The colder months may be gone, but now, the flies are here… great. Having horses comes with challenges in every season, and it’s our responsibility to be prepared to keep our horses comfortable. Aside from the basics, like fly spray, there are a few other things we can do to reduce the stress of fly season.
What to Watch For
The start of fly season comes with many challenges: hoof issues, weight loss, and irritation both under saddle and on the ground from our equine partners. These things can all share a common cause: bugs. Stomping on the dry dirt causes cracks in the hoof over time, running from flies causes irritation and weight loss, and certain bugs, such as ticks and mosquitoes, even open your horse up to a whole plethora of diseases. The most common bugs you will likely see are black flies and house flies. These are the small flies that gather in your horse’s eyes, where they sweat, and on their legs. Some areas are more prone to horse flies, the larger, more aggressive fly that will bite and draw blood. Horses are generally more sensitive to the bite of a horse fly and will have a more adverse reaction.
Another kind of fly to keep an eye out for is bot flies. Bot flies are generally less noticeable than the other kinds of flies mentioned, but they will lay eggs on your horse’s legs or flank that are more of an issue. When horses itch themselves, they can ingest the tiny eggs, where they develop inside the intestinal tract of the horse. Generally, this will not cause issues for the horse, but they can damage the intestinal tract in serious cases.
Ticks are common year-round in many parts of the US, but become especially prevalent in the warmer months. They will hide in the inside of the ear, thick manes, and the base of tails, so it’s important to routinely check down to the skin in these areas to make sure there are no ticks hiding. If there are, they can be carefully removed with tweezers, ensuring the whole insect and not just the body is removed. If the head remains, it can cause illness such as Lyme disease.
Protective Gear
Fly masks are one of the more commonly used pieces of fly gear, so they are easy to find in many different styles, sizes, and colors. Most will also have some form of UV protection to keep your horse’s eyes safe from the blazing sun. Some will have a higher level of UV protection, so if your horse has known eye problems, it would be best to start there! Fly masks also come in different styles, such as with ear coverings, no ears, long nose, standard nose, and so on. Horses with pink skin are more prone to sunburn, so a fly mask that covers more of the face, or applying a mineral sunscreen prior to sun exposure, may be more ideal.
Fly sheets are a good way to protect your horse from flies all over the body, as well as provide more UV protection. Some horses are more sensitive to flies or have allergies that make them appreciate a fly sheet more than others.
In addition to fly sheets, some horse owners will also use fly boots when horses are turned out. Fly boots are generally made of the same material as fly masks, and Velcro around the bottom of the leg. While they don’t offer complete protection against flies that congregate around the legs, they significantly reduce the stomping, which in turn helps maintain the integrity of the hoof throughout fly season.
In addition to fly gear used when the horses are in the pasture, there are things you can use to protect your horse while riding, such as a fly bonnet. Fly bonnets will protect the ears from flies and help your horse stay focused while working. They can also be a style choice for some riders! If your horse is especially sensitive, there are riding-safe fly masks available as well that will fit under bridles or halters; however, they are not legal for competition, so refer to the USEF Rulebook (DR121.8) or ask a Technical Delegate for fly prevention guidance to avoid elimination at competition.
Bug Prevention
One of the most important things to have on hand during fly season is fly spray. Fly spray comes in many different formulas, and some may work better for your horse than others. If your horse is prone to hives or fungus, choosing an organic fly spray might work better. In addition to fly spray, there are insect-repelling ointments, such as SWAT, that will protect open wounds or scrapes from flies and the bacteria they carry.
The start of bug season also comes with annual deworming, when advised by your vet. Another preventative is tick medication, such as Equi-Spot. This is a liquid formula designed to provide long-term resistance to ticks and other blood-sucking insects, such as mosquitoes. Most horse owners will apply this at the start and peak of the season, but it is also available as a year-round application if your area is particularly high in these insects.
Another way to prevent bugs from developing, such as bot flies, is with a bot fly knife. This tool was created specifically to scrape the bot fly eggs off your horse’s legs. They can be very stubborn, so they may not come off with traditional grooming tools.
Keeping Your Horse Happy
Overall, your horse’s happiness matters most. If none of these tips seem like they would work well for you, it’s important to test things out to see if there’s a better solution. If you notice your horse seems uncomfortable or agitated by the bugs, maybe some of these tricks will help out!
