Sunshine (hot), showers (heavy) & flies- how do you deal with it?

[ribena73]

Have fly rug on horses at the moment as the flies are absolutely horrendous, was scorching yesterday. Anyway, am now feeling guilty as it rained last night and so they are probably wet (and can't get down to yard until after kids dropped off at school). Weather forecast today is 26 degrees plus, so flies will be around, but with occasional showers.

So, what is the best thing to do in this situation, rug and take the risk they will get wet, or not rug and they will get bitted to death (and my TBx very sensitive!). Can't even go for compromise of lightweight rain coat cos its so blooming hot when the sun's out!

 

[Naggy]

I would keep the fly rugs on to be honest - my feeling is that it is so hot that if the rugs are wet it really won't matter as they won't get cold and they will soon dry off. The flies are just awful at the moment, so I would go for protecting them from them first and foremost. I have never bothered with a fly rug up until this week as they really are horrendous and causing one of my girls a lot of distress.

 

[sherbet]

Bring them in for the hottest part of the day then put backout latter once flies have died down

We are bring ours in during day and out at night

 

[ribena73]

Unfortunately my yard is full at the moment so only have one stable between the two, and ponio is on the tubby side so is coming in by day to get him off the grass, so the TB has to stay out.

I'm inclined to leave the fly rugs on too.......

 

[air78]

I'm feeding global herbs fly free......... not using any other fly sprays or fly rugs

It's simple, really effective and weather proof!

 

[Selkie]

I went out for a hack at 5 this morning and the flies were out then

 

[sevoflurane]

I'm using a flhy rug on my thin skinned tb.....worried abiout the rain last night but he was fine when I brought him in. I think it won't hurt them to get wet because it is very warm, and they will dry off quickly

 

[MagicMelon]

Whats wrong with leaving a wet fly rug on? They're designed to be turned out in and mesh is fine to be wet anyway - they dry really quick.

 

[Storminateacup]

I am so glad my horses in a nice windy field as he is not being bothered by the horrendous flies as much as usual, no flyrug, no flymask or spray. I guess I will feel quite different about my new field come the end of October when its blowing horizontal rain. Which is worse I wonder clegs ( viscious biting cattle flies or pouring rain and howling gales).