Fly Control For Horses

Did you know that flies in the barn or trailer are not only pesky but can also be a danger to your horse?

Culprits such as the stable fly and horn fly are biting flies that actually pierce a horse’s skin to feed on blood. The more tender and exposed skin of a horse’s abdomen and lower limbs are especially vulnerable to attack from biting flies.

Even houseflies and face flies, while they may not bite, will feed on mucus secretions or moisture from the eyes, nose, genitalia or even open wounds on a horse. Houseflies will often congregate on manure, wet straw or garbage and can readily carry whatever diseases may be present there directly to your horse.

Gnats near standing water can also be an irritation for horses. They may attack horses anywhere from the mane and tail to the abdomen, legs or face.

A variety of diseases and complications can be caused by these pests. These include eyeworms, summer sores, equine infectious anemia virus, hypersensitivity, pigeon fever and even parasites and their resulting complications. To protect your horse, we recommend trying a combination of methods until you find what works for your environment and your horse.

Suggested Fly Control Methods

If flies have nothing to feed on, they won’t be a problem. While it’s not possible to eliminate everything that might attract flies, managing manure and following proper sanitation practices is the first and most important aspect of fly control.

Things that can help include removal of wet hay or straw as well as excess feed along with anything else that could trap moisture and act as a breeding ground for flies. Keeping a tight lid on any garbage receptacles is also very effective in warding off flies. When disposing of manure, take it as far away from the horse’s stable and feeding areas as possible. Spreading the manure out for a quicker dry time will also help control fly populations.

Check for any areas that may be accumulating water. Round bales of hay are notorious for soaking up moisture. Keep any vegetated or grassy areas mowed on a regular basis to eliminate shady areas where flies can hide and breed.

Distribute fly traps or fly spray systems throughout your barn or trailer. You may also use insecticides directly on surfaces where flies may land.

If managing flies in your horse’s environment isn’t enough, you may try methods with your horse itself. Placing a fan in front of your horse to blow flies away can be very effective (with the added boost of keeping your horse cool if it’s a hotter day). Fly masks for your horse, boots or sheets, and creams or fly repellent sprays can all help protect your horse from attacking flies.

It’s Worth It For A Healthy Horse

At the end of the day, it’s your horse’s health and well-being that matters most. Whatever measures you may need to take to protect your horse not only from irritation and discomfort but from diseases and sores or wounds caused by flies and gnats, it’s worth it. Even if it means spending an extra 5 to 10 minutes in the barn each day to remove manure and wet straw more quickly, this small but significant effort on your part can save your horse from a lot of issues and save you from a call to the vet.

Take our word for it and invest in your horse’s well-being in even the small ways. It won’t hurt that you’ll get to enjoy the side benefits of having fewer flies buzzing around your horse’s stall or trailer.

Source: Trails West News Release