garlic and flies

I live in Scotland too and have noticed the flies (and ticks! )apearing already! I haven't started added garlic yet but will do in the next couple of weeks. I found it really helped last year and usually put a handful or so in. I just use any brand, my local horse shop usually have Dobson and Horrel on offer so I go with that!! Sorry not very scientific!!
 
flash has been getting hassled by all sorts of evil flying bugs for about a month now so I started feeding him garlic (which he absolutely loves!) and it seems to have really helped. Now its me thats getting bitten not him!
 
I'd say start giving it now, we have a load of horseflies out as well, nasty things
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It cleanses the blood too!
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Does anyone else go to extreme lengths to put repellent on their horse and feed them garlic etc, but never ever put anything on themselves?!!!!
 
Yup!!!
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George has garlic year round, as I believe in it's health properties for blood and respiratory system. He does get bothered less by flies in teh summer than other horses too.

I feed Baileys garlic powder
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I actually fed garlic cloves to Castle last summer, I chopped them up really finely (which took forever
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) and mixed it into his feed, he loved it!
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Wendels would be an easier alternative though
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I started feeding the powder but Chex has stopped eating all his tea because it's too garlicky by the end so will get some granules.
 
I feed garlic granuals all year round.I believe like the other posts that it is great for not only the coat and skin but also the immune system
The bonus is the effect on flies!!
 
hi ya,
i dont buy garlic, we have wild garlic or ramsons (also know as stinking nannies up here for some reason) my horses eat it of their own choice, if they staying in over night i will pick some and add to their dinners.

the beauty about wild garlic is you can eat leaf, flower and bulbs so nothing is wasted and you can eat it your self as well, use flowers in a salad or chops bulbs as you would shop bought garlic into your dinner.
i've used this for a few years now on all my 4 horses and we dont get much hassle off flies and we are right on the side of a stream. if you eat it yourself you dont get bit as much either trust me i used to get bitten badly and the bite would swell right up and be so painful and that was just the midges and mozzis
i was bitten by a horse fly on my thigh once and it swell to the size of a sandwhich plate in diameter and was raised up about an inch, it was so bad i could hardle move my leg and you could see it through my jods lol.

my other technique is to make up my own fly repellent sprays with armoatherapy oils, as my horses hated the shop bought ones and threw a fit if i tried to spray them but they dont mind the arotharapy ones and i can spray them on me too and they smell really nice and whats more you only use a few drops of 3/4 oils which are roughly £3-£4 a bottle so they last ages and are def cheaper than buying in shops, you also know whats in them for people with horses that have allergies to certain things like citronella.
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I've decided to try Global Herbs 'Fly free' this year. Its made with Garlic and Ceder Oil which is said to be a natural insect repellant! Anyone tried it? Hope its some use because its £20 a tub and you give 2 scoops twice a day and I'll probably need to start my mare on a slightly higher does because she is a big girl! I'm going to ring there helpline for advice on that.
 
it absolutley stinks!!! like ultra strong curry powder, not good for fussy horses! mine eats it though
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