Getting Ready for Summer

Horses and Flies--Horse Fly!

Summer brings mosquitoes, gnats, and flies! Not only are they unsightly, and annoying, they can also spread diseases. There are different kinds of these flying pests, from very small, to quite large in comparison. But size doesn't matter, they are all bothersome, and unwelcome. Unfortunately they are nearly impossible to avoid around horses and the barn, and so your horse needs all the help you can give.

Practical Insect Control

We have been conditioned as horse owners to battle flies and other pests during the summer months. Practical insect control for your trail horse includes

• fly spray
• spot treatment
• wipe-on
• ingestibles
• fly sheets and nets

Pest Control

Stable flies, deerflies, horse flies, horn flies, and face flies are a menace to your horse's health and well-being. As trail riders we are inclined to use some sort of fly spray and sometimes a mask to protect our horses during our rides. Generally speaking, there are hundreds of fly products on the market. Most websites selling horse products will provide ratings for all of these products. It is up to you as the owner to investigate and determine what works best for your horse.

To begin with and to avoid fly overpopulation, proper manure management and moisture control are the two biggest factors in preventing flies from breeding. Remove manure, old hay and feed daily from stalls and pens, and either spread it thinly to dry or compost it. Manure production on even the smallest horse farm requires constant attention. If you have a large pile of manure located near your turnouts, fly products will not control overpopulation. If you cannot compost, removal is the best option. Some refuse collection services are specially designed to handle manure or are willing to haul it away with other trash. In the barn, proper air circulation (via natural wind flow or fans) is essential.

There are numerous fly spray products including chemical based and natural based products. When we are heading out on the trails, the likelihood we will run across water determines the need for products that ward off mosquitoes and deer flies, along with the other pests. Word of mouth and usage of fly sprays provide a good basis of determining which product you are comfortable using on your horse. As a consumer, you can carefully research these products on the internet and ask friends and fellow riders what they use. There are also natural remedies posted online or passed down from generations that provide at home remedies which include mixing your own ingredients, for example, ingredients using Citronella oil or Avon’s Skin-So-Soft®.

Fly baits, traps and strips only trap those pests within a small area, but really do not lower the population. Again, there are numerous products, but manure maintenance and removal is key. Common websites for fly products and remedies: http://www.pestcontrol-products.com/wasps_traps.htm#flybait

Mosquitoes and Flies

Fly populations can be reduced by running fans in the barn isle, hanging fly traps, disseminating insect predators, using misting systems, and good barn management practices, such as cleaning manure as soon as possible to an area away from the barn, and avoiding stagnant water pools where mosquito can hatch.

Fly Sheets

Fly sheets must be well designed and well fitted. Some come with extended necks, and belly covers to also protect those vulnerable areas. Before buying make sure you have followed the manufacturer's measuring instructions. They should not rub, and bet tailored to conform the horse's body contours. The neck opening should fit nicely around the neck without restricting movement, and not allow the sheet to slip back past the withers. Look for a fly sheet that is

• breathable
• durable
• practical
• well fitted
• and washable

While a fly sheet and mask may not protect every square inch of your horse, it certainly comes in handy, and also enables you to use less fly spray, and use it more selectively on what areas remain exposed. Ideally, it should have adjustable front buckles, an adjustable belly girth, and elastic straps for around the hind legs. REMEMBER: an ill-fitting turnout fly sheet, or one left on a horse too long, can act like sandpaper, removing patches of hair, and even creating sores.

Cherry Hill made some good points in her horse keeping article when she reminds us that mesh fabric turnout fly sheets do not only protect the horse's body from pesky insects and the sun, but also tend to “groom” a horse’s coat, massaging natural skin oils into the short summer coat as it moves around. In addition, it helps protect the coat from the sun's UV rays, and keeps it clean(er) when the horse rolls, but that is for our own comfort, not so much the horse's! Once dirty, the polyester mesh fly sheet can be easily cleaned, often simply by hosing it off hanging over a fence, and it will air dry very quickly.

To keep flies, gnats, and mosquito away from your horse's eyes and ears, also consider a fly mask. There also are turnout leg wraps made from polyester mesh with Velcro® fastening straps. Our preferred brand of fly masks and leg wraps are made by Cashel®.