Keeping Bugs Away From Your Horse

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Tip: Keeping Flies off your Horse

help??maybe??

August 19, 2013

Here are three easy ways to keep flies off your horse.

Horses tend to move around the hay and straw in their stall. On the hay and straw are pieces of sweet grain which tends to be a food source for flies and bugs. Every once in a while, I would take the horse out and just rinse him/her off to get the pieces of sweet grain, which are usually microscopic. Don't do this too many times, about twice a week because washing too many times could be unhealthy for your horse's skin.
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After you ride your horse, they are usually sweating a lot. Flies tend to like the saltiness in sweat. After you ride your horse, you should usually wash or even just rinse your horse off. A good way to get sweat off is a sweat scraper ($20-$40). It brushes sweat off your horse while your washing him/her off. It will not only cool your horse off, but keep flies and other bugs off as well.
The last decent way to keep flies off your horse is to get a good brand of fly spray ($15-$50) actually made to keep flies of of your horse. You can go online to get a good brand of fly spray or go to your local horse and stables store.

Hope it Helps :)

7 Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

Question: Remedy for Flies and Gnats on Horses?

Betty

June 26, 2008

What can I use to keep flies off my horses. I can't use commercial sprays and wipes as they make my eyes red and swollen.

Betty

Answers

Antoinette Perry

June 28, 20080 found this helpful

Best Answer

Use a fly mask for his face.

By iluvtwh (Guest Post)

August 21, 20080 found this helpful

Best Answer

I use Gordon's pony and horse spray. It works really well, and I also use a fly mask on my horses. But here is my secret; I put like 2 ounces of mineralized salt in their food.

Once the salt is through their system, when they poop, the flies do not hang around the poop in the stables. People always comment about the lack of flies.

Selah

October 2, 20080 found this helpful

Best Answer

I have 10 cats, a dog, 5 cockatiels, a goat and chickens and just started using Diatomaceous earth. I bought FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous earth because I want it IN the animals as well as ON them and around their sheds/coops/bedding, etc. Make sure if you try it, to use only the FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous earth.

Barbara Moreland

August 20, 20090 found this helpful

Best Answer

I started using Bug Check for my horses this spring and boy, does it work! Give it about three weeks from the time you start feeding it and you will see the difference. I buy mine through KVvet, in the 10 lb.

size. It has garlic and diatomaceous earth in it plus some other things. By the way, if you give your livestock diatomaceous earth, you do not have to worm them.

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Question: Keeping Flies and Mosquitoes Away from Horse?

chribom69

June 1, 2013

What kind of home remedy can I use to keep flies and mosquitoes away from my horse and his eyes?

By chribom69 from Wildwood, FL

Answers

Robyn

June 3, 20130 found this helpful

I have heard the addition of apple cider vinegar to the drinking water keeps flies not interested.

www.earthclinic.com/.../flies.html

I would not give any animal garlic. I am referring to the part in this link that deals with the addition of ACV to the water. I do this for my pets.

I would also put vaseline on the ears and around the eyes. You could check with the vet about the vaseline around the eyes if you like.

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Question: Keeping Flies Away from Your Horse?

Michele Potter

August 7, 2010

I live in France and we have a few horses living close by. I have looked up the natural remedies for keeping flies away from horse's eyes and found them very interesting. The trouble is I do not own these horses, but it breaks my heart to seem them so unhappy. I have been seeing a particular horse each day and know his temperament to understand how unhappy he is.

What can I do to help him without interfering. Here in France they just put their horses out to pasture and that's it! His hooves are all broken, too. Please help. I thought of making up a garlic solution to rub around his eyes, but want your advice. Kind regards.

By Michele Potter from France

Answers

Danialle
Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 126 Feedbacks

August 10, 20100 found this helpful

I would contact your local ASPCA or your local governing office that protects animals, if you feel you can't talk to the owners. Some people get horses as pets and know nothing about their proper care. You can also gather a lot of information on the Internet regarding the care of horses.

Janette
Bronze Tip Medal for All Time! 86 Tips

August 10, 20100 found this helpful

I read on the internet the other day that WD-40 will keep flies off horses and cows. This product is found around the car parts section.

It is a spray that can be found very easily. Dollar General even carries it. Hope this helps. ~Janette~

Ginnee
Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 135 Feedbacks

August 10, 20100 found this helpful

I've just gotten the email about WD-40 too but don't believe it! I checked Snopes and WD-40 is not fish oil and is not harmless. Please do not apply to cows or horses or any living thing.

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