 |
| Keeping Flies at Bay: A Horse Owner's Guide to Fly Control |
The familiar buzz of flies is an unfortunate soundtrack to summer days at the barn. While a nuisance for humans, flies can cause real health issues for our equine partners if left unchecked. From bites, allergies and parasites to irritation leading to behaviors like tail rubbing, flies should not be taken lightly.
The good news? With some diligence to routines and the use of specialized tools and techniques, horse owners can gain the upper hand. This guide covers a variety of fly deterrent steps you can take to protect your horse’s health and comfort during fly season.
Maintaining Horse Stalls, Paddocks and Grazing Areas
As any equestrian knows, flies congregate wherever horses live. By taking actions to reduce flies’ desirable breeding conditions, we make the barn, stalls, paddocks and pastures far less hospitable.
Mucking Out Stalls
Flies lay eggs in damp, soiled bedding and manure where larvae (maggots) can feed. By promptly picking and removing stall waste, the fly life cycle is interrupted. Aim to strip stalls twice per day at minimum. Remove all wet spots, and consider replacing damp bedding regularly.
Manure Management
Store manure and soiled bedding well away from where horses are kept to prevent flies from accessing their preferred hatching grounds. Construct storage bins downwind and uphill from barns. Cover piles with dark tarps, which raise internal temperatures to deter flies. Remove waste from property regularly.
Composting by layering with carbon-rich materials like wood shavings over soiled bedding introduces beneficial thermophilic bacteria and heating to speed decomposition while killing fly eggs and larvae. Pile dimensions of 3’ high x 5’ wide x 20’ long provide optimal conditions. Monitor moisture and rotate or screening compost periodically to maintain temperatures between 130-150°F.
Keep Feed Areas and Garbage Cans Clean
Spilled grain and bits of produce are magnets, attracting flies prompt to lay eggs. Routinely sweep feed rooms and aisles, muck around hay bales and nets, and rinse out water tubs. Keep garbage cans tightly sealed and practice frequent removal of barn waste.
Topical Fly Repellents and Protective Horse Wear
Using both fly spray and protective horse apparel work together to discourage pests and block access to biting. Layering approaches boosts efficacy. Match product selection to each horse's needs and environments.
Fly Sprays
Topical fly repellents create either a strong scent or chemical barrier making horses less appealing to lingering insects. Frequent reapplication is key — every few hours or immediately after sweating or wet weather.
Water-based sprays with citronella, geraniol, peppermint oil or pyrethrins offer Obama natural derived, short-acting protection. Use extra care around eyes and nostrils.
For longer-lasting coverage, oil-based lotions and wipe-ons contain chemicals like pyrethroids. Exercise cautions not to overapply. Roll-on gels allow safe use on the face and ears.
Always read and follow label directions, avoiding broken skin. Not all sprays are equally safe for horses with certain health conditions. Consult your vet.
Fly Masks
Mesh fly masks protect eyes, ears, nostrils and faces — frequently attacked areas. For vulnerable turnout horses, full-head coverage with secured manes delivers relief.
Riding masks have large eye ports to ensure clear vision and shaped fabric over the bridle. Some have added ear covers or detachable nose covers for moderate protection during light work or trails.
Fly Sheets and Fly Boots
Thin, open weave fly sheets protect horses’ bodies during turnout by trapping insects between fabric layers before they can bite. Choose lightweight, breathable materials. Fleece linings add comfort in cooler months.
Fly boots defend lower legs and hind pasterns — common irritation points. Secure closures prevent rubbing. Breathable mesh promotes air circulation to discourage fungal infections.
Utilizing Fans, Misters and Misters
Environmental controls and automated systems make horses’ living spaces less welcoming to flies. Deterrent results improve when integrated with topical sprays and protective wear.
Outdoor Fans
High-velocity, industrial barn fans optimize pest management by preventing airborne insects from hovering long enough to land on horses. Mount fans above or across from stalls to create wall-to-wall airflow. 30 mile-per-hour velocity is ideal. Invest in quality, sealed units and protect fan blades with sturdy grill covers.
Automatic Fly Spray Systems
Programmable misters deliver wide-area control from overhead rafter mountings on an automated schedule. Reservoir tanks connect to mist nozzles via durable tubing. At set intervals, metered doses of permethrin are sprayed in spaces housing horses. Replenish reservoir fluid regularly.
Manual activation can supplement timed misting events with push-button controllers. While pricier to install, set-it-and-forget-it operation saves labor over individually applying fly spray to multiple animals.
Equine Supplements and Specialty Tack Items
Specially formulated supplements and some riding tack now include built-in fly repelling properties. While not stand-alone solutions, these products enhance pest management plans.
Fly Deterrent Supplements
When fed daily, garlic, apple cider vinegar and yeast-based supplements deliver internal and external fly protection. As active ingredients pass through horses’ circulatory systems and interstitial fluid, subtle emissions released through the coat and manure make horses less palatable.
Insect growth regulator (IGR) supplements pass through manure unmetabolized. When flies lay eggs, larvae are unable to fully develop. Breaking breeding cycles curbs future generations.
Specialty Tack Accessories
Mesh rump covers attach to saddles, protecting backsides and tails from biting flies during rides. Bonus: They block sightlines to prevent spooks from behind.
Fly bonnets and forelock covers have a similar transparent mesh design with secure closure under the throatlatch. Ears tuck inside. Some covers also guard the mane.
For the bridled horse, ear bonnets and fly fringe browbands add lightweight, removable fly protection that doesn’t obstruct the rider’s cues.
Wearable scent packs clip onto headstalls and breastplates. Formulas rely on natural citronella, geraniol and thyme oils to repel insects.
Tail string addons infused with fly repellents gently sway as horses move, dispensing the ingredient. Replace strings monthly as potency fades.
Biological Controls and Traps Around the Barn
Nature provides pest control solutions. Introducing fly predators and installing traps reduces reliance on chemical sprays over the long term by shrinking local fly populations.
Wasps That Dine On Fly Larvae
Tiny parasitic wasps (Spalangia and Muscidifurax) carry fly eggs back to their nests — where larvae will feast on the young flies and prevent them from reaching adulthood. Releasing wasps weekly over the warmer months continually boosts your beneficial ally numbers.
For best results, disperse wasps around likely fly breeding hot spots: manure piles, soiled bedding, moist hay and straw. Cold storage allows for staggered releases over 16+ weeks.
Fly Traps
Sticky traps attract flies via irresistible lures and pheromones. Lands on ribbons, tapes or glue boards cannot escape. Strategically place traps on barn walls and stable doors every 10-20 feet at fly height. Collect filled traps and replace monthly during peak season.
Bag style traps lure flies into an inverted cone with a pooled insecticide at the closed end. Desiccating fumes and no escape cause visiting flies to drown. Hang traps in walkways and common areas, swap liquid bait solution every 2-3 weeks.
Veterinary Fly Control Support
If horses exhibit fly allergy symptoms or require parasite control, veterinarian prescribed remedies deliver additional relief. Some solutions also deter future infestations.
Fly Allergy Medications
For horses with fly bite hypersensitivity, lesions, scabs and hair loss can result from just a few bites. Antihistamines and corticosteroids treat symptoms and reduce reactions. Note conditions to your vet, prevention is key.
Dewormers
Some flies don’t bite but lay eggs on horses instead. When larvae hatch, they can invade the digestive system and damage tissues, causing discomfort. Ivermectin and moxidectin dewormers clear certain species. Work with your vet on fecal testing and an appropriate plan.
Both oral and topical dewormer applications have secondary fly repellent effects for a short period after dosing. Rotational deworming protects efficacy and monitors resistance.
Execute Fly Control as a Campaign
While no single fly prevention tactic is perfect, stacking multiple techniques disrupts the fly lifecycle at different stages. Consistently break the breed and feed sequence to win the summer-long fight. As flies reproduce speedily, vigilance is required by all horse owners to protect even just one horse. Joining forces with barn mates strengthens results and limits places where flies can slip through the cracks.
The Takeaway
Curbing flies means curbing their ability to complete their life cycle. By promptly removing breeding grounds, applying layers of topical protection bug sprays and gear, employing supplemental defenses, installing deterrents in horses’ environments, enhancing natural controls and stopping infestations through veterinary guidance, equestrians can gain the upper hand over bothersome flies. Pay special attention to turnout horses most exposed to flies, as health repercussions from bites, parasites and annoyance behaviors can compound over summer months. Monitor horses and facilities vigilantly, cover all the bases, and partner with fellow barn users to protect horses as fully as possible during peak fly season.