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Seems like we just got rid of the snow and the weather has warmed up enough already to bring out the flies.
Protection from flies is important not only because flies make horses miserable, they cause stomping, which can lead to
foot and leg problems. Controlling flies can also get expensive. Here are some miscellaneous comments about fly products
and control based on our experience here at the farm.
FLY SPRAY
I used to buy expensive brands and for years, thought they lasted longer than cheaper brands, but lately they don't
seem to work as well. I haven't a clue why. In previous years, I've tried some of the "natural" sprays,
and thought they didn't work at all. Recently, I finally gave a $6 bottle of Bronco a try and think it works as well
as the $16 bottle.
SPOT-ON PRODUCTS
Some horses
can be sensitive to these concentrated products, so we don't use them.
FLY MASKS AND "VEILS"
Protecting eyes from flies when horses are in the pasture can be
problematic. We worried that horses going out overnight with the traditional mesh masks might not be able to see as well
in the dark, but with more than 40 horses, our staff doesn't have time to put the masks on every morning and take them
off every night.
We found a product called a "fly veil" on some websites and on others, "fly fringe." It has a band with
Velcro on either end that attaches to the crown piece of the halter and thin dangling ropes; the veil can be left on all the
time and does a good job keeping flies off eyes. One only costs $4 or $5; these veils eventually fall apart, however, so
it's a good idea to buy at least two per horse for each season.
There was a problem with the Velcro tabs coming undone, but we finally figured out that if they are fed through the buckle
of a horse's halter, the veils stay on better. Check out the photos on this page to see how it's done.
The veils can be hard to find since they are called different things by different companies and not all online catalogs
carry them. Links to this product are provided at the very bottom of this page.
The veils are inadequate for horses with a white face or muzzle that sunburn. These horses have to have one of the more
traditional masks that cover the nose and the masks must be put on each morning and removed for overnight turnout.
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| Feed the veil tab through the buckle |
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| ...after threading the tab through the buckle |
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FLY SHEETS
If you can't routinely spray your horse
and he's seriously bothered by flies in the pasture, try a fly sheet. However, if your horse enthusiastically plays
with other horses or likes to rub up against the fence or trees, it may not hold up well.
SWEET ITCH
Some horses, particularly Icelandic ponies transplanted to the Northeastern United States,
are hypersensitive to biting midges, also called "no-see-ums." They develop eczema, which is known as "summer
itch" or "sweet itch."
We had an Icelandic pony here that suffered terribly every summer with
the condition, which affected primarily his belly and sheath. The owner bought a heavy-duty fly sheet and slathered him with
products to keep the midges off; it was a constant battle and we worried that the horse, which had a very heavy coat even
in summer, was getting overheated with the heavy sheet, even though it was mesh.
Through my veterinary writing
work, I learned about a supplement called Equine F/A/Plus Granules that might help since it's high in omega-fatty acids,
which have anti-inflammatory effects. It's made by a company called Pala-Tech Laboratories and must be purchased from
a veterinarian. The owner tried the supplement and it helped; the horse was able to go outside without the sheet. It takes
a few weeks for the supplement to kick in. A link to information about the product appears below.
In a
Swiss study that tested the antihistamine cetirizine for efficacy against sweet itch, the results indicated no apparent benefit,
according to an article on thehorse.com.
FANS
When the temperature gets to 85 degrees F or more, and especially
if the humidity is high and the flies are out in full force, we've found the only way to make horses comfortable is to
keep them in their stalls with fans on during the hottest part of the day.
MANURE
We haul manure off the property, which keeps the fly population down. If you can't get
the manure off your property, try to dump it or compost it as far away from the horses as possible and, of course, in accordance
with any "nutrient management" plans that apply to your area.
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