Horse Fly Repellent

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Cheshire Chestnut

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Right, before it gets warm again (distant dream at the moment I know...) I want to buy some good fly repellent before it gets to summer it the prices shoot up.

We're at a farm with lots of cows so we have millions of very nasty horse flies. I tried and tested most 'off the shelf' repellents last year and nothing worked. I made my own and that didn't work. Avon Skin So Soft did a good job for a while but then my boy still came up in huge welts all over his body. He reacts pretty bad to bites but if I put a fly rug on him he rips it off in temper.

Anyone got a fly repellent that REALLY worked against horse flies please?
 
They hunt by sight and are attracted to large moving objects that contrast with their surroundings so repellents won't work on them, unfortunately.
 
I recommend a Rambo Sweet Itch Hoodie, teamed with an equilibrium mask.

We have ponds all around us and devil flies, and this has been better for horse comfort, and cheaper than repellents. I even use a fly sheet for hacking, with ear covers.

Had some fly repellents for schooling, but not sure they work. You can still buy Citronella disguised as other things, at least that smell nice, even if I am not sure it works!
 
We had to get a vet to our horse last summer she was badly bitten and had swelling all over,we are also on a cattle farm ,the vet gave us Danilon ,Cavellese cream,and Coopers fly repellent,the swelling soon went down and for the rest of the summer we carried on with just the coopers,one bottle lasted all summer ,it contains Citronella and Permethrin we only used it about three times a week,its not a spray it is applied with a cloth so goes a long way ,flies and midges wont go near ,and we did not use a fly sheet.
 
You joke about it being too early, but there were 'baby' flies around the droppings when I poo picked this afternoon!

Tbh I have yet to find one that completely works so opt for bringing them in during the day for the horse fly season, and use fly masks for the rest of the summer.
 
Gloi said:
They hunt by sight and are attracted to large moving objects that contrast with their surroundings so repellents won't work on them, unfortunately.
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And I believe they breed in or near water/bog so god help us all this year!!!
 
Meems said:
I used to swear by this too, but each year it seems to be less and less effective.
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Think I'm going to get some this year. I saw someone use it at the yard last summer and it smelt really strong. Fingers crossed!

It's only £7.99 on eBay at the moment so I shall stock up in hope for a hot summer!
 
Garlic and brewers yeast! Have a look at simple systems I have a feeling they do a mix.... You could easily copy it. I don't know what Think fly is like. Garlic and B12 both need to be in the blood stream a while.
 
Highlands said:
Garlic and brewers yeast! Have a look at simple systems I have a feeling they do a mix.... You could easily copy it. I don't know what Think fly is like. Garlic and B12 both need to be in the blood stream a while.
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Thanks for this. I think I might start putting this in his feed now. After the drama last year and his bad temper from being bitten to death, I will try anything!
 
Cheshire Chestnut said:
Think I'm going to get some this year. I saw someone use it at the yard last summer and it smelt really strong. Fingers crossed!

It's only £7.99 on eBay at the moment so I shall stock up in hope for a hot summer!
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You see, if I do this it is the kiss of death on future weather!

At risk of getting shot down in flames we use an old horseman's trick - parrafin in water, applied with a sponge. Very cheap and seems to work (In fact our vet has started doing the same with his own horses!)
 
bouncing_ball said:
How does parrafin in water work? What us paraffin? Ingredient in Vaseline?
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Same parafin that is used in heaters etc. You fill a bucket with cold water and put about half a cupful of parafin in. Give it a quick stir, parafin floats on top. dip sponge in, and sponge all over horse. It dries fairly quickly, and the smell becomes less noticeable to humans, but it does keep the flies off!!
 
My mare was eaten to death until I fed her garlic powder. About a teaspoon in each feed (2 a day). She's about 500kg.
I also experimented with some home made remedies. I found that cider vinegar, tea, lavender, citronella, and lemon essential oils worked well (on both my mare and myself).
 
Coopers, bath big boy, rinse, then rinse again with coopers everywhere using a sponge for good saturation, you wont have to do it again for at least 7 days. Dont forget citronella cream naff for the sheath, teats and the whorls, flies/midges love biting there.

Garlic should not be fed in excess of 3mg a day as it causes anaemia which you cannot see but you will suddenly find your horse is very lethargic during work, look at the garlic ingestion, it is poisonous in excess.
 
Ok so I may regret this because it will be my fault if the weather turns now, but I have just ordered some garlic and some Phaser.

Fingers crossed it works as my poor boy already has runny eyes :(

Thanks for all the replies - they've been very helpful :)
 
Also, how much garlic do you feed yours horses? He will only have one feed a day. I don't want to over do it, as others have mentioned on this thread - it can potentially be bad for them :(
 
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