Beat the Bugs!

Summer brings with it the irritation of flies – and some yards and properties are seemingly more prone to these unwanted visitors than others so in our latest blog The Saddlery Shop takes a look at ‘Beating the Bugs’.

The flying culprits

Horse flies, from the Tabanid family, are often considered the worst offenders in terms of fly irritation. They cause pain and discomfort to the horse and are also guilty of transmitting infectious diseases. Black Flies (Simuliidae) are biting flies, which may have high populations in the spring and early summer, particularly in pasture areas along streams. Black flies can pose a serious problem to your horse’s health.  Like Tabanid flies, the female Biting Midge (Culicoide) is a tiny gnat (1-3 mm long) and, like black flies, inflicts painful bites and sucks the horse’s blood. Again, the midge’s bites causes extreme itching. There are several other pests to contend with; Stable Flies (Stomoxys Calcitrans) can pose a problem in moist stables, and they are associated with poor hygiene; their bites typically appear as painful wheals. Meanwhile, Mosquitoes, Bees and Wasps can also provide irritation.

Fly facts

• One fly can lay hundreds of eggs in a day. Common breeding grounds are near dropped food or empty cans – keep the stable kitchen area clean, and bins sealed.
• Ideally choose open areas, as opposed to woodland, or field surrounding ponds, for turn out.
• If your horse succumbs to sweet itch, it is best to contact your vet for advice, as he may recommend corticosteroids that are injected to suppress the allergic response to the Culicoides midge, or Simulium Equinum black fly.
• Apply a fly repellent product regularly. If you’re buying a proprietary brand, look out for essential oils and herbal concentrates, plus ingredients like vitamin E to keep the hair and skin in peak condition. You could always consider making your own, as you may find a recipe that really works for your horse – see below.
• Consider a fly mask – they can reduce irritation around the sensitive facial areas of the horse. Fly masks are incredibly useful and come in versions with or without ear coverage. They cover the eye area to stop irritation and are usually fastened with a wide Velcro closure – the face area is meshed. 

Visit www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk to see a range of fly protection products or call the team on Tel: 0844 8806900

In April we ran a competition with Local Rider Magazine alongside Shires Equestrian and we were thrilled to receive this lovely, fun email from competition winner Helen Francis.

Helen said…

“I just wanted to say thank you for the Shires fly set that I won in Local Rider. Rupert was very pleased with his new look – he just can’t work out why we are all laughing at him!”