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You are in... Forums > Welcome To Your Horse Forum > The Yard > Can you help this reader?

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Justine Thompson

Joined:

Apr 08

Posts: 247

Justine Thompson says:

Can you help this reader?

 

Could you help this reader with her question?

If so, your answer could appear in issue 337 of Your Horse!

Question: How can I keep flies at bay this summer? My horse is always plagued by them?

Thanks - Justine

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  • Posted 3 years ago (24 May 2010 17:24)
misskv

Joined:

Oct 07

Posts: 159

misskv says:

Re: Can you help this reader?

I would use a combination of different methods. Start by feeding garlic, or providing a garlic lick, or one of the fly repellent supplements as these can help to deter flys. Then use a good strength fly repellent and re apply regularly. Or is your horse is very badly effected try a a fly rug to prevent the bites. Try ensuring there is plenty of shade in the field, or consider stabling during the day when the heat and the flys are the most irritating. Finally ensure your field is as horse friendly and as fly unfriendly as possible. Ensure any water sources are not stagnant and removedroppings as frequently as possible - twice a day if possible.

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  • Posted 3 years ago (29 May 2010 19:29)
AimHigh

Joined:

May 10

Posts: 108

AimHigh says:

Re: Can you help this reader?

I tend to use a few drops of very dilute citronella oil on my horses. Grab a bucket and fill it up about half-way, put maybe four or five drops of citronella in and wash onto the horse with a sponge. (Make sure to do the sweaty parts after a ride, as flies go for here!) Crucial areas include, ears, eyes, bum, belly and the sheath as well as mane and tail.

If only rainbows were reflections of us, I know that horses would see limitless colour in their own mirror ridges...

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  • Posted 3 years ago (05 June 2010 16:21)
abige

Joined:

Feb 09

Posts: 78

abige says:

Re: Can you help this reader?

feed garlic & regurally spray EVERYTHING with a fly spray & you can also get a mesh that goes round the field fencing that 'blocks' the flies & midges from getting into the field

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  • Posted 3 years ago (06 June 2010 15:15)
suse

Joined:

Nov 08

Posts: 179

suse says:

Re: Can you help this reader?

We have 4 ponies with raging Sweet tch, so keeping flies away has become an art.  We feed either Global Hebs 'Flyfree' or Brinicombe Equine Think Fly, depending on the horse in question, we keep a fly rug, with belly and neck on at all times, these are washed each week and we put Citronella oil in the final rinse.  But most of all, our secret trick, is to wash the ponies in Head and Shoulders each week, there is something in that that flies hate.  So we get clean, fly free horses with very few itchy bits.  They are easier to ride and easier to brush, how great is that?

Listen carefully to EVERY piece of advice you are ever given, then forget it all and do it your own way.

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  • Posted 3 years ago (13 June 2010 14:38)
Alibaba

Joined:

May 08

Posts: 434

Alibaba says:

Re: Can you help this reader?

I have tried many fly repellents, but the only one I find to be very effective is 'Barrier Healthcare Super Plus Fly Repellent'. It also contains avocado coat conditioner, so it gives your horses coat a luxurious shine, making it ideal when competing too. 

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  • Posted 3 years ago (13 June 2010 20:59)
MistysNat

Joined:

Jun 10

Posts: 2

MistysNat says:

Re: Can you help this reader?

Flies are the horse owners bug bear! I feed extra garlic, they don't seem to like the smell or taste, I wash my horses eyes and nostrils everyday so those pesky critters don't sit on crusty eye bogies and I spray Avon's skin so soft body oil on. There is nothing on the bottle saying it is used for insect repellant but it seams to work. I would like to say however if it is rather hot and sunny be careful using it as the oil may burn your horses skin. I also know of a great homemade fly repellant recipe:

15ml citronella

1 tbsp waching up liquid

4 tbsp vinegar

1/2 pint of strong tea

make this up to 2 litres with water, and shake well before use. My friend informed me of this recipe and she swears by it!

Hope this helps

 

Misty's Nat!

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  • Posted 3 years ago (14 June 2010 15:07)
MistysNat

Joined:

Jun 10

Posts: 2

MistysNat says:

Re: Can you help this reader?

Flies are the horse owners bug bear! I feed extra garlic, they don't seem to like the smell or taste, I wash my horses eyes and nostrils everyday so those pesky critters don't sit on crusty eye bogies and I spray Avon's skin so soft body oil on. There is nothing on the bottle saying it is used for insect repellant but it seams to work. I would like to say however if it is rather hot and sunny be careful using it as the oil may burn your horses skin. I also know of a great homemade fly repellant recipe:

15ml citronella

1 tbsp waching up liquid

4 tbsp vinegar

1/2 pint of strong tea

make this up to 2 litres with water, and shake well before use. My friend informed me of this recipe and she swears by it!

Hope this helps

 

Misty's Nat!

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  • Posted 3 years ago (14 June 2010 15:09)
stephnpierre

Joined:

Aug 09

Posts: 189

stephnpierre says:

Re: Can you help this reader?

I have found many things useful, firstly I ensure my horse is covered in fly spray as often as possible, even mixing it with water and bathing him in it, and also hosing him off before turning him out and ensuring he rolls, which covers him in a coating of mud, keeping flies off ( only do this if you don't mind your horse getting dirty!). Another thing I use is a sturdy fly mask as it's hard for them to remove with ears/nose cover, and also coat this in flyspray. Wrap around fly sheets are a fantastic invention too and if you are very concerned with flies on hacks, which I was as my horse tends to kick out and buck etc when flies land on him, use an old fly sheet, or if you're very desperate and don't have an old one, as I was, buy one and cut out a saddle gap, then do it up around there belly beneath your stirrups and around their chest and neck! Will prevent flies from landing on them and you can coat the sheet in fly spray too! You can also try fly fringes when riding and my friend even bought a fly mask and cut out eye holes so her pony could hack happily without his ears and face being covered in flies! Hope this helps :)

Stephanie and Pierpoint :)

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  • Posted 3 years ago (19 June 2010 19:41)
RugbyandArabs

Joined:

Apr 09

Posts: 197

RugbyandArabs says:

Re: Can you help this reader?

I have been having the same problem with both of my Arabs its a heard one really as what works on one dosent work on another well this is what i am finding anyhow. I think you just need to try everything possable unlike feeds with fly repelent it dont take long to know if its working or not for your horse and if your like me you end up with two grooming boxes just full of diffrent fly repellents. Also use fly rugs and fly masks if your horse is prone to ripping rugs like one of mine then use the cheaper ones. You could always bring them in by day and out by night but then you have the midges to deal with at night so really you have flys by day and midges but night if you do this you really need to get your horses in by sun rise and let them out at sun set which means this time of year getting down the yard at around 4am and letting them out again around 10pm to avoid it all 

This is what working for my two at the moment (nether have sweet itch or any allergies)

Both have fly combo rugs on 24/7 my yongster is prone to getting rugs ripped very quick even though he is 6yrs old, so we have him in a cheap fly combo rug, i have on him is a Saxon i paid only 30 pounds for he also has a shires (i think it is) fly mask again very cheap his has no ears as he does not like anything on his ears.

As for my older horse he has a Rambo fly buster combo on 24/7(he dont rip rugs) and a Amego fly mask again with no ears.

I have found the two fly sprays that are working at the moment are Nettex fly repellent and fly ripes and Barrier super fly spray and gel.

 

 

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  • Posted 3 years ago (21 June 2010 16:20)
Ride.Itt

Joined:

Jan 09

Posts: 231

Ride.Itt says:

Re: Can you help this reader?

i would consider using a fly rug and lots of fly repellant in the form of sprays roll on's and gell also dont cut your horses tail and douse it in fly spray for when he swishes also worth using a fly repellent shampoo hope this helpes 

You Can Lead A Horse To Water... But If You Can Make It Lie Down And Float On Its Back You Have Something

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  • Posted 3 years ago (02 July 2010 09:20)

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