Is there ANYTHING that keeps clegg flies away?!

georgiegirl

georgiegirl

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 August 2004
Messages
2,455
Visit site
argh!!!! I dont mind this lovely sunny weather but it just seems at the moment the cleggs are absolutely horrific! The first ten minutes of hacking are bliss until we get swarmed by bloody cleggs which then drive us both demented. I've had some pretty impressive bites and my poor horse has come home with blood spots on her where the b***ard things have bitten her.

Using tonnes of deet fly spray and gel as well as a fly hood but I cant say its doing an awful lot of good :(
 
I use a ride-on fly rug that protects from poll to tail, and an Absorbine fly bonnet that covers all but the nose. a quick spray on the tummy, and we're good to go! I also wear a midge net over my hat so I don't turn into 'the old lady who swallowed a fly" lol Sometimes it's like being strafed by the Luftwaffe, but the little beggars can't get through!
 
The only spray I've found that makes any difference is Leovet Power Phaser - it stinks but if you cover them liberally in it it makes riding much more bearable.
 
Can I ask what clegg flies are please?

In the forest we have "forest fly/crab flies" which are vile crawling things which turn "non residents" inside out if they get one. Damn things only die when you break them literally!
 
Cleggs = northern (?) term for horse flies. I don't find Power Phaser works on them, although it is great for everything else. I was told horse flies (cleggs :) ) hunt by sight, which is why large dark coloured horses seem to be really bothered by them, so no deterrant is going to do much, it works by scent.
 
That's really interesting - I rode my dark bay out yesterday with a friend on a grey. He was hardly bitten while mine was constantly under attack. I asked her what fly repellent she used and she hadn't put any on!
 
JillA said:
I was told horse flies (cleggs :) ) hunt by sight, which is why large dark coloured horses seem to be really bothered by them, so no deterrant is going to do much, it works by scent.
Click to expand...

yep, so one of those ride on white fly sheets might help but not much else. My old grey was never bothered but the dark brown horse I had on loan last summer was a complete target.
 
JillA said:
Cleggs = northern (?) term for horse flies. I don't find Power Phaser works on them, although it is great for everything else. I was told horse flies (cleggs :) ) hunt by sight, which is why large dark coloured horses seem to be really bothered by them, so no deterrant is going to do much, it works by scent.
Click to expand...

I splashed out on Power Phaser last year and it didn't do a great deal. Also, FWIW, my pony is pretty much white and we still get attacked. My legs are covered in bites and I've currently got one nasty infected one on my arm :( have learnt my lesson and am sticking to either schooling if during day, or hacking first thing in the morning or late evenings.
 
I wonder whether the northern cleggs are a different strain to down here then! One of my horses was such a magnet for, and sensitive to, clegg flies that she became virtually unrideable in June/July, but if I coated her in Phaser we could hack out happily again.
 
I remember the crab flies in the New Forest my boy hated them.


We have what I call "blood nats" here. I wish I new their real name. They are minute small flies with shiny wings making them look like a shell and they home in and go in the ears and drink blood. When you look in the ears effected horses have loads of the bugggers and when you squeeze the ears together the flies pop and blood spills out leaving a bloody mess. When they wear fly hoods you can see them swarming round trying to get in

The only deterrent is Radiol Fly creme inside the ears or a fly mask
 
http://www.horsearmor.net/pages/Biting-Flies.html

ahhhhhhhhhh I think this is them

Black Flies
black-fly.jpg

Black Fly

Black flies or buffalo gnats are small, hump backed, biting flies which may have high populations in pasture areas along streams. Only a few species are longer than 5mm. The immature stages are found in running water, shallow torrents are favored breeding places. Pupation occurs underwater and the adults float to the surface, ready for flight, feeding and mating. Only females feed on blood and their mouth parts include knife-like piercing tools. Adult feeding on horses and other animals can pose serious animal health problems, and the irritation caused by black fly bites can make horses difficult to handle. Anemia as a consequence of black fly feeding on the blood of the horse is a possibility when the black fly population is high. Black flies only feed during daylight hours and usually do not enter stable areas. Bites may cause severe reactions such as toxemia and anaphylactic shock; these reactions can result in death. Control is difficult; species which feed in the ears of horses can be controlled using insecticidal applications or by using petroleum jelly in the interior of the horses' ears. When possible, horses can be stabled during the day and pastured at night.

petroleum jelly in the ears??? never knew that
 
Ride on fly rug and I recently tried NETTEX Advance Fly spray and my horse had none round him but the people I hacked out with were bothered by them
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top