Horse flies

My fields are surrounded by woods, which really attracts horseflies. They always seem to appear for 2 months, July and August. Yesterday was the first time I have seen any this year. Apparently they target by sight, so fly sprays are ineffective. The best I can do is put flie sheets on and wait for the end of August, as no matter what the weather is like, they just disappear then.
 
My poor horse was being eaten alive by them today! It's cooled down here now though. Do you have any good fly sprays that deter them?
 
I'm going to have to get him a fly rug asap. The problem is that he's a 16.3hh shire x cob and takes 7'3" rugs which hardly anyone seems to do!
 
feckers! ive sprayed the hosses so now they are coming after me!

Seriously, i was on the quad tonight, pouring rain, and got bitten by at least six.!!!
 
sunny weather ime. i think they're extra-attracted to sweaty horses too. my poor girl was being plagued by them today for the first time, and i stupidly didn't have a whip with me to scrape her tummy clear of them, and in her determination she managed to boot me on the sole of the foot trying to get one...
i'm not sure whether any fly repellents really work on them, tbh, but washing horse off asap helps i think.
 
Hadn't seen a single one until yesterday. It was the first hot day for weeks and there were hundreds of the blighters. What I'd like to know is, where have they been until now, and where do they go when it's cooler and wet like today?
 
elderlycoupleindevon said:
Hadn't seen a single one until yesterday. It was the first hot day for weeks and there were hundreds of the blighters. What I'd like to know is, where have they been until now, and where do they go when it's cooler and wet like today?
Click to expand...


Yes why is this?!!!

I must have squished 10 -12 on my hack yesterday! It is very unnerving when the horse you are riding tries to use his back foot to scratch one off his ear:eek:
 
That's interesting that horse flies target by sight, as they swarm round my chestnut mare but largely leave my grey shetland alone. Do they think he's a dog? Or is his skin too tough to bother with, or maybe girls taste better than smelly boys?? ;-)
 
All of a sudden there are thousands of them by me. My mare really hates them and they seem to really love her there were about 4 or 5 at a time landing on her every min or so on our ride yest. And today I took a little girl out on her pony who has never put a foot wrong before and they started attacking him, he got so upset with one he reared and bucked (really out of character for him) as soon as we were in an area with less flies he was ok. Little girl stayed on (she's only 4) and still loves her pony.
 
There really awful :( my TB is really sensitive too them and was rearing and bucking in the stable as she had a few stuck to her :eek: last summer we went hacking through a field and about 8 where stuck to her all over. she almost bolted with me, was bucking and broncing because of them which made it a very dangerous hack!!
My cob hates them too, even the 2 pet sheep in the field had horse flies stuck to their faces :eek:

Any repellent to get rid? just ordered 3 x SSS and hoping it will be good :confused:
 
I went for a hack yesterday and my horse was hotching about so much to get away from the flipping things she crushed my leg as I was trying to open a gate :( there is a fishing lake at the yard we are at which seems to attract them too! I read on another thread that mixing a dollop of marmite
 
I went for a hack yesterday and my horse was hotching about so much to get away from the flipping things she crushed my leg as I was trying to open a gate :( there is a fishing lake at the yard we are at which seems to attract them too! I read on another thread that mixing a dollop of marmite in their feed helps too
 
i got bitten twice this morn. I didnt get bitten at all yesterday but i was covered in avon skin so soft! ;-)
 
I thought SSS was brill for midges and that kind of fly? Didn't know it worked for horse flies too...... if it does, I need to track down my local Avon lady! :D
 
Fly sheets are going on tonight, have been fighting them off with fly spray but now the flies have mutated!


e030.gif


I declare War on horseflies!
 
I sponge two of mine down with a bucket of warm water with a slug of dettol added. Smells like a hospital but definately deters the biters. The horses enjoy it when its warm too.
 
There were millions on Sunday, the only horses not galloping around bucking were the one's with fly rugs on. My boy was so p***ed off by them and hot that I clipped him, bathed him and left him in. I have some really bad bites on my arms and back, my right arm is twice the size it should be. The little bleeders were still about yesterday as well, so I think I may have to get a fly rug, really didn't want to, but if he needs one then that's that.

DragonSlayer I will join your army against the bloody biting b******!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top