Driving and Bugs

[IAPonyGirl]

My 3 yr. old connemara gelding is home from driving training and drives like a champ. One problem. Bugs! Mosquitoes, deer flies, gnats, no see-ums, etc. They are out in full force when I get home from work and it turns out that my gelding is one of those super sensitive types who gets really rattled by the bugs. Tonite, even on pasture, he was running to get away from the bugs, severely agitated. I know they are bad right now.

The bugs weren’t so bad while he was actually in driving training in May and June. They started to get bad near the end and we put a bucking strap on him as he will try to bounce around if he can’t trot to get away from the bugs.

So, the question is, what are my options here? Don’t drive til fall? Maybe wait til the weekend and try to drive during the day when the bugs aren’t so bad? I can fly spray the heck out of him but it doesn’t really help. Also, I have an older Zilco harness and I was told not to use oil based fly spray or it will wreck the harness.

[pricestory]

Poppy also hates bugs. I use a fly hood that covers her head and neck when driving. Got it from Country Carriages. I’ve also found that if I wipe fly spray on her instead of spraying, it helps more. Swat on the belly seemes to be best there. For me, I really think the dryer sheets help keep gnats away although research doesn’t prove it.

[gothedistance]

If you have a fly sheet – use it! Right under the harness. That’s what they did in the grand old days, and it works. You can also supersaturate the sheet in fly repellent, and that will help. Also use a fly bonnet, and Deep Woods Off heavily on the face and neck.

My guys (both riding and driving ponies) are getting 1-2 teaspoons of powdered garlic daily in their food – it has made a HUGE difference in the reduction of flying pests. HUGE! The gnats and stable flies are totally 100% gone. That comprises about 90% of the annoying flies – now gone. It is wonderful!

Sadly, garlic doesn’t have the ummph to deter the deer and greenhead flies – for that I use Deep Woods Off. And even that struggles sometimes to ward off those nasty biting pests. The fly bonnet works perfectly, especially when sprayed with repellant.

[Drive_NJ]

Good advice above. Only difference is we use a string fly net vs a fly sheet when driving. By the way it also works while riding. The swishing strings swipe off the flies better and we found you occasionally get a bug trapped under the sheet which is not a pretty site. We’re having a bad year for deer flies, greenheads etc and there really isn’t and truely effective spray that will deal with them. These bugs are attracted to movement and shape more than smell. Anything that will kill them before they bite is probably pretty toxic to the horse too. We use the earnets with crocheted face piece with longer piece behind over the poll, but are probably going to move to trying the Salongs we got a while ago to swish around their heads and necks.

string fly sheet
<http://www.bigblackhorse.com/HorseTackFlyNets.shtmlhttp://www.bigblackhorse.com/HorseTackFlyNets.shtml>

Sallongs
http://www.narrowgatetack.com/nghungariantack.html

[LostFarmer]

I use spray and the like. I also make it clear that a bug bite is not an excuse to have a hissy fit. I am not at all above making my sting much worse than the bugs. I have been around horses that were so pampered that they had a meltdown if a mosquito got them. It is to dangerous to have a horse that is kicking out at flies when you are in the proximity. LF

[Mngirl]

I agree with LostFarmer. Bugs are not an excuse for bad behavior.

But, for there relief and mine, I use OFF or Cutter (for humans). Spray myself down and then the pony before I harness up. Spray it on the brush to get head and ears. Have never had a horse or pony have an adverse reaction to it. Though I am sure like anything else it is possible. This is not an all day solution, but it works great for the length of time we are out for a drive.

If you do use a fly sheet or net, make sure they are use to it and know what it is before putting too!

[Trakehner]

My horse is the biggest drama queen when it comes to bugs. So, I did it the simple way…

I use a fly scrim http://www.bigblackhorse.com/HorseTackFlyNets.shtml

And a Cashel riding/driving fly mask. I get a one step up larger sized mask and he wears it over his bridle http://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass.aspx?productClassid=2788

He’s happy and the flies really can’t get to the boy. A little swat on his belly and he’s good to go.

Of course, he does look like an Asgul horse ready for Lord of the Rings when he’s all dressed up.

[RidesAHaflinger]

@Trakehner;3382882

Of course, he does look like an Asgul horse ready for Lord of the Rings when he’s all dressed up.

You mean like this?
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2939557940065573041NJrAmV

:D:lol::winkgrin:

[Drive_NJ]

I’m thinking you western folk may not have some of the humid weather killer bugs we have in other parts. Yup, I expect them to be well behaved through mosquitoes, gnats and stable flies, but when attacked by multiple greenheads or deerflies or B-52s, some protection is in order and most of those aren’t very deterred by a little Deep Woods Off

We were up on the Connecticut/Massachusetts border last summer with Alex and had turned him out for a little before a drive while we got his cart and harness unloaded. He started running about - looked like he was feeling studdy and showing off. But he wasn’t stopping. Went in for a closer look and he was dripping wet and being tormented by their Black Flies - right through his turnout sheet - in 15 min - and he’s pretty unflappable. There went the drive. Locals tell tales of the horses running themselves into the ground also running through fences.

[IAPonyGirl]

[QUOTE=Drive NJ;3383260]
I’m thinking you western folk may not have some of the humid weather killer bugs we have in other parts. Yup, I expect them to be well behaved through mosquitoes, gnats and stable flies, but when attacked by multiple greenheads or deerflies or B-52s, some protection is in order and most of those aren’t very deterred by a little Deep Woods Off

We were up on the Connecticut/Massachusetts border last summer with Alex and had turned him out for a little before a drive while we got his cart and harness unloaded. He started running about - looked like he was feeling studdy and showing off. But he wasn’t stopping. Went in for a closer look and he was dripping wet and being tormented by their Black Flies - right through his turnout sheet - in 15 min - and he’s pretty unflappable. There went the drive. Locals tell tales of the horses running themselves into the ground also running through fences.[/QUOTE]

Definitely! That’s what I worry about. My appendix QH mare will get to running blind like that sometimes, I really have to watch her. They are really happy to come in the barn where its cool and have a fan on them. Black flies are the worst.

ok, so, I think I will spring for one of those fly net thingy’s, it looks like just the ticket. Now, just to clarify, it goes ON TOP of the harness???

[vtdobes]

Uh yeah…here in VT we have bad deer flys, green heads and horse flys (I’m talking over 1 inch big black horse flys!). Those suckers get a bite on and the horses cannot stand it! I don’t blame them either.

[Thomas_1]

Use trad![](tional carriage horse ear covers.

These have been used for nearly 200 years. First in the busy city streets of London and the days when there was no sewage system and effluent was thrown into the street and that, coupled with piles of horse muck meant the place was humming!!!

The last thing you need with a carriage horse is a fly in its ear driving it bonkers… great way to lose control! So cart drivers put either their gloves or socks on the horse’s ears to protect them. Then in time driving became more of a gentleman’s activity and commercial drivers wanted to attract rich people to their vehicles and so ladies started to crochet ear covers to match the equipage and in either the same colour as the livery or carriage.

Exactly the same as these on my horses

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/flodden_edge/duns/Alwinton2.jpg)

Those and my fly repellent and you’ll be sorted

See here for details on that:
http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=104176

[RidesAHaflinger]

@IAPonyGirl;3383331

ok, so, I think I will spring for one of those fly net thingy’s, it looks like just the ticket. Now, just to clarify, it goes ON TOP of the harness???

Yes, put it on after you harness and before you attach the reins to the bridle. Mine has 3 tie loops. I attach it to the saddle in the center and to the neck straps on either side of the neck. You can also buckle the crupper around one of the cross strings if you want to anchor it down a little more. I’ve never had mine come loose at any gait. My horses have never objected to the fly nets but you oughta see the look on other horses’ faces when they see us coming. As in “What the HECK is that? A pair of yaller zebras??” :lol:

I haven’t compared prices but I bought both of my fly nets here: http://woodrivercarriage.com/harness.htm Scroll about 3/4 of the way down, bottom left.