I hate flies!!!!!!!!!!

hannabanana

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Yesterday i went out just before 11 and me and my riding buddy went on a nice 2 hour ride, we went on this ride where its nice and open so there wouldnt be many flies, but on the way back we have to go into the woods where the flies were terrible! poor horsey was aggitated even though he had jungle formula on (I get lots from my uncle as hes in the army). Apart from that i got my fair share of bites and had a bad reaction to it, one is the size of a CD and really sore and swollen, because of the area its in (just above back of knee), I cant bend my leg as it touches my calf and hurts, so i've gave riding today a miss, a big shame as its a lovely day!! I'm going out tomorrow at 9.30 tomorrow so hopefully not so many flies will be out... anyone else had problems with flies? I hate them!
 
The flies don't tend to bite me, but they are completely aggravating the poor ponies.

I apply NAF jel to all the difficult bits by hand and then give them both a good spray of NAF or DEET (which I don't like, but it works) and that keeps them at bay for the first half an hour, after that it is just a feed-fest. Any that land within striking distance get squished, but it's when they land on the ponies bellies and I end up trying to ride while H cow kicks like mad to get them off.

What with the heat and the flies, I'm starting to think about how much easier it was when everything was covered in 6 inches of snow!
 
IMO i think the fly spray you buy from the shop is a load of pap, £15 for a bottle of DEET and like you said it lasts half an hour, it only works if you practically bath the horse in it, so the bottle basically lasts 3 days. I prefer to make my own as its cheaper. I know what you mean, we're never happy no matter what the weather :D. I had neddy doing mini bucks from them biting his bits, i think the flies are getting smart too, for about 5 minutes he was chucking his head up and down and couldnt see any horse flies, the horrid thing was hiding under his bridle!
 
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