Horse going mad with the flies

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Billie

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For the second year runnig Billy has being getting highly irritated by the flies. I've had him nearly 17 years and I've never known him react the way he has recently. He did move yards last May and I can only think that they have a much worse fly problem than any other yard I've ever been at.

He does wear a fly mask and tons of fly spray but the other day someone got him in (they are bring him in after a couple of hours as that is all he can stand) and he was going crazy bucking and generally really irritated and she said there weren't even many flies on him.

The problems I've got are the following:

He can't wear a fly sheet as he breaks out in a sweat just looking at one. He wore one once, rub himself silly, tore it and came in white with sweat.

He can't be turned out nights as there is too much grass and I'm worried about laminitis.


What can I do?
 
I think I would persevere with fly sheets. There are different types that they sweat in less and may be more comfortable. They realy are the only effective way of keeping flys off and I'm sure he would get used to it.
 
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I think I would persevere with fly sheets. There are different types that they sweat in less and may be more comfortable. They realy are the only effective way of keeping flys off and I'm sure he would get used to it.

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Can you recommend a good one at all?
 
Mine are old now but I would go for a softer one rather than those that feel slightly plasticy. They do seem to sweat more and they rip easily. I expect others may be able to give you makes etc.
 
We're using the Amigo Bug Rugs with great results. The silver colour definitely reflects the heat, and the horses who need them are MUCH calmer than they were without them.

What is it with the flies this year. There seem to be LOADS more than usual.
 
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We're using the Amigo Bug Rugs with great results. The silver colour definitely reflects the heat, and the horses who need them are MUCH calmer than they were without them.

What is it with the flies this year. There seem to be LOADS more than usual.

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Great! Thanks, I'll have a look for them now!
 
Any chance he could be out at night and in during the day?, both from the fly perspective, and the lami worry this would be a good way to deal with your worries.
Fructans in the grass are much lower at night so the lami risk would be reduced.
If this warm weather continues I think I'm going to have to adopt this strategy with my two as they're being eaten alive, despite oodles of fly spray etc
crazy.gif
 
I second that about fly rugs, I think they're brilliant, and neither of mine get too hot in them. In fact, I think they stay cooler as the sun gets reflected away from the white material.

I have a Rambo dustbuster on one, which is one of the softer ones, and find it fantastic. My other (more destructive) horse ripped holes in his though (by scratching his neck with a back foot!) so I bought it a Rambo Protector, which is made out of a strong, lightweight mesh.

I would highly recommend both of them.

I also feed them garlic granules which is supposed to repel flies, and I think it does work.

The problem with bringing them in during the day is that the midges are worse in the very early morning and early evening, just at the times when you would be turning them out, or just before you would be bringing them in.
 
my horse is exactly the same and goes mad with the flies...I tried fly masks but he managed to pull them off and they still seemed to get into his ears....
I use snuggy hood with frindge and ears....although expensive £60 it goes right down over his neck and attaches under his legs...it completely covers him and he also wears a mark todd fly sheet which is brill....he does not seem to mind the flys at all now....
Snuggy hoods also do a full body rug with the hood which I think is about £130 in all...bargin as they are brill...
I also used Masta fly sheet which was good....
 
I'm using the Bug Rug too ~ it's okay ~ still got a few midges thru though!

I've washed mine, and on the final rinse, put a capful of Dettol in.

Seems to worked a treat!
 
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