Preparing for a Natural Fly-Free Summer

For many equestrians, biting insects are a challenge throughout the spring and summer seasons. Not only are they annoying and bothersome, but they can also cause skin ailments and even carry potentially deadly diseases. For this reason, good horse husbandry includes making a plan of attack to limit the number of horse flies, deer flies, stable flies, and other biting insects on your property. In recent years, many equestrians have shifted their focus to non-toxic pest control options to maximize the health of themselves, their pets, their horses, and their local ecosystem. In this blog, we take a look at some of the ways to manage the fly population and protect your horse naturally, without the use of harmful pesticides and insecticides.

A natural approach to pest control includes limiting the number of chemicals and toxins that you and your horse are exposed to for protection. It also reduces the impact that you are having on the local environment.  When building a fly control plan for your farm, it is recommended that you take an approach that uses more than just all-natural fly repellents. By utilizing a variety of methods, you can drastically reduce the fly populations and protect both you and your horse from pesky biting insects.

Natural Topicals

Fly sprays are typically the first line of defense that equestrians turn to in their defense against bugs. These topical repellents deter flies from landing on your horse and biting their delicate skin. Many commercial fly spray companies offer all-natural options which utilize wholesome ingredients, such as essential oils, citronella, botanicals, and vinegar. Many equestrians love natural fly repellents because they can also be used on humans, making them highly convenient in the barn. Traditional fly sprays often contain pyrethroids, which, while effective, have the potential to irritate human skin. 

Fly repellent sprays can be used on horses, they are also highly effective if sprayed on the barn flooring or misting on clean bedding. Products such as Spalding Fly Products Bye Bye Insects can help you to conquer the flies throughout your stable while you protect your horse inside and out of the barn.

Fly Predators

Small but mighty, fly predators are a natural way to interrupt the life cycle of the stable fly and drastically reduce their populations. These small insects, which are native to North America, feed on fly larvae, ensuring that they never make it to adulthood and lay more eggs. Simply sprinkle fly predator eggs in areas where manure is prevalent and let them perform their magic. Tom Spalding, the President of Spalding Labs, explains, “Adult flies only represent about 15% of the fly population at any given time. It is important to implement a fly control program that looks to the future and reduces that population.” 

Fly predators stop fly populations from growing in a natural manner. They also have no interest in horses and people, in fact, they are so small you will most likely never notice them as they are hard at work! To learn more about fly predators and check out the answers to questions that our customers frequently ask, we encourage you to refer to our blog post, A Natural Approach: Understanding Fly Predators.

Fly Clothing

One of the simplest ways to prevent flies from biting your equine companion is to physically place a barrier in between them. Fly clothing, such as fly sheets, fly masks, and fly leg wraps, utilize a breathable mesh fabric to prevent biting insects from being able to attack your horse.  The fly sheets cover the horse’s body with some of them extending up the neck or featuring belly wraps for more complete coverage and protection. The Shires Highlander Fly Sheet and Neck and the Horseware Mio Fly Sheet are both popular options for fly season pest control. 

Some of the fly sheets include integrated fly repellent infused in the fabric, the Horseware Amigo Bug Buster Vamoose Fly Sheet with No-Fly Zone is one example of these sheets. Additionally, many of the fly clothing products that we carry, such as the Horseware Amigo Bug Rug Flysheet, offer UV-protection, which defends against sun bleaching and painful sunburns. For sensitive horses, especially those who may suffer from sweet itch, it is recommended that they wear fly clothing whenever they are in their pasture because they have such a severe reaction to bugs. We have fly sheets made specifically for these highly sensitive or sweet-itch prone horses, such as the Shires Sweet-Itch Combo Fly Sheet and the Bucas Zebra Sweet Itch Turnout.

If you routinely trail ride your horse, it may also benefit you to invest in a fly sheet and ear net which are designed to be ridden in, like the Cashel Quiet Ride Bug Armor and the Cashel Crusader Quiet Ride Fly Mask. These innovative products allow you to continue to provide barrier fly protection as you enjoy a hack with your horse. You can learn more about the numerous benefits of fly sheets on our blog post, Fly Sheets Explained.

Repellent Wear

There are a number of products that feature repellents infused directly into them. The Defy The Fly Equine Fly Leg Bands and the Defy the Fly Equine Fly Collar utilize all-natural ingredients to create an invisible forcefield against flies, mosquitoes, and gnats. These are a great option for horses with sensitive skin who may react poorly to fly repellents sprayed directly on them; they also work well in conjunction with fly sheets for protection from head to hoof.

Feed-Through Prevention

Manage flies from the inside out by incorporating feed-through fly prevention supplements into your horse’s diet. The vast majority of these supplements include garlic as a main ingredient. Garlic has a number of wonderful health benefits for your horse, including assisting in respiratory ailments and encouraging the growth of healthy gut flora. Additionally, the high levels of sulfur in garlic cause your horse to emit a slight odor from their skin, which is virtually undetectable to humans, but flies cannot stand it! When fed according to packaging recommendations, garlic supplements, such as Cheshire Horse Garlic, can help your horse build an invisible force field against the flies.

Diatomaceous Earth and Zeolites

Compounds such as diatomaceous earth and zeolites have long been recognized for their pest control prowess. Diatomaceous earth, such as Red Lake Diatomaceous Earth, can be sprinkled liberally wherever flies tend to congregate and lay their eggs, such as the manure pile or in your dry lot. The organic compound dries the area and dehydrates the flies and their eggs, additionally, adult flies tend to avoid areas treated with diatomaceous earth.

Zeolites, the active ingredient in Sweet PDZ Horse Stall Refresher, work in a similar manner. Zeolites not only have a drying effect, but they also neutralize noxious odors, such as those caused by ammonia gases. This makes zeolites a popular addition to the bedding in horse stalls and run-in sheds because they ensure fresh air for your horses to breathe while also discouraging flies from congregating around the manure and urine.

Fans

Simple, yet highly effective, fans are a great way to reduce the number of flies in your barns and run-in sheds. By keeping the air circulating, they make it difficult for the flies to enter the area and even harder for them to land on your horse. For safety’s sake, look for high power fans that are rated for agricultural use, and make sure that you inspect the electrical wiring on a daily basis (mice, chipmunks, and even curious horses have been known to try to chew on these wires). Ideally, the fans will be mounted in an area where your horse cannot get to them, consider using a Stall Fan Mount to secure the fan in a safe location.

Shelter

Flies tend to congregate in sunny areas and avoid shady areas. You can use this to your advantage and plan your turnout accordingly. Some barns utilize night turnout, which protects your horses from both the flies and the harmful effects of the sun. Additionally, you can give your horse access to deep run-in sheds or an in/out barn set-up to allow your horse to escape from the bugs if necessary.

Fly Tape and Traps

As a final effort to rid your barn of adult flies naturally, look to fly tape and fly traps. These lure the adult flies onto the tape or into the trap and prevent them from flying away. Fly tape, like Rescue Fly Tape, is highly effective in enclosed areas and is popular in tack rooms and feed rooms. Scent-based fly traps, such as the RESCUE POP! Fly Traps, are frequently placed in an area away from horses, such as alongside the barn because they can have a strong odor. Meanwhile, attractant-based fly traps, for example, the Starbar Fly Stik Solid Fly Traps, can be hung near entrances to catch the flies before they enter the barn.

This summer, say goodbye to the flies and harmful insecticides but employing natural fly control strategies. By utilizing a variety of methods, from natural fly sprays and fly sheets to moisture control products and garlic supplements, you can build a well-rounded natural fly management plan, free from synthetic chemicals.

At the Cheshire Horse, we carry everything you need to safeguard your horses and livestock against pesky biting insects. If you have any questions regarding the natural fly control products that we carry or would like assistance choosing the best natural fly control methods for your farm, we encourage you to reach out to a member of our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff.