/507...VVuDtCh1PeABqEAQYASABEgJUAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds ). I saw it on the neighbouring horse's box and asked the stable manager what it was there for (thinking she had left it behind). I was told that the horse's owner was using it as a fly spray. I thought huh??. Went onto Avon's website and there it was with a little note that some had said it worked for biting insects. I have tried a few citronella based products and the Tritec ycbm mentions. I bought a bottle of the Avon Skin So Soft and as my horse isn't a spray person I sprayed the Avon stuff on a sponge and wiped it on. Took her out to her paddock and watched the flies land on her mane, hover around her body but not actually land. You do need to be careful that your horse isn't sensitive to the product but I must say, I am sold and it is only £3.50 a bottle
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I’ve tried it but didn’t work .

This summer I’ve used NAF extra, NAF deet, Power Phaser, Nettex Advanced and nothing has worked
 
Summit said:
I’ve tried it but didn’t work .

This summer I’ve used NAF extra, NAF deet, Power Phaser, Nettex Advanced and nothing has worked
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Thats because the person initially using it probably had the old version, avon didnt want to be associated with it helping, there was a big thing about it a couple of years ago! So they changed the ingredients in it . I still have an old bottle but never used it on my boy. I find phaser works for me mostly x
 
Barton Bounty said:
Thats because the person initially using it probably had the old version, avon didnt want to be associated with it helping, there was a big thing about it a couple of years ago! So they changed the ingredients in it . I still have an old bottle but never used it on my boy. I find phaser works for me mostly x
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That explains it. I did wonder why Avon would be happy selling a product which is used to deter flies :D
 
It is not the older version, only bought it a couple of weeks ago. I do wonder though as there are all these products out there that are supposed to work, are sold as fly deterrents but with mixed success. I do wonder if there shouldn't be a civil uprising :) against all this false advertising? We all spend an awful lot of money trying to make our horses comfortable but with seemingly little effect.
 
Green Bean said:
It is not the older version, only bought it a couple of weeks ago. I do wonder though as there are all these products out there that are supposed to work, are sold as fly deterrents but with mixed success. I do wonder if there shouldn't be a civil uprising :) against all this false advertising? We all spend an awful lot of money trying to make our horses comfortable but with seemingly little effect.
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Good shout! It is a joke though isnt it. I mean phaser is £20 in summer and £15.99 in winter lol.. 😡
 
Summit said:
50/50 mix?
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I just pour dettol in to an old fly spray bottle then add water. I go for a bit more dettol than water, probably more 70/30. It’s a great multi-use spray, I spray it round the stable too to freshen it up. Also feel happy to spray it near back legs/sheath if bothered by flies (not directly on it though I’ll add) without thinking it will cause problems. Some of the other ones you never know what’s in them.

I use Avon skin so soft spray too, it does work for the midges. It is oil based though so I wouldn’t use it if the suns out.
 
My mare is noticeably less bothered if I wipe her over with a solution containing tea tree oil, eucalyptus, citronella (~1 mL each) and a splash of medicated shampoo as detergent, made up to 1 L with water. I have to do this in early August as she has a mass shedding session, so can't wear her sweet itch rug, as it's torture for her!
 
I have been to a talk by a horse dermatologist and she said only the green colour Skinsosoft works. I don't think they do different colours now.

I've never tried it, so I don't know, but apparently the suggestion originally came from the marines in midge country in Scotland, and I can't see them using it unless it works 😂

.
 
ycbm said:
I have been to a talk by a horse dermatologist and she said only the green colour Skinsosoft works. I don't think they do different colours now.

I've never tried it, so I don't know, but apparently the suggestion originally came from the marines in midge country in Scotland, and I can't see them using it unless it works 😂

.
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Agree the old version did work up here but the new one , not 😫
 
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