Wretched Horseflies!

SpeedyPony said:
While waiting for the old boy to sober up after his dental treatment I swatted 108 Horseflies!
Poor ponies are being eaten alive at the moment- we didn't have any until recently but a load must have hatched at once. 😱
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Mine seem to have new bites everyday but interestingly it’s the appy’s that are suffering and not the friesian - IME it’s usually the darker horses that get affected most. Doesn’t matter whether I use fly sprays, fly rugs, masks, whatever they are still being bitten and are itchy. They are in today as it’s far too hot for fly rugs at the moment and there’s definitely less flies in the stables.
 
I almost ended up in a big (OH recently dug it out to prevent poachers driving into a field) big ditch last week because my poor horse had a very persistent horseflies on his tummy that I just couldn’t get to swat away. They are hideous things
 
did an experiment this summer.... two grey ISH geldings, turn out and feed same (their brothers!) Horse 1 got a scoop (Tablespoon) of powdered garlic once a day in his mash for last 2 weeks, horse 2 didn't. They have fly masks but no rugs atm as too hot. Horse 1 has maybe 3 flies on him at a time, horse 2 has at least 25! Horse 2 is now on Garlic too. It works amazingly! Since then everyone is on it...
Even my Bay ISH Mare has much less flies (maybe 9-12 at a time) then she used too since being on it. And I always say that dark ponios get it worse!
 
seriously festive equine said:
did an experiment this summer.... two grey ISH geldings, turn out and feed same (their brothers!) Horse 1 got a scoop (Tablespoon) of powdered garlic once a day in his mash for last 2 weeks, horse 2 didn't. They have fly masks but no rugs atm as too hot. Horse 1 has maybe 3 flies on him at a time, horse 2 has at least 25! Horse 2 is now on Garlic too. It works amazingly! Since then everyone is on it...
Even my Bay ISH Mare has much less flies (maybe 9-12 at a time) then she used too since being on it. And I always say that dark ponios get it worse!
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I've just started my lot on garlic, I was giving them brewers yeast but it's certainly not working for my big gelding as he keeps taking off bucking as even with a fly rug and spray they are still attacking him.

I may start chewing a clove of garlic a day myself as I've been bitten about 20 times in the past 3 days including one today on the fleshy part of my palm between my ring and little fingers!
 
I'm itching like mad from being bitten. Hate the things. Pony does serious yoga positions biting and scratching the ones on him. He comes in during the day when it is hot and that helps. I wish there was a spray that actually worked on them.
 
SpeedyPony said:
While waiting for the old boy to sober up after his dental treatment I swatted 108 Horseflies!
Poor ponies are being eaten alive at the moment- we didn't have any until recently but a load must have hatched at once. 😱
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I got two today, I have the Wack - Roll - Flick procedure.

got one on my mare too and one on a livery
 
ILuvCowparsely said:
I got two today, I have the Wack - Roll - Flick procedure.

got one on my mare too and one on a livery
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I also use the swat and swipe technique! They get up too often if they're just swatted. The farrier pinches them between his fingers, which is very effective but I can't quite bring myself to do it. 🤢
 
I got bitten 6 times (four on one thigh, two on the other, through my jods) on a hack early Sunday morning - they are currently itching me to distraction on top of the slight sunstroke I’ve had as well so I’m feeling v sorry for myself! Horse was kitted out in his ride-on fly sheet (with tassels!) and fly-bonnet and came away relatively unscathed - which I should be grateful for - if he’d bucked me off trying to dislodge a horsefly I’d probably feel even worse!
If you could all send ‘DON’T SCRATCH!’ vibes, I’d appreciate it!
 
My boys are wearing their masks 24/7 at the moment and I am COVERING them in fly spray all over and using barrier cream around their sheaths. It's seems to help them for a bout 1hr if they are lucky. I've resorted to bringing them in in the mornings just so they get some relief from the flies! Luckily the way the sun is positioned their stables are in the full shad until 3.30 ISH so it's much cooler for them also. Thank god I'm self employed lol more running back and to the yard but its driving them mad this year. I've also been using the spray on myself as getting fed up with being bitten. They are not exactly small flies how can I not feel them land? Only know they are there when it's to late.
 
I've been saying we haven't had them too bad this year, but the last couple of days they've been terrible. I've got bites behind both knees as well as several other places. Thankfully I can ride directly out into thick woodland and they are not so bad in there.
 
cremedemonthe said:

The H Trap | The famous horsefly trap | Horsefly Trap

The H Trap, the famous horsefly trap, horsefly pest control
www.horseflytrap.co.uk www.horseflytrap.co.uk
I'm tempted to make one
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These do work, I have used a couple for years. Unfortunately the pots on the top have gone brittle and fallen to bits, so need replacing and not been set up this year. The horseflies/clegs have taken full advantage and having black wrap on my bales this year, they have moved in.
 
i don’t find garlic helps mine, or brewers yeast - they both have fly rugs on religiously if the flies are out because they both get swarmed, whilst pony in the other side of the field is left alone! mine must be extra tasty🤣

i got one last night, ive been bitten and i react really badly usually - its pretty much an annual occurrence that i need antibiotics due to the swelling. last night i squished it, not sure i’ll be making a habit of it though as the crunch made me cringe🤢
 
I got three on Sunday, 108 is completely bonkers 😱 I hopped off on a hack as pony was trying to kick one on her belly and as I ducked to get that one she went to scratch her face to deal with another one and stepped through her reins somehow 😡 She is a sensible girl and just waited for me to get her sorted but the flies are getting the blame for that bit of chaos! Thankfully we were very nearly home before they all came out. I have one nasty bite on my leg and one on my bum.

We got a handy rainstorm last night which chased them off for a bit, and she is in her sweet itch rug and fly mask which helps, the non SI horses are the ones suffering more atm.
 
Old Dobbin is in a full neck zebra print fly rug, with belly band and fly mask. He is grazing happily with little tail swishing. The rest of the herd is being pestered by horseflies. Yes I do feel a bit mean keeping him rugged in 30C heat, but horsefly bites are one of his asthma triggers, and on balance I'd rather avoid an attack.
 
Last year we hardly had any, this year it’s an epidemic 😓 Spud pony has also finally figured out how to get fly masks off 🙄
 
I have seen some DIY traps online, that seem to consist of a black football covered in grease hung from trees. I suppose the idea is that the flies are attracted to the warm black surface and then get stuck. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a grease that would stay put in 30C......unless someone knows differently! Willing to give almost anything a try.
 
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