Buzz Off! Your Guide to a Fly Free Horse
Let's face it, flies are annoying! There is nothing endearing about these annoying pests, they carry germs, they bite, they get in your face and they drive your horse crazy. If you watch your horse in the field during summer no doubt you'll see a swish, swish of the tail, stamping of the feet and kicking his belly as they land on him and in particularly thin skin breeds like a TB, you off and noticed as they land on the skin all his muscles contract around it, almost like a shudder. From a health perspective, they are also a problem. Flies quick to move from horse to horse, they feed on open wounds, they bite and when they do this they spread infection. Some of the very serious conditions you hear about, Strangles, Lyme Disease, Equine Infectious anaemia (EIA) and many eye conditions like conjunctivitis, are spread and carried by flies. By controlling flies not only are you alleviating an irritation for your horse but you are taking a huge preventative measure against some nasty diseases.
But what can you do to get rid of flies? What works? Well at Discount Equestrian we can offer you everything you need for a fly free summer!
Sadly as is the case with most things in the horse world, there is not just one simple answer. You must undertake a full management programme in order to keep your yard as fly free as possible.
Top Tips to Get Rid of Flies
1) Poo Picking might be hard work and a task you would rather avoid when you want to ride but it is so important! Over summer try to poo pick daily. Droppings not only attract flies but
provide a place for them to breed and feed easily.
2) If your horse is being driven crazy by flies, has sweet itch or fly bites, it is highly recommended to invest in a fly rug. The latest designs and styles are available here, including zebra striped designs which are proven in studies to deter flies due to light refraction from the black and white lines. Look out for waterproof designs if your horse lives outside in summer in their fly rug.
3) If you do not want to invest in a full fly rug but want to keep the flies from the eyes and ears, a fly mask will protect his face, will cover his nose to keep the horse from getting sunburn and as flies cannot land on his face it will help alleviate head shaking. Flies annoy your horse while riding or competing? A fly veil which fits over the ears and down to the eyes can help keep flies away from the sensitive skin near the ears and eyes and keep his focus during ridden activity.
4) Time your turnout carefully. Flies worse at dawn and dusk, if you can, keep your horse in his stable during these times or ensure he is well protected in the field.
5) Make sure you stock up on an effective fly repellent prior to fly season. It’s highly recommended to keep 2 bottles – one in your trailer for out and about and one in your grooming kit. If your horse doesn’t like sprays there is no need to worry – fly repellents are available in easy to apply creams, gels and sprays (such as Equine America Fly Repel) and silent sprays like Effol Fly Blocker too.
Flies are annoying but thanks to a great range of products at Discount Equestrian, they don’t have to ruin your summer!
