She has a fly rug and veil, I'm getting desperate

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horselady

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Hi all, I have put a rug and fly veil on my mare so the flies are biting her legs and nipples. What is the strongest gel or cream you can get and what is the best way to remove a tick? Any and all suggestions welcome I'm at the end of my tether!
 
Deosect fly spray, you buy it neat then dilute to use. Expensive but a bottle lasts a long time and is what many vets recommend.

For ticks either get one of the little plastic tools for removing them from a pet shop or vets or you can use surgical spirit on some cotton wool - it normally makes the ticks loosen their grip then you can gently pull them off.
 
Shooting Star said:
Deosect fly spray, you buy it neat then dilute to use. Expensive but a bottle lasts a long time and is what many vets recommend.

For ticks either get one of the little plastic tools for removing them from a pet shop or vets or you can use surgical spirit on some cotton wool - it normally makes the ticks loosen their grip then you can gently pull them off.
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I can't use a spray with her. The noise and feeling of the spray send her loopy.
 
Went to see her and noticed a couple of things
#1 the cheap fly rug I bought her has survived getting caught in the brambles, rolling, and scratching on a tree without a rip, tear or rent.
#2 the cheap fly veil i bought survived being caught in the bramble with no damage.
#3 the mare had around six horseflies on her belly and teats.
This is the rug:http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/zing-fly-rug-p256422
This is the veil:http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/noble-outfitters-guardsman-fly-mask-with-ears-p410153
Meanwhile the mare has some horrible looking bites, as do I, any suggestions for that as well?
 
If she can't be brought inside during the day, I find Phaser fly spray more effective than Deosectparticularly with horse flies. They do a sponge applicator version as well as the spray. However it needs applying more often than Deosect. As already suggested, the little plastic tick removers are brilliant
 
I use flypor as a base - it isn't licenced for horses as it is a cattle preparation - I have used it for years and it works really well and kills any mites, etc that might be in residence!!!- and last up to six weeks - I also use phaser fly spray on top when I ride - I think its the best fly spray on the market
 
Just because a cob can live out doesn't mean it should. If she isn't coping with the flies ( and it sounds like she isn't) then bringing her in by day will give her some relief, and keep her weight down.

Nothing you spray will stop horse flies as they hunt on sight. You need to cover her teats in either sudocream or something like thick fly cream. Power Phaser is good for normal flies.

Also the rug you have is fine but horse flies will bite through that mesh in no time. You need a thick stiffer mesh or a thicker cotton sheet.
 
Zebra fly rugs work for horseflies. I was sceptical, until I bought some - the ones who have zebra rugs are noticeably less bothered by them. I have a couple of weeks each year where the horseflies are absolutely crazy - the horses get attacked so badly that they gallop round like mad things until they're dripping with sweat, which makes them even more of a target.
Horse fly traps seem to be pretty effective too, and I spotted this one a few days ago, which is a lot cheaper than the the Sentomol one https://www.kramer.co.uk/Horsefly-T...kraemer-pferdesport.47-GB&pi=431740&ci=261975
 
I know she is not in foal because of this: a friend who bought a bogof said she didn't look in foal to her. I wanted to make sure as I don't think you can just leave it and as the dealer said the time when she could have been with a stallion was eight months ago I did the weefoal test. Had it been positive I would have got the vet out the next day. It was negative so we sectioned her off and she has started to lose some weight though it is happening very slowly.
 
horselady said:
She lives out 24/7 as she is a cob and quite hardy.
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Hardiness in horses generally refers to their ability to manage winter type weather. It does not refer to living in conditions where they are at the mercy of and unable to get away from biting insects. If you are at the end of your tether imagine where she is. I suggest that you stand out in the field with her from sunrise to sunset and experience the horror.

Being victim to biting insects is yet another problem for lone horses. Horses with company who cannot access shelter will often stand nose to tail so that they share flicking the files away and their sides which are next to each other are inaccessible to the flies. Not ideal but there is some relief.

The only time our horses choose to use their shelter is in exactly the conditions your mare is in. They don't bother with it in winter.
 
Auslander said:
Zebra fly rugs work for horseflies. I was sceptical, until I bought some - the ones who have zebra rugs are noticeably less bothered by them. I have a couple of weeks each year where the horseflies are absolutely crazy - the horses get attacked so badly that they gallop round like mad things until they're dripping with sweat, which makes them even more of a target.
Horse fly traps seem to be pretty effective too, and I spotted this one a few days ago, which is a lot cheaper than the the Sentomol one https://www.kramer.co.uk/Horsefly-T...kraemer-pferdesport.47-GB&pi=431740&ci=261975
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Yes I've got a waterproof Bucas zebra print rug for one of mine and it's much more effective at stopping the flies than a mesh type.

I've also used a Rambo Sweet Itch hoody on one that really suffered from fly bites and it was also very effective although I did find she sweated underneath it.
 
I add my voice to this. We have five field shelters on our farm. I still bring in horses when the weather is very hot as it has been recently. Even if this means I have yard work to do at 9.00pm. One of the worst affected horses on our farm is our Highland Pony so being a tough hardy cob doesn't mean a thing.
 
I use deosect or tritec for general flies and ticks - they contain insecticide. The deosect may be better for your as it is sponged on however it would be a good idea to desensitise her to sprays too. The only thing that works at all with horse flies is phaser (which comes in a gel too) but they aren't scent mediated flies, they work by sight.

The ONLY safe way to remove a tick is with a tick remover. Do not under any circumstances put something on the tick.
 
Agree with those who say she needs to get under shelter during the day. Some horses cope with 24/7, others don't. The breed of the horse is a red herring. I've known a tough old tb who lived out 24/7, got fat as butter on the grass and was rarely bothered by flies and cobs who suffered terribly in the summer and needed stabling, especially those with a lot of white and blue eyes.
 
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It does depend what you have though, when on livery mine has been in during the day but at home our stables seem to act like ovens and it would be crueler to bring him in. Mum didn't ride hers the other day as she didn't feel it was fair to leave my chap in while she did.
 
horselady said:
She lives out 24/7 as she is a cob and quite hardy.
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Can't see the reasoning here.
She is an overweight cob being worried by flies. Two good reasons to stable in the day imo.
A fly veil should not be left on 24 hours a day. Cheaper ones especially can rub, then you'll have another problem. Also fly bites can become infected and it is thought can also cause sarcoids.
If her skin is quite sensitive be very careful how you use fly repellents.
 
ermm other than the rubbing which is not a problem I have ever had why should a fly veil not be left on 24/7?
 
just because she is a cob and can live out, if the flies are causing that much of a problem why on earth wouldnt you bring her in for the daytime? yes its a little more work for you as you will need to go twice a day to get in and turn out but if flies were that much of a problem for mine i would keep in during the day...
 
ester said:
ermm other than the rubbing which is not a problem I have ever had why should a fly veil not be left on 24/7?
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my thoughts - my mare doesn't leave her stable without her ears covered in the summer as she gets badly bitten inside her ears by gnat type things. She lives out 24/7 and, apart from when ridden, has a full face mask on 24/7 from march till about october without any problems. You just make sure you have one that fits well and has some flex and has soft padding stuff on the edges (I'm a fan of the shires masks)

I use NAF D-itch ointment on my girls udders because she can also get very badly bitten there. This completely solves the problem - it just gets smeared on and could be used on her legs as well
 
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