At 18:54:04 on 16.07.09, johnthecob wrote:
Old question but topical at this time of year- any inventive ideas?- I have a horse and the flies annoy her, They fly and land on her face mostly. How can I get rid of them? without buying chemical sprays. [naturally]

At 21:02:50 on 16.07.09, Hal wrote:
Ive read somewhere in farm and equine magazine, it was an article on this big fly trap thing where you hang up but it is also a natural catcher. ive found a picture of it on google images http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/images/RedTopFlyTrap.gif Hope this helps :)

At 10:29:32 on 17.07.09, The Practitioner wrote:
I believe "Naf-Off" may be the answer John! Natural Animal Feeds produce a range of natural products for horses and if you want to use a non-chemical topical solution to your fly problem, "Naff-Off Extra" is worth a try. Alternatively, you could use a cotton fly fringe, which attaches either with or without a headcollar, or a face mask. These are all widely available at saddlery suppliers, but if wearing something like this, your horse would need to be checked at least twice daily, because they can slip, rub or become tangled.

At 13:05:01 on 17.07.09, Grassilakes wrote:
Have a look at Shootag on Hilton herbs site. Brilliant.

At 20:36:15 on 19.07.09, Angelalain wrote:
All our horse now wear face masks if its hot or the sun is out (at least at the moment, the flies here are awful, the worst for years) They are perfectly happy to wear them, and if you leave them off and then go down to the field with the masks in you hand they all come over clamouring to have them put on! They definitely help! Different styles and makes fit different horses incidently!

At 21:02:41 on 19.07.09, NMH wrote:
I too find masks invaluable at this time of year, my oldie gets sore eyes so quickly without

At 21:30:07 on 19.07.09, Sonnenjules wrote:
I turn mine out in her face mask, she hated it to begin with and used to get it off, but she soon learn't that it does give her relief from the flies and midges and now she puts her head down for me to put it on.

At 10:09:05 on 20.07.09, MyFunkyHorse wrote:
Funky gets really irrated eyes by flies :( so I've been turning him out in a fly mask that covers his eyes and ears he's a bugger for getting them off so Ive attached one to a field safe head collar.

At 10:18:19 on 20.07.09, redline wrote:
Blue can have really badly streaming eyes , so he wears a mask , which is usually lying in the field 10 minutes later.

At 11:23:57 on 20.07.09, Doris wrote:
There is only ONE product that works for my lot and that is THINK FLY from Brinicombe Equine. It's a very acceptable feed supplement; they all look fabulous on it and more to the point, the flies are repelled (wish they made some for riders!). We live on the edge of the Fens, there are lakes, ponds, drains, ditches, rivers and boggy areas - to say nothing of sewage ditches, cesspit overflows - so every biting insect abounds. We've ridden through thick clouds of flies by the side of lakes, and other than snorting a lot, the horses have not had a single fly land on them. And of course, as it works from the inside out, it doesn't wash off with rain or sweat! Gets my vote. I hate rugs, masks and fly veils - they are an accident waiting to happen and never seem to do more than irritate the horse more when a fly gets inside!
http://www.brinicombe-equine.co.uk/equine/products/supplements/think/think_fly_granules.php