Biting Horse Flies - Any solution that won't bankrupt us?

[4LeafCloverFarm]

Last summer/fall we had a horrible issue with biting horse flies (much worse than normal). Not talking about regular small house flies, I’m taking about the hummingbird sized horse flies that bites draw blood and hurt like %&#$@. One of my geldings actually got a sore near the head of his man parts that took forever to heal. Vet said it was most likely caused by horse fly bites. Boy would I like to find some solution to avoid that again this year!

I’ve never found any spray, roll-on or cream effective against the big biting horse flies. But maybe there is something new that I am not familiar with… and something that won’t cost $$$ to implement. Any suggestions?

[Scribbler]

Zebra print fly sheets with belly bands and neck hoods?

[4LeafCloverFarm]

Well, fly sheets won’t cover my geldings nether regions… and zebra pint? Is there really such a thing? :winkgrin: Does that confuse the flies? lol

[Equibrit]

Use their size against them. Find some high powered fans for your stalls, and turn out at night.

Interesting website; https://www.fliesonly.com/how-to-get…f-horse-flies/

https://getyourbug.com/

[4LeafCloverFarm]

They are outside 24/7 (they do have sheds - but no electric run to my pastures). I would love to have fans in the sheds in summer to give them some relief, if not from insects, the stifling midday heat. If solar ever gets down low enough for our budget, that’s the first project on my list.

[wsmoak]

These fly traps work but they are not cheap: http://www.bitingflies.com/

SWAT ointment is the only thing I’ve found for those ‘difficult’ areas. The pink stuff, and keep applying it. (Also not cheap…)

[Simkie]

Here’s another biting fly trap that’s a little cheaper than the Horse Pal:

https://bitingflytrap.com/

And one more:

https://horse-fly-trap.com/

[4LeafCloverFarm]

AH! That’s the trap I remember reading about last year, and couldn’t find the thread @wsmoak . Good to know there is a less expensive version @Simkie . Wonder how well it works?

Interesting reading about those traps… explains a lot. The two horses that are bombarded with the giant horse flies are both black. The pony, who is light brown, does not have the same problem.

I have used SWAT before - but around eyes and ears. Never though to use it on a sheath. But I suppose if there are no warnings to not use it in “delicate” regions, that would certainly be better than nothing, and being bitten on the willy!

[Simkie]

More info about the traps:

https://www.spalding-labs.com/produc…/p/h_trap.aspx

That H Trap looks like it might be the best bet? Not cheap!

[4LeafCloverFarm]

Here’s the original study (referenced by Spalding labs on their site), in case anyone else is looking for a horse fly solution like me. Done by the USDA ARS. Interesting.

https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/pu…eqNo115=342876

[ryansgirl]

@4LeafCloverFarm

AH! That’s the trap I remember reading about last year, and couldn’t find the thread @wsmoak . Good to know there is a less expensive version @Simkie . Wonder how well it works?

Interesting reading about those traps… explains a lot. The two horses that are bombarded with the giant horse flies are both black. The pony, who is light brown, does not have the same problem.

I have used SWAT before - but around eyes and ears. Never though to use it on a sheath. But I suppose if there are no warnings to not use it in “delicate” regions, that would certainly be better than nothing, and being bitten on the willy!

Slather the sheath area with SWAT or Flys Off (exact same thing just has a picture of a dog on the label instead of a horse…and significantly cheaper). Or use generic desiten (tends to run more than SWAT/Flys Off but DOES work).

Be careful with fly sheets. I’ll NEVER use them again when the giant bugs come out. My old incredibly stoic TB almost killed himself when one got trapped under the sheet. He just lost it and tore around trying to get the bug off of him and he couldn’t because it was stuck - scary as hell to watch.

My current TB will just stay inside her shed when those bugs are out. They don’t like dark places so sheds are perfect.

[mroades]

You can definitely coat his nether regions in SWAT.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

Looks like the Flies-Off is $1 cheaper per 7oz tub than the SWAT is on Amazon. Both are made by Farnum and seem to have the exact same ingredients. Guess they figure they can suck an extra $1 out of us horse people for the same product? :winkgrin: So thanks @ryansgirl for bringing that product to my attention!

[BlueDrifter]

Whenever I think of moving to those southern areas with horses and pastures, a thread like this reminds me that SoCal isn’t so bad… lol. I cannot imagine and enjoyable trail ride with those things around!

[wildlifer]

I also slather sheaths with swat. Too humid here for fly sheets when the monsters come out. My horses have learned to use me as a tool by “bringing” me their horseflies to kill - which is a little unnerving when 16.2 Tb gallops up to you & flings his butt your way while he is bucking madly going “MOMMMM, KILLL IT WITH UR MAGIC HUMAN HANDSSSS!”

[Scribbler]

Zebra fly sheets.

https://www.bucas.com/product/buzz-off-zebra-6/

Though I agree the ldea of a bee or big horse fly getting under a fly sheet is scary.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

@Scribbler

Zebra fly sheets.

https://www.bucas.com/product/buzz-off-zebra-6/

Though I agree the ldea of a bee or big horse fly getting under a fly sheet is scary.

:lol::lol::lol: And I really thought you were pulling my leg! But @ $155.00, I think I’ll pass. It’s another $25 for the matching fly mask.

[ryansgirl]

@4LeafCloverFarm

Looks like the Flies-Off is $1 cheaper per 7oz tub than the SWAT is on Amazon. Both are made by Farnum and seem to have the exact same ingredients. Guess they figure they can suck an extra $1 out of us horse people for the same product? :winkgrin: So thanks @ryansgirl for bringing that product to my attention!

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/farnam-flys-off-fly-repellent-ointment-for-wounds-and-sores

I always bought it from Drs. Fosters & Smith and it was around $5/jar but I’d wait until they sent an email with 15-20% off your order thing and then stock up. They actually had it on clearance last year for $1.99/jar so I bought two cases (I’m set for a long time!).

Apparently when Petco bought them out they raised their prices :mad:.

[LadyBug]

The Horse Pal traps really do work if you can get them in the right location. We usually put the trap in whatever field we have rotated off of, and sometimes I have to move it to start catching things. I get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing those big fat bombers in the top baking in the sun :D.

And I bought one of the Bucas zebra print fly sheets for my gelding who is super sensitive to bugs. I got it on clearance maybe 2 years ago and have never used it. Maybe I’ll give it a whirl this season, but the last few years I haven’t bothered with fly sheets.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

Good to know from real world users that the large traps work. We’ll start a fund for one. In the mean time, I’ve got a few jars of the Fly-Off coming. Horse Flies haven’t appeared yet in our neck of the woods, but I imagine it will be soon with the warm weather we’ve been having.