Horsey people!!

[Bubblegum345]

Sorry for the title, just trying to get as much attention from fellow horse people as possible.

i have a horse who is usually brilliantly behaved but is really bothered by flies. We’ve tried all sorts of sprays and sheets but he is still really affected by them.

Yesterday we went riding and he was particularly bothered by them- lots of tail swishing, hoof stamping and napping- because he was standing about napping for so long the flies kept coming and we ended up swarmed, which ended up with him bucking and bolting and completely freaking out. I somehow stayed on but it wasn’t nice having him hopping and broncing to that extent. He was really upset by it all and it was such a shame to see.

does anyone have any personal experience with this? Or any experience with a decent fly spray that actually works? It’s horseflies and cleggs and nothing I’ve found so far seems to stop them. I’m experienced with horses but never had a horse this bothered by flies before.

Possibly stupid question but are you slapping the horseflies off? I carry a schooling whip for the ones I can't reach but if I can reach one I will hit it so it dies. Also they seem to be worse in trees or near water. Go on top of a mountain if you can, out in the open?
Sounds like your horse is particularly sensitive though. I don't think any sprays will stop them completely unfortunately

The only spray i find that works is the Naf deet spray. She is then in a rambo sweetitch hoody at all other times

My old boy was like this and used to get really stressed by flies. I found liberally covering him in phaser or tri-tec and then using a mesh hiviz quarter sheet helped the most, oh and also going out in the evenings when it was cooler.

Wipe him all over with a cloth soaked in Citronella oil, it was the only thing that l found worked...

This is the only thing I've found that offers any respite at all from horseflies:
www.rideawaystore.com/Leovet-Power-Phaser-550ml-Fly-Repellent/r5054097.htm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuMeYqLHz-AIVUOrtCh0uZAd7EAAYAiAAEgJsvfD_BwE
They're only around for another few weeks fortunately - my legs are full of bites.
Horseflies hunt by sight rather than by smell so regular repellents don't work. They also bite through clothing/rugs - horrible creatures!

I’m in Scotland where they are a fecking endemic and horse can’t wear fly sheet as it ends up static.

I haven’t found anything that works well enough if I’m honest, so she comes in during the day, and I either don’t ride unless very early or very late, or I ride at speed / high up. Really had to adapt for her sake.

Flies hate citronella (so do wasps etc), so I’d second pp suggestion.

Try to ride early doors to avoid the worst. I find generous quantities of Phaser or Hedgewith can help, also I never ride without an ear veil and last summer I invested in a ride-on fly sheet - zebra striped which apparently is better for repelling flies as they are confused by the stripes.

It’s trial and error as far as fly remedies go OP.
Before riding you can try spraying with citronella (get the oil from Boots/internet & spray using empty airport liquid containers). The flies buzz around but don’t land or bite.
Or buy a fly mask to keep it off the horse’s eyes and wash unprotected fly bites on sheath & belly then spray with liquid skin.
www.amazon.co.uk/Ravcerol-New-Upgrade-Liquid-Bandage/dp/B09T3GCDLH/ref=asc_df_B09T3GCDLH/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=570492187880&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4049314071690000918&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006736&hvtargid=pla-1676620519845&psc=1
Or avoid riding at dusk when the flies mostly bite.
Or (if feasible) ride at night under floodlights
Don’t despair - the rain is on its way next week!

Power phaser is great. Do you have a ride on flyrug?

Goodbye flies is quite good. Seems to help my horse. They've got a shampoo too which seems to last longer.

Deosect is the only thing that really works but stinks (like nit lotion) or try power phazer gel or naf deet cream rather than sprays - works better as the flies can't land on the grease.

You can also get ride on fly rugs & masks

Or try riding very early in the morning or late in the evenings when there are fewer flies about

Yes, I've had one or two like this over the years - there's not much you can do other than Power Phaser, a ride-on fly rug and avoiding places / routes / times where the flies are particularly bad. Some of them just seem to struggle with them more than others.

Power phaser and riding early doors!

Icaridin!! (I don't work for them, but it's great!)

www.hedgewitchessentials.co.uk/onlineshop/icaridin-insect-repellent.html

Another shout for power phaser. It absolutely stinks and gets right in your nostrils but the flies and clegs here hate it.

A friend of mine had a little tag that she put on her horse’s bridle that she thought was really good. I haven’t tried it though so not sure. I think it was made by naf off.

Power phaser is the only thing I've found to work. And a decent fly mask which covers the nose.
I've barely ridden while it's been so hot though, it's not nice for either of us.

I use the power phaser roll on (as my boy is a tit and does a runner when I try to use spray) it seems to work well.

i used to use Avon skin so soft but they changed the ingredients now so it doesn’t work as well.

A lady at my yard swears by Jungle spray with deet. It’s for humans but apparently works well and you get it from boots

I make fly spray with citronella oil and cold black tea. Spray liberally, and ride in a ear veil.

I find flies are really attracted to sweat, so in the past I have clipped horses to reduce sweating in summer.

Power Phaser - especially the gel version - stops most things
For horse flies though you really need a ride on fly rug -, one either a fringe on the bottom if you can find one

The top 2 fly sprays are Power Phaser or Carr Day Martin extra strength.

If you have had no success with them then Deosect would be the next one to try.

One other option is to speak to a vet and ask them to prescribe Spot On off license. Its active is deltamethrin which is marketed towards cattle and sheep but as it wasn't licensed for use on horses you need to get the vet to either prescribe and provide it or give you a piece of paper with the doasge information (10ml, from mane to base of tail, leaving out saddle area)

You can then take this to your local agricultural/country store and they will then be able to supply it to you.

I always found Farnam's "Wipe" to be the most potent. I wiped that on to all the most vulnerable areas and then a light spray all over the other areas. You can use Wipe all over but it makes the coat greasy. Also used a roll-on stick around the eyes that had the consistency of Vaseline. I don't think my horses liked the latter one much even though it really worked! — those new screen-type fly shields look much better.