Summer is here but unfortunately so are the flies!

We’ve listed a few tips to help you keep flies away and your horses happy:

Fly Repellent

Make sure that horses are well covered with Fly repellent, especially on hotter days when the flies are most active. Generally used in spray form to ensure a wider coverage, it is recommended to spray onto a cloth or use a roll-on, when applying around the face or for spooky horses which don’t appreciate being sprayed!

Fly Rugs & Masks

These are not the most attractive deterrent but for horses who constantly get bitten by flies, they are an absolute necessity! Fly rugs can also come with UV protection, water resistant tops and with mane savers so there are plenty of options on the market to find the right one for your horse and their turnout routines. Masks offer great protection, especially for those who suffer with the flies irritating their eyes which can lead to nasty infections. They can also be purchased with ear covers to avoid gnats biting inside their ears. 

Stable during the Day

As the stables are generally darker and cooler inside, there are less flies during the day than if the horses were left to graze in the field. This practice also aids any horses or ponies which suffer with laminitis as the sugar content is higher in the grass during the daytime when the grass is heated. If you don’t have access to a stable, a Field Shelter is a good option for providing shade on hot days.

Supplements 

Daily supplements containing garlic, apple cider, yeast and other ingredients with natural fly-repelling properties, discourage flies from biting. Providing complete body cover, they can save money on sprays and ensure that all areas are covered. 

Fly traps

There are many different fly traps on the market for you to choose from. Starting with the dangly sticky tapes and traps, to advanced fly zappers, all fly control and traps will reduce the number of flies to bite your horses, just make sure they are safely positioned out of  the horses reach.

Fans

If you have warm barns then fans are a perfect option to not only cool horses down during the summer months, but they also provide assistance in reducing fly numbers as flying insects find it difficult to fly through a breeze.

Move the muck!

Try to keep muck heaps and wheelbarrows away from the stables as the flies are attracted to it. It is also good practice to skip out your horses when passing to as fresh manure is particularly attractive to flies – and to keep your horses clean!

Unfortunately there is no magic solution to eliminating flies, especially around horses. We have to get used to living with them and taking measures that reduce these pests. We hope you find these tips helpful. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook or Instagram.