How to protect your horse from various insects such as flies and horseflies!

Why fly sprays do not work against horseflies

Horseflies, also known as deer flies, are robust and large flies that are mainly active in warm and calm weather. The females need blood to lay eggs. Males only need nectar. The females select horses and other livestock based on exhaled carbon dioxide, movement, heat, and scents. Additionally, they have a preference for dark-colored horses. Besides biting to suck blood, horseflies sometimes also launch an attack. The horseflies do not care about the scent or anything else the horse has; they bite through everything. As a result, the sprays do not work against all horseflies. Because while riding, there will always be horseflies that launch an attack.

Tips to Prevent Flies and Horse Flies

1 – Set up horse fly traps
Horse flies see a fly trap as prey. The dark ball warms up in the sun and the wind makes the ball move. When the horse fly realizes there is no blood to be had, it will fly up. The net above effectively catches the horse fly in the container.

2 – Use a fly sheet
A fly sheet is always an option to prevent horses from feeling insects on their skin. If your horse is truly panicked by the flies in the pasture, a fly sheet is definitely recommended.

3 – Feed a supplement to make the horse less attractive
There are dietary supplements that give the horse an insect-repelling scent. Additionally, this makes the blood unattractive to biting insects. With horse flies, we see that they may still land on the horse but do not bite anymore. However, the horse flies that attack are an exception, as they bite through everything. Various experiences have shown that horses stand more calmly in the pasture. Choose a supplement based on herbs and essential oils (Fenugreek, sepiolite, echinacea, astragalus, uncaria, gentian, thyme, citronellal, citronellol).

4 – Plant insect-repelling plants around the stable, pasture, and riding arena
Some plants are known to repel insects through their scents. These plants are not only beautiful, but they also help to drive away insects. Of course, this does not work 100%, but every little bit helps. The plants known to be insect-repelling are:
Lemon balm and lemon geranium
Lavender
Rosemary
Marigold
Catnip

5 – Stable management
The cleaner the horse's environment, the fewer flies there will be. Flies and other insects lay their eggs in manure. It is advisable to remove manure from the stables daily and to keep the manure pile not too close to the stables. Additionally, it also helps to regularly clean the feed and water troughs with vinegar or lemon juice.