Feed through fly control?

[Texarkana]

My horses will be going back to a boarding farm for at least the summer, if not the remainder of 2017.

The loss of some of their little luxuries is stressing me out. For example, flies. Right now, they basically don’t have to deal with flies. They have free access to their barn, and between the fans and the fly-mist system, it’s practically a fly-free zone. I clean up manure in the pasture, which also keeps flies down. It’s also no big deal for me to put on masks, boots, and occasionally fly sheets every morning and douse them with fly spray. They are happy campers all summer, thanks to their neurotic mom (me).

It’s looking unlikely that I’ll be able to find a boarding barn that offers all of that AND 24/7 turnout. And my guys don’t do well when stalled.

Particularly, I’m worried about hoof damage from stomping, which was a problem in the past when I boarded.

I know they will survive regardless, however, it’s also frustrating to know I will be battling all of those minor problems again that have been 100% avoided for years. I’m not going to impose my level of crazy on to barn staff if they don’t already do it, so I’m looking for an “easy” solution.

Do feed-through fly controls work? And will they work in my situation? I’ve heard mixed reviews. I’ve also heard the entire farm needs to be on them to be effective. Truth?

[Libby2563]

It depends on what you mean by feed-through fly control. Some are intended to make your horse last tasty and some, like Simplifly, disrupt the flies’ reproductive cycle.

I think the latter is intended for situations where the whole barn (and preferably everyone within flying distance) can be on it. Last year I tried Simplifly with my small herd of three horses and did not notice a difference. I think it’s because I am surrounded by five other horse farms within easy flying distance–the same reason fly predators haven’t been helpful to me.

[btswass]

It is true that the entire farm needs to be on them to be effective. I have my boys at home and while both were on them the first summer I honestly didn’t notice a difference. I was better off spending that money on high quality fly spray.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

I do believe SimpliFly made a difference at a former boarding barn where they required that everyone get it fed through in April through October. However, that property had a fairly large footprint, and even with that, sometimes the situation seemed to be affected by the next door horse property that did not use it.

I know one person who swears by Shoo Tags, but she is also an all natural, anti-spray kind of horsekeeper.

[gypsymare]

Even my nutso, weaving, high strung TB is quite happy to spend the worst of the 8-12 hour summer day in his stall to escape the flies. It also keeps his weight up to be able to munch on his hay in shade and peace vs cowering in the shade of the run in with nothing to eat and battling heat and flies to graze.

Feed through garlic will help a bit. I find it is more effective on ticks though.

[Color_of_Light]

@Libby2563

It depends on what you mean by feed-through fly control. Some are intended to make your horse last tasty and some, like Simplifly, disrupt the flies’ reproductive cycle.

I think the latter is intended for situations where the whole barn (and preferably everyone within flying distance) can be on it. Last year I tried Simplifly with my small herd of three horses and did not notice a difference. I think it’s because I am surrounded by five other horse farms within easy flying distance–the same reason fly predators haven’t been helpful to me.

Which ones make the horses taste nasty? I have one horse that must taste delicious that I’d like to try it on. If you mean garlic, that didn’t work.

[Libby2563]

@Color of Light

Which ones make the horses taste nasty? I have one horse that must taste delicious that I’d like to try it on. If you mean garlic, that didn’t work.

Well there are tons of them out there that are supposed to do that. I’ve only tried one of them (a SmartPak brand) and it didn’t work, so I’m not the right person to ask for a recommendation!

[Texarkana]

Hmmm, so it sounds like this may be a dead end.

For the record, I’m the poster child for the supplement industry at the moment, as I search for the magic snake oil that cures my guilt from “abandoning” my horses. :lol:

And they haven’t even left home yet.

[stb]

I’ve tried the garlic stuff and Simplifly, and didn’t feel like either worked. My farm is not near any other, so no impact from neighbors. I also pick up manure everywhere, every day. What I do find helpful is fly predators.

[fordtraktor]

Feed throughs like Solitude (my favorite and I have tried the all) work well if every horse is on it but not at all for just your horses. I would try the “horse tastes nasty” kind in your situation but have no experience with them.

Also, feed throughs don’t work on some biting flies and mosquitos. I have zero stable flies but the other flies were bad last year–and they are the truly awful ones.

My sensitive TBs live in fly sheets in summer and are much happier. They really need them most at night I think…dusk is brutal because of the mosquitos. You could still do fly sheets boarding. I like to have at least 2 of different styles and switch them out once a week or so…fewer rubs and easy to wash.

I have done fly boots too and the Kensingtons will hold up to 24/7 turnout but I don’t leave them on constantly because they will rub if on every day all day. I also use Amigos with the stays cut out but those need reset daily.

[Lmabernathy]

I have a boarding barn and simplifly works for me. All the horses are on it from Feb thru Oct. You have to start it BEFORE the flies become an issue. I don’t have any other farms near by. Now that’s not to say I don’t have any flies, the flies can reproduce in the dog and goose poop too, but they are dramatically reduced.

Now for the horses that are especially tasty (I have 2 geldings that just attract flies) I use the fly leg bands or the spot on treatments. The leg bands are just arm bands that snap on that have been soaked in citronella based fly spray. I can get away with just using them on the front legs so a pack of 4 lasts about a month-6 weeks (2 to 3 weeks per new bands). The spot on works for mine too, can’t remember for how long. Its similar to dog flea control, you put a strip down their fur and that’s it. Both should be checked for skin sensitivity. I’ve never had an issue but mine aren’t TBs either.