The dreaded Horseflies

L

Louby

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I react badly to horsefly bites and after a trip to docs then A&E wondered how you keep them away. The ones that bit me were on me seconds, I didnt even feel them bite but Ive reacted very badly this time. After being told I may need IV ABS Im wanting to do my horse and get home asap to avoid the nasty so an so's biting me again. Im off to the stables now in 19 degrees with a fleece on to try and cover any bare skin. :):(
Any tips :)
 
I swell up where I've been bitten - so i keep after-bite in my tack box and squirt myself with jungle formula before I go out.
Guess long sleeve high neck t-shirts are best.
I had a bite on my chest at the start of summer a few years ago and carried the horrid lump around for 2 months - looked like I had a boil - not an attractive look!
On holiday one year after a bite on my hip I couldn't do my shorts up because it puffed up so much!:eek:
 
Cotton combats and long sleeve cotton shirt ? Lemon essential oil in some olive oil or just spray yourself with Avon skin so soft dry oil spray.
 
I personally dont think there is any thing you can do to keep horseflys away, as they will bite through your clothes, i react badly like you, all i do is take an antihistamine tablet, and put cream {any cream that is available} on the bite, and DONT scratch the bite.
 
Awwww thank you.
Ive ordered some Avon SSS and also some Deet fly repellant. My hands nearly normal size now but Ive got a massive blister on my knuckle. Do you reckon I leave well alone or should I pop it, gross I know :D
 
i let them land and start to burrow then its "S.P.L.A.T"

I swat them then stroke horse with horse fly swatted under which rolls horse fly up like a cigarette . also another gr8 thing is if u can get a bug bat and if they land on window put bug bat over them and they go zz ZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZ and their wings go out sideways i go haha u b**** you bite my horse and i get u back your now a "FLATMATE" hehehe
:D
also its gr8 in arena i swat them and bury them in a second quickest funeral and bural around lmao
l
 
there is a tiny electric thing from boots which is designed to remove the stinging from wasps stings and nettle stings it looks like a minnie puff en hayler and when u click puts a current which u can see and takes away the pain it does work
 
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I always wear long sleeves to keep them from biting but this year I've had three bites through the fabric.
I do swell up about two inches around the bite and it stays up for a week or so but I find I react less and less through the summer.

Sorry to hear about your reaction and I hope you are better soon.
 
My friend had a very bad bite on her hand last week, she said she felt a shooting pain up her arm and when she looked on her hand there was this huge horse like fly chomping away at her... it was still painfull a couple of days later and i gave her some tea tree oil to dab on it, she said with in ten minutes her hand had stopped hurting and within a couple of days the bite had almost disapeared :-O good stuff id say :-)
 
I react badly to SO***** Horse Flys and Mosquitos Bitten through a pair of Denim Jods last week! I recomend Anthisan after dredging the The Duke of Northumberland Lake at Eaton Hall about 10 years ago my arms are scarred from all the HF & Mozzi Bites.
Some one told me its down to being Bad meat:D:D
 
ticobay831 said:
My friend had a very bad bite on her hand last week, she said she felt a shooting pain up her arm and when she looked on her hand there was this huge horse like fly chomping away at her... it was still painfull a couple of days later and i gave her some tea tree oil to dab on it, she said with in ten minutes her hand had stopped hurting and within a couple of days the bite had almost disapeared :-O good stuff id say :-)
Click to expand...

That sounds like a good idea. I got bitten a few times up my arm last year with in a few days of each other and ended up going to the doctors as my lower arm swelled up and was really sore. Ended up that they think i had gotten an infection from the bite(s). :mad: so had to have anti-biotics. Then this year My horse got bitten on his manly parts and the same thing happened to him. had to get the vet out to him and it cost me 107 pounds.
He had to have anti biotics also. Bloody things!! Felt so sorry for him but he was a star and was his same old self!
I got bitten a few days ago on my sholder and its driving me crazy might see if i can get some tea tree oil for myself and the horse. I spray him with fly spray morning and night but having that can mean i can put it on us when we've been bitten. Thanks
 
:-) i dabbed a bit on my boys face as well as he got 2 big lumps either side, next day they had shrunk in size and dried up nicely, might be an idea to dilute slightly, he started shaking his head a bit not sure if it was because of the tea tree stinging or he was still being harassed by the little blighters, he's not good with things buzzin round his head... :-)
 
Thanks for your replies.

I never thought of Tea tree. I used to use it on cold sores years ago and got some aloe vera too for the dog!

Hairy Old Cob, its good blood not bad meat :D:D

My horse gets mobbed by them, its wierd as they dont seem to bother his mate, so hes had his fly rug on every day and although they still seem to land on his rug, he doesnt seem bothered by them
 
Apparently according to my Parasitology lecturer they are more attracted towards dark shapes - so wearing light coloured clothing should help repel them.
But they are quite attracted towards chestnut horses, so maybe the thin skin attracts them too.
Keep anthisan handy, don't scratch them and carry a fly swat - the more you can swat from your horse/stable wall, the less there are about to bite you! :)
K x
 
The best fly repellent i have found is the Boots Soltan aftersun which contains insect repellent, I use it like moisturiser in the summer. I have been spraying my pony with diluted SSS dry oil, equal volume water and it is working for him, might try it on myself! Fenistil is the best topical antihistamine but unfortunately you can't buy it in the UK, I get it whenever I go on holiday, it is amazing! I can really sympathise with you, my OH calls me his insect repellent as I always get bitten and he doesn't!
 
I had a bite on my leg a couple of weeks ago, still bruised and scarred!! I use Avon SSS on myself and horses, does seem to work! Although every night this week iv had one in my bedroom! Kept my window shut today!!
 
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