Riders often look forward to the mild season to finally ride their horse and enjoy the excellent weather. But the returning heat announces the return of the flies! Commonly known as a “horse fly” or “horsefly,” the insect most harmful to horses is this large fly from the Tabanidae family, which bites to feed on the blood of its victim.
To fully enjoy horseback riding, there are several solutions to protect both your horse and yourself from the nasty horsefly bites. Here are our best horse fly products and tips.
Horsefly blanket
Horsefly rugs are a great way to protect your horse from the onslaught of insects. In the summer, make sure to pick one that’s light and comfortable, in the fabric that breathes. Also, consider blankets that offer UV protection. This type of blanket can be a good idea if your horse also suffers from eczema, for example.
Fly masks for horses
To protect horses from flies on the head, face and ears, opt for a fly mask. To offer unparalleled comfort to your horse, choose a model with a hoop above the brow bone, which will free his field of vision.
Horsefly collar
Less bulky than the blanket and the mask, the collar keeps flies away from your horse. Opt for a slow-release collar, which you will put on your horse’s neck from April and leave it in place until the end of the season.
This type of collar must be worn at all times to ensure the proper distribution of the product on the horse’s coat.
Homemade fly repellent recipe for horses
Commercial repellents are often very expensive, especially when you have more than one horse. Here is a homemade anti-fly horse recipe, effective and using no toxic products:
- 20 drops of tea tree essential oil
- 20 drops of lavender essential oil
- 20 drops of white thyme essential oil
- 200 milliliters of water
Mix everything and pour it into a spray bottle. This trick is effective against horse flies but also against horseflies or deer flies if you prefer.
Horsefly spray
Here is a natural horse fly repellent recipe:
- 2 liters of water
- 10 bags of lime green tea
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- 1 peeled onion
- 10 whole cloves
- 1 lemon cut into slices with the skin on
Put everything in a pot and bring to a boil. Please turn off the heat, and let it infuse for 1 hour. Then, filter and put the repellent in a spray bottle.
Homemade fly repellent for horses
This recipe combines essential oils that are naturally repellent to insects, including flies:
- 4 liters of water
- 20 ml of anise essential oil
- 30 ml of eucalyptus essential oil
- 20 ml of mint essential oil
- 30 ml of clove essential oil
- 30 ml of cedarwood essential oil
- 10ml lemongrass essential oil
- 1 ampoule of vitamin E (to ensure better preservation of the product)
Mix well and pour into a spray bottle. Do not keep more than 3 months.
Grandma’s horse fly remedy
This anti-fly trick for horses is straightforward to do:
- 1 half-liter of red wine vinegar
- 1 liter of water
- 3 drops of lavender essential oil
Mix the two ingredients, and apply the solution to your horse’s coat.
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