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Be Prepared to Protect Your Horse From Biting Flies Year-Round

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By Jesse MacGregor-JonesPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
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Flies at the eyes of a horse, attracted to moisture and salt.

Most horses spend quite a lot of time in the pasture, where they can graze, exercise, and play. This pasture time is important for them, vital to their health and emotional well-being. Unfortunately, being outside also leaves them more susceptible to pests such as bot flies and biting flies that can make them miserable, cause skin irritation, and even cause health issues.

Flies are impossible to control in an outdoor environment and can be a problem for most of the year until there is a hard freeze. If you live in warmer regions, your horse can be a victim year-round. This article will offer advice and options to help your horse because horse-lovers want them to be healthy and happy.

Protect Your Horse From Biting Flies: Options

Biting flies can be a nuisance or completely maddening. Imagine having flies crawling in your eyes and nostrils with no hand to swat them away. This is the life our horses lead. Their tail serves to switch flies off of their rear end if their tail reaches far enough.

What about their eyes? What happens when the flies are swarming so bad that your poor horse is covered in flies, taking fifty bites a minute? Horses can become anemic from too many fly bites. Barn flies can also transmit diseases such as “Swamp Fever” which is a viral disease.

  • Keep your pastures clean. Raking manure, either manually or by machine, get the manure that flies lay their eggs in away from your pastures. Manure will attract a lot of insects but flies love it like no others do. Manure can be sold or used as compost, so collect it and put it to your own use, giving your horses some relief. Make sure that you’re also cleaning it from stalls and removing it from your barn constantly.

  • Utilize sprays developed for these flies. It’s really important to use fly repellants that are safe for use around your animals. Most horse people that I know have dogs and barn cats too. Don’t use something that is filled with poisons that are perilous to their safety. To save you some time and energy, check out this article for in-depth information on some of the best fly repellent options for horses that you can find. You learn about botanicals vs synthetic sprays and find out if they can withstand the elements, including your horse’s sweat.

  • Use fly sheets when appropriate - Certain times of the year, you’ll be able to use blankets that cover your horse’s skin. In warmer months, have fly sheets on hand that are designed like horse blankets but made of extremely lightweight, breathable material. This sheer covering will help to protect your horse’s skin from the relentless bites of the various varieties of flies that will menace him all day long. Some of these are made of mesh and will not just protect your steed from flies, they can also lower his body temperature on hot days.

  • Use fly masks - These masks are designed to cover the head of your horse and protect his eyes as well. With mesh or fine material that allows your horse to see through the mask, his vision isn’t impaired and his eyes will be safe from the crawling flies, biting at the lining of his eyes, drinking fluid from his eyes, and viciously biting him in such tender places. Not only do the masks work wonders and make his life so much better, but you may also find some in designs for holidays, like these. If you love your horse like a family member, there’s a good chance that you’ll get a great deal of satisfaction in dressing him for Halloween. Try one of those ’trick or treat’ masks.

  • Use special shampoos for horses to repel insects. There are shampoos made just for horses that repel insects of all types. Some are natural, some contain chemicals. Be sure to read the labels thoroughly and choose which is best for your horse’s environment and situation. You’ll find that some shampoos work better than others while some are better tolerated by your animal, based on the ingredients in the product. I personally try to use all-natural products directly on my animals whenever that is an option. The decision is yours to make.

In Conclusion

There is simply no reason to let your horse be covered in insects and prove them with no support. Even the simple act of hanging fly traps around the barn is a help. Use multiple products so that you attack biting flies on several fronts for the most effective control.

He is always there when you need him. Be there for him and keep him healthy and ready for a ride at a moment’s notice. He’ll live longer if he’s healthy and that should always be the end goal. He’s depending on you. Check-out the products and articles above to see what you can be doing better to help give your horse relief from flies.

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