Horse being tortured by wasps?

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poiuytrewq

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Any idea why?
They seem to be zoning in on one poor horse, typically it’s one that’s turned away to recover from injury so I could do without him hooning round all the time.
He’s in a field of 3 and the other two don’t get bothered by them.
I’ve tried fly rugs on which generally helps until one gets stuck underneath.
I’ve even just moved them into a different field a mile up the road but this morning he still has wasps buzzing round his head.
I think he’s a few stings and is getting quite anxious (understandably!)
Spray appears not to have much effect. Any ideas?
 
Could it be that the horse that is turned away has been sweaty uder his fly rug but not washed, whereas the others have been in and washed/groomed if they are in work?

I have sympathy with him, I also attract wasps! I do however wash ;):D
 
Adult wasps crave sugary water at this time of year apparently, as they are unable to digest food and their job of providing food for the young in the nests is over.
Does this particular horse sweat a lot? Perhaps he has a sweeter smelling sweat than the rest? Or is he washed regularly or have something applied to his coat that might be attracting them?

We regularly have 4-5 wasps who are now obsessed with th algae that has built up on the outside of our hosepipe. We assume they are getting something from it, but it’s making my life hell because I’m allergic to the things.
 
I would say that he's probaly sweating u dear his fly rig and attracting them .
I would either remove the rug ( my choice I hate fly rugs and don’t use them ) or get two and wash them daily in hot weather . I would rinse in deet solution And see if that helps .
I would be letting a horse recovering from injury rest in the stable during the day if he’s being hassled in the field.
 
following. Diva's getting these too, even after being washed in anti insecticidal shampoo.
We guessed she smelled more attractive due to hormones. Maybe your boy does too?
 
You could try a good old fashioned wasp trap in his field if there is somewhere you can hang one - a lidded jar or can with a hole punched in the top big enough for a wasp to get in and a good dollop of jam in the bottom and they may find it more attractive than the poor horse! Obviously it needs to be out of his reach and it needs to hang, rather than being on the floor but if there's a handy tree branch, that would do.


We regularly hang one near our plum trees and they seem to prefer the jam to the plums. I hate seeing it but it is quite effective.
 
Not sure if this would work or if its an old wife's tale but wasps are supposedly repelled by peppermint oil. So you could try making up a spray or something. However your horse may smell like a large polo mint to the other horses!!!
 
Not wasps, but everything else, torments one of my ponies far more than the other 6. I have to bring him in during the day or he gallops around trying to escape them which makes things worse as he then gets sweaty. A fly rug just made him sweatier and more attractive to the bugs.
 
moleskinsmum said:
You could try a good old fashioned wasp trap in his field if there is somewhere you can hang one - a lidded jar or can with a hole punched in the top big enough for a wasp to get in and a good dollop of jam in the bottom and they may find it more attractive than the poor horse! Obviously it needs to be out of his reach and it needs to hang, rather than being on the floor but if there's a handy tree branch, that would do.


We regularly hang one near our plum trees and they seem to prefer the jam to the plums. I hate seeing it but it is quite effective.
Click to expand...

Vinegar and sugar water works well too, and doesn't run the risk of attracting bees because of the vinegar.
 
He’s had his fly sheet off for s few days now, no change.
He has two which are regularly swapped and washed already.
The two he’s with are retired and ones uncatchable so he doesn’t even get fly sprayed throughout the day as the other two do.
He doesn’t have a stable currently to come into but the vet did specify he’s to be out 24/7 because of arthritis which seized up on box rest and the fact he go’s barmy when I put him back out everyday.
I may try giving him a really good bath and see if that makes any difference.
 
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