Lumps, bumbs, scabs and FLIES

[moneypit1]

One of my horses is covered in large bumps and scabby bald patches all over his face and neck. He looks like he has been in an accident! He is so sensitive to flies and I just can't keep on top of it. He comes in at 7am till evening to get away from them and is masked with a fly sheet when he does go out but he will not keep the mask on, he always finds a way of removing it. So far he has been treated with SPOT ON for cattle (from my vet), copious amouts of fly spray (waste of time) and has a garlic supplement. What on earth can I try next before he has no hair left? I was thinking of trying one of the cattle tags, attaching it under his mane. If anyone has a good idea that works please share it! HELP!

 

[nevis]

Have you tried neem oil? It has an, er, interesting aroma but I've had brilliant results these last 2 summers. Last year had a thin skinned TB on loan and made up a neem wash that I would sponge over every day - TB was out 24/7 and even naked in the few weeks of good weather - the owner came up and couldn't believe the lack of bites. As in none at all!

This year I've only got the 3 wee ponies, 2 of which had really itchy flaky docks and manes... and one who was getting big lumpy reactions to bites.

Is it me or are the flies worse this year btw? Midge central and fly hell it seems like up here.

Anyhoo, this year it seems so bad that once a week at least I give the ponies a thorough curry/massage, groom as much dirt out as I can then warm up some neem oil to make it liquid, rub it into their docks, base of mane and smooth around lightly the rest of the body. Flaky skin has gone in 2 weeks...
The flies and midges are still all around them, but not biting if that makes sense.
I've got a neem based "alternative fly gel" from a local company up here that I use on their face and bits the rest of the week. Can't recommend it enough!

Oh - and side effect of the neem oil is my hands look fabulous the next day (I do whiff a bit tho...).

 

[BentleyBelly]

We use diluted Skin So Soft dry oil (half sss, half water) massive improvement on horseflies and midges but still doesn't keep the dreaded crab flies away unfortunately (they don't bite just crawl into nooks and crevices!). Netex do a cream for bites that is very good, think its called itch stop...this might help with the bites. As for keeping his fly mask on, I have a Cashel Crusader mask that has a hole for the forelock. I plait a piece of mane into the forelock over the top of the mask and tie with one of my own hairbands, he has never managed to get it off since I've been doing that and has now given up trying!