Cedar for flies?

[Iride]

Is cedar, either in oil form or shavings (or anything else you can recommend!) safe for horses?

I’d like to try a thin layer of cedar on top of our regular pine shavings for one horse in particular’s stall. He is old and drops a lot of (wet) food so you can imagine the flies in the summer. He can’t go out at night…so looking for ideas.

Anyone used cedar oil or some such combo of liquids to spray stall walls? How about the use of cedar shavings, is that ok?

Any input appreciated. Here are two product sites I came across online “Cedarcide” and “Cedar Oil Industries”, if anyone’s used either one, please share.

Cedarcide Handcrafted Pest Control and Natural Goods

http://www.cedaroilindustries.com/

(p.s., we’re a little unsure about the use of in-stall sprayers or systems because this horses also has uveitis and a tendency to develop eye ulcers from the condition. Not sure a spray mechanism would be safe…?).

[candico]

We use a bedding called Cedarest in the outdoor sections of their stalls. It is not recommended for a closed stall as the cedar can cause irritation and I do know of some horses that have allergic reactions to it. The flies also are not deterred from landing on it for sure. We have tried Cedar Oil spray on our dog for fleas - it is super potent in smell and could definitely irritate ones eyes and is not much of a deterrent for fleas either.

If you can install a fan safely, that should really cut down on flies and I am having pretty good success using Quikbayt and having everyone on Simplifly. Not a big fan of fly systems… Just seems a bit too toxic.

[Over_the_Hill]

Be very careful of using cedar. My TB mare would stock up hugely if there was any cedar at all in the shavings. Always bedded her with pine after I realized what was causing the stocking up.

[Zu_Zu]

Cedar is toxic to cats ~ barn cats ?

FWIW

Cedar is toxic to cats ~ barn cats ?

• not sure about dogs

[Iride]

What about something like this? Risky too?

http://www.cedarcide.com/product/cedar-suds-horse-shampoo/

[cowgirl_805]

I find the best to use separetely or a combo to absorb and maintain is 50-50 ceda rest and dry stall. Not stall dry.

[Scribbler]

Here in the PNW cedar mulch known as hog fuel is a traditional footing for arenas and outdoor paddocks. If there is good underlying drainage it is very nice. I have never seen a horse have a reaction to it. However it does not combat flies to any extent. I don’t see fewer flies in hog fuel paddocks over clean sand.

I’ve never seen hog fuel used as indoor bedding because it is very coarse and heavy.

Oil of cedar would be another thing altogether. Essential oils can be very potent.

[Simkie]

I use cedarcide as a tick and gnat repellant on myself with no issues spraying it on skin (although I try to keep it on my clothes), and have used it sparingly on the horses for gnats with no problems on them either.

Not sure it would work any better than fly spray for flies, though. A fan in the stall and fly spray on the horse sounds like the best combo here.