I know everyone has horseflies but...

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poiuytrewq

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My daughter seems allergic to them- she has been bitten all over even through clothing and has nasty sores over big hard swellings. She looks pretty hideous!
I've done all I can- antihistamines and savlon (is there something better)
I'm not allergic and don't get bitten much anyway. We are on low marshy land so over run with the damn things- far worse at ours that work yards.
As a parent am a being a awful and unfair making her continue to do her pony daily? I'm wondering if its kinder to let her stay home but st the same time strongly believe kids shod do their own horses- at least help?!
 
Nb- it's only today I've really seen them this hasn't been going on ages with me ignoring it! (Incase someone pounces on me bring an unfit parent) :)
 
I think as long as you keep an eye to make sure they aren't infected, and get some heavy duty repellent like jungle formula or something, your daughter can carry on seeing to the pony! Just watch for infection though, they can be quite nasty.
 
I've just done my mucking out! They were too fierce earlier to even contemplate it and I react badly to their bites. Patchouli essential oil is good for calming the bites,and if you put it on immediately after being bitten it doesn't swell up at all.
I use it as well as antihistamines tablets.
 
I react badly to them and use sudocreme as it contains Benzyl Benzoate which acts as a repellant as well as soothing any existing bites. I also keep as covered as I can in long sleeve t shirts
 
Go the docs and get some cream for them.

I had to get cream a few months back from the doctors due to some nasty insect bites that wouldnt go away.
 
The little demons are crawling up inside my trousers and biting up my legs! I've got some random spray from America that I'm using to spray my cuffs, wrists, everywhere. Am covered in bites!

You can get 1% hydrocortisone cream over the counter and ice in a bag will help.
 
Ask her if she wants to do pony or not for a day or two.. Shes probably really sore and you can go out and get sone creams and repellant for her.
Id let them go down a little and if she doesnt want to go to do pony at risk of being bitten let her, they can leave awful scars and are horrible. Normal bites are horrid so allergies too.. Ugh:(

Once youve found cream though she should be fine doing pony as normal but maybe try and avoid times in the day when theyre really bad :)
 
I can recommend Jungle Forumla to keep them away, and sumo cream to sooth when they have bitten you.

Mind you, today the flies were so numerous and hungry even jungle formula wasn't keeping them away.
 
Anthisan very frequently applied is the only thing that almost works for me when I react that badly to bites, or see your GP to get something stronger. Frequent ice on each bite is the best painkiller and de-itcher that I've found, but if you have lots it can be a bit of a pain to manage!
 
I can react really badly, once my whole thigh was swollen:(
I'd take her to GP as she may need stronger antihistamine, try tropical strength deet spray and light coloured clothing. I had a vivid green running top (long sleeved) that I wore as it was like a high viz, I found they just never landed on it (but would bite through my black jods,). She does need to keep doing her jobs but they are nasty and painful and when you react badly to them they are hot and sore like a new bruise :mad::(
Sorry she's reacting, keep up taking antihistamine daily it does help keep the swelling down x
 
Thank you for the ideas- lots of you suffer then, horrible little sods!
I will make an appointment if I can but could take a trip to the chemist for some better stuff (making an appointment with our Dr is virtually impossible)
I didn't know they scar, that worries me. She is just 13 and has had a scar on her leg from a v bad eczema infection and now refuses to show her legs so is sensitive to scars anyway. She has thick tights on in ALL weather!
 
I've never seen so many flies around as there are at the moment and then to cap it all we came home at about 7pm yesterday to find the whole house had been invaded by a swarm of bees! They were simply everywhere - but dying so it was really sad to see literally piles and piles of dead or dying bees. The amazing thing is we can't work out how the hell they got into the house unless it was through a small vent in the wall that leads to the roof. I love bees but not in their thousands.
 
I got got on Saturday I have two corkers one is on the point of my elbow it's huge I find an after bite stick is the best at taking away the irritation.
They are bad this year.
I have a scar on my forearm from one that went wrong a few years back.
 
Omg Patchwork pony how bizarre. I saw my first swarm over the weekend. At home the sky literally went black (we legged it back inside!)
Think they were wasps though not bees.
 
Poor thing x
If it is an allergic reaction speak to your doctor or nurse as they can prescribe antihistamine that is taken as soon as she's bitten, even in a fast acting epi-pen.
I'm allergic to red ant bites and immediately take a ceterazine to keep swelling down and localised.
 
I was told to put vinegar on the bite then take an antihistamine, I tried it at the weekend, no swelling/redness/soreness. :)
 
Too late now but I do find wearing pale clothes helps, black jeans are a magnet!. I like nettex aloe vera gel, kept in the fridge it really soothes and cools. It does need several applications though. Funnily enough I have seen two bee swarms this week, both flying directly towards me. Made my hair stand on end, lol, incredibly loud too.
 
def try over the counter cortisone cream and alternate it with anthisan (antihistamine cream) both are pretty cheap :)
 
They dont usually scar unless your really itching and picking so just try creams and ice to soothe and she shouldnt scar!

Have you tried bio oil on her scar? Its faded mine quite well and it might help her. Eczema is horrible but luckily it almost dissapeared at about 14 for me so maybe hers will too.. I hope her confidence picks up!

On the eczema note, mometasone cream is really good. If she hasnt already i would ask for that perscribed as its he best thing i ever tried:D
 
I too am massivly allergic to horse fly bites.
Agree with others, antihistamine, cream, Jungle formula as a repellent.

Just go careful they can get infected. I had three big reations last year. Bassically the bite was very very hot, very red and very dark red in the centre. I was given antibiotics to clear up.

Was also told the reaction should peak around 48hrs after being bitten, then start to subside. If in doubt get medical advice.
 
Vitamin B12, I think, is supposed to help repel some flies. Same as in horses. Does she like Marmite? Or curry, but you do niff of it! Same as garlic. You'd have few flies, but probably few 'close' friends!

Have a chat with the local pharmacist if you can't get a GP appointment, they're usually pretty good.
 
littlemare_ said:
They dont usually scar unless your really itching and picking so just try creams and ice to soothe and she shouldnt scar!

Have you tried bio oil on her scar? Its faded mine quite well and it might help her. Eczema is horrible but luckily it almost dissapeared at about 14 for me so maybe hers will too.. I hope her confidence picks up!

On the eczema note, mometasone cream is really good. If she hasnt already i would ask for that perscribed as its he best thing i ever tried:D
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I haven't tried Bio oil no but that's a good idea, I even have a bottle somewhere. Its actually really not that bad but I guess its easy for me to say not being on my own leg perhaps. As for mometasone Ive never even heard of it- Is it steroid based? I thought we'd tried everything over the years! to be fair its really eased up already but my sister suffers so I may suggest that to her also.

She wouldn't touch marmite or curry unfortunately
 
Horseflies are attracted to dark shapes and not by sense of smell, so insect repellants have little affect on them. Sorry guys :o

Best thing is to wear light coloured jods and a light, long-sleeved t-shirt. Putting horses inside avoids the horse flies as they get disorientated by the change in light and so don't venture in.

They're horrible, horrible things, my dark bay gets plagued by them unless in her fly rug.
 
OH once got bitten on his wrist. Within 20 minutes his arm was swollen to the elbow. He took antihistamines, we applied creams and a huge icepack. The icepack was immediate relief as it takes the heat and swelling away (if only temporarily).
 
I swell up like a balloon with just about any bite or sting. I SWEAR by homeopathic apis mel (30c). The trick is to keep taking it even when the bites start to get better. Stop and they spring back into life. I can keep itching and swelling down to a very local half inch (as opposed to an entire arm from finger tips to armpit) with it and it beats antihistamine into a cocked hat, plus there are no side effects.
 
Charmin said:
Horseflies are attracted to dark shapes and not by sense of smell, so insect repellants have little affect on them. Sorry guys :o

Best thing is to wear light coloured jods and a light, long-sleeved t-shirt. Putting horses inside avoids the horse flies as they get disorientated by the change in light and so don't venture in.

They're horrible, horrible things, my dark bay gets plagued by them unless in her fly rug.
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I only ever wore cream/beige jods but I still got bitten on the legs. There are some people who are known to attract insects and unfortunately I'm one of them.
 
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