Whag

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LemonSpaniel

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Does anyone know what these flies are and what I can do to prevent this?
For context: I’ve owned my horse for nearly 5 years now and he’s always had these hairless/scaly skin patches on his wither, he is a tb so has very prominent withers so I’m guessing he had an ill fitting saddle before and the hair just never grew back. He has been in inconsistent work with me and hasn’t been ridden in 6 months so I’m positive it is not my saddle that does this. However I do believe that when he has to wear rugs in the winter it doesn’t help and I try not to put any rugs on in the summer to prevent any rubbing. Since the flies have come out they’ve just completely attacked this little area as seen in the picture and have started to make him bleed.
Does anyone know what they are? What I can put on the skin to heal and potentially help the hair grow back? And even some rugs or style of rug that might help be off the wither for next winter?

(I asked on Facebook and they all said lice and went at me with their pitch forks but lice do not fly and these flew off when they were disturbed!!) I think potentially a biting midge? He is a hot horse so I want to avoid extra bibs and layers if I can help it as he will sweat in the sun so would have to come inside
 
Well, if they are lice, they're bloody enormous! They almost look like mosquitoes, sort of. I would give him a bath in something medicated and chuck a fly rug on. Sew a piece of sheepskin over the wither area if it's causing too much pressure. I've used Horseware rugs on all my TBs, with Bossy's bibs under if needed.
 
I'd go with biting midges:


I'd be inclined to wash the area with a dilute hibiscrub (or dettol) solution then lather him in MSM cream (sudocrem if it's all you've got but I find MSM is more soothing) and regularly and liberally spray the surrounding area with a strong fly repellent. Good luck, midges are horrid :(
 
My horses get them attached and sucking blood on bald bits, summer fly cream stops it. There's a white version now if you don't prefer classic yellow.
 
Nicnac said:
Are you sure they haven't laid eggs and are emerging? What does your vet say?
That looks very sore.

What does Whag mean?
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He’s had these bald patches for 5 years that I’ve owned him, the hairs just never grown back/changed in any sort of way. And there is no where else on his body that has these patches at all so wouldn’t have thought so. He’s not particularly itchy at all either. It’s sore now because the flies have been biting him in the one area and no where else 😢 he had the vet 4 months ago for dentist and general check up, (However I didnt ask them about it specifically but would’ve looked over him) and they never mentioned it or have never in the past and he sees the physio regularly and they have never said anything either.

I mean to write “what are these flies” but accidentally posted it with ‘Whag’
 
kaiserchief said:
I'd go with biting midges:


I'd be inclined to wash the area with a dilute hibiscrub (or dettol) solution then lather him in MSM cream (sudocrem if it's all you've got but I find MSM is more soothing) and regularly and liberally spray the surrounding area with a strong fly repellent. Good luck, midges are horrid :(
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Thank you ! He does have a pond/wet area just off the top of his paddock so would make sense
 
Beausmate said:
Well, if they are lice, they're bloody enormous! They almost look like mosquitoes, sort of. I would give him a bath in something medicated and chuck a fly rug on. Sew a piece of sheepskin over the wither area if it's causing too much pressure. I've used Horseware rugs on all my TBs, with Bossy's bibs under if needed.
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Thank you!! Good idea with the sheep skin as I’ve tried just a normal silk bib under a fly rug and he just gets too hot
 
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