Comments on: Protect your horse from flies http://www.robinsons-uk.com/blog/index.php/flies-flies-flies/ Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:04:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Doug Stewart http://www.robinsons-uk.com/blog/index.php/flies-flies-flies/comment-page-1/#comment-689 Doug Stewart Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:37:18 +0000 http://www.robinsons-uk.com/blog/?p=58#comment-689 I find that rugs are good for some insects (e.g. horseflies) but less good for others (e.g. midges). I've got 10 horses and one really suffers from 'sweet itch' and the fly rug just doesn't give him enough protection, so I use a repellant (Killitch) as well for him. I've tried garlic (spray on, not in their food) as this was recommended to me. Didn't work, so uped the dossage to 10 times. The horse stank to high heaven and bugs still bit just as bad. I've seen a lot of posts about this, but didn't work for me. In terms of fly sheets, you need to choose the type you need based on what you are trying to do (e.g. type of insect). There is a long discussion of pros and cons at: http://wowhorses.com/horse-fly-sheet.html I'm pretty happy with fly sheets overall. They aren't perfect and some of them are pretty prone to ripping (especially the cheaper ones, or the light-weight ones). However, they save a lot on buying repellant and all but one of my horses is happy with them (one horse goes nuts with a fly mask). I find that rugs are good for some insects (e.g. horseflies) but less good for others (e.g. midges). I’ve got 10 horses and one really suffers from ‘sweet itch’ and the fly rug just doesn’t give him enough protection, so I use a repellant (Killitch) as well for him.

I’ve tried garlic (spray on, not in their food) as this was recommended to me. Didn’t work, so uped the dossage to 10 times. The horse stank to high heaven and bugs still bit just as bad. I’ve seen a lot of posts about this, but didn’t work for me.

In terms of fly sheets, you need to choose the type you need based on what you are trying to do (e.g. type of insect). There is a long discussion of pros and cons at: http://wowhorses.com/horse-fly-sheet.html

I’m pretty happy with fly sheets overall. They aren’t perfect and some of them are pretty prone to ripping (especially the cheaper ones, or the light-weight ones). However, they save a lot on buying repellant and all but one of my horses is happy with them (one horse goes nuts with a fly mask).

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