Horse
How Can I Prevent Flies From Attacking My Horse?
If you own a horse then you would have most certainly had to deal with the effect of flies and horse flies on your poor horse, especially if they share a field with or are close to cattle and other livestock. The flies can have a big effect on the horses, from being just a pest to causing large swelling from bites. Some horses react really badly to the bites and can sometimes require vet care. Here we look at what flies can cause the biggest problems and how we can prevent them from harassing your horses.
What Kinds of Flies Are There?
The typical flies that will be present in the stable or the field can usually be split into two groups. The flies that develop from filth, rotten food, and spoiled bedding such as stable flies and house flies are a group of none biting dirty flies that will not cause harm to your horses directly but are not a pleasant guest in your stables. The other group is the biting flies such as the horse fly or black fly. These nasty creatures can cause upset and pain for your horses as they like to feed on the blood of large animals. They are usually more present around fields with a water source but can travel many miles in search of prey, so most locations are at risk from these flies.
Dealing with Dirty Flies
The best way to prevent the dirty flies is by simply keeping on top of the cleanliness of the stables and surrounding areas. If you take away the dirt and the spoiled bedding then the flies have nowhere to lay their eggs. Sprays and fly traps can be used to manage the flies but prevention is always better. Using lime is a good suggestion as this dries up a moist area and will reduce the effect of ammonia. Horses can be sprayed with sprays such as Citronella which will give the horse some relief from the effect of flies. This should be reapplied if the horses get wet and few times a day.
Dealing with Horse Flies and Black Flies
Horse flies and black flies are a whole different problem and can be very difficult to control. The problem with these flies is they have a very nasty bite and can cause scabby lesions and large swelling. Horse owners have lots of different ways to prevent these flies, from trying to confuse the flies using a zebra rug to trying to destroy the source of the flies. All of which will sometimes have little effect on the flying pests. These flies can only develop from a water source but because they can travel long distances, pretty much nowhere is out of reach. Avoidance is the best way to deal with these flies. They are a big problem between May and July in daylight so keeping your horse indoors during this period would be the best way to avoid bites. Keeping on top of hygiene around water supplies will also prevent the flies from laying eggs. Fighting off these flies can often seem like an impossible task but we offer products that can help in the battle and offer relief from these pesky flies. We stock a wide range of some of the best fly relief products all of which are available with quick cheap delivery. Remember prevention is better than a cure and if you can keep the flies away as much as possible then they are less likely to harm your beloved horse.
If you have any tips on how you prevent flies, please share them with us below in the comments section so we can spread the word!
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