horse with Serious fly issues!! (Sorry long)

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Grey_Eventer

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My polo pony has serious fly issues as in cannot stand them. Will do anything to get them off, which includes getting you off her
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she bucks, broncs, hops and just generally pr@ts about. For polo because you have to tie their tails up that just makes it worse, generally i just plait it down but for tournaments it has to go up and then shes a right pain when flies are out. shes pure TB so has very thin skin so if one bites it really irritates her. Shes generally stroppy anyway (chestnut mare) but flies just make it wayyyy worse.
On sunday i had finished my last chukka, had untacked her, boots and bandages off and was just about to do tail and studs when she went mad, was bucking and bucking and bucking, proper bucks though. so i untied her to try and see what was wrong and see if i walked her around that would help... big mistake, it took 2 guys to hold her head and another guy to hold her front leg up while i made a quick dash to get her tail undone, alot of tail swishing went on and then she was ok. I think she had been attacked by some horse flies... so is there anything i can do to help her? she gets so so uncomfy and really gets irritated by it and its annoying to play polo on her when shes like that....
is there anything i can do or should i just get on with it?
thanks
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Im not sure if they are allowed for polo but im sure you can get a fly rug that you can put on over the tack and ride in. Looks really silly but does help keep the flies away, just probably not allowed for polo!
 
Can't really offer too much other than the obvious of drowning her in fly repellent before you start and at any breaks in proceedings!

I'm particularly impressed with Power Phaser as it seems to REALLY repel the flies (to the extent that I haven't got a flymask on my 2). My old mare verges on getting sweetitch and she is completely chilled out and has not even thought about rubbing her tail.

Might be worth a try.
 
Global Herbs fly Free has worked really well for my boy who gets big lumps from the flies. Makes your horse stink (it comes out of their pores!) but saves on fly repellant!
 
I use the Coopers stuff on my TB who just does not do Horse Flies ..... but this is the worst 2 weeks of the year, so soon they will subside and I find that once he has had the first 'attack' he seems a lot better, but not brilliant
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This replellant seems to stop the little blighters landing on him though
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Good Luck
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[ QUOTE ]
Global Herbs fly Free has worked really well for my boy who gets big lumps from the flies. Makes your horse stink (it comes out of their pores!) but saves on fly repellant!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, we've had REALLY good results using this- haven't bought any fly spray for 2 years now
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