Sick of flies this yr

[vicklynn]

Ya know, I started out a few yrs back, buying Bronco fly spray, it worked, then I started mixing it with some home made stuff, vinegar, Skin so soft, pine sol. It worked, then I started buying better stuff, got off the bronco and mix period. Then last yr I bought Tri(stuff)expensive, Good stuff, really did the trick AND lasted.
Well, I couldnt find it in the gallon here, so I opted for DuraGuard by the gallon, also Good stuff.
This yr, I dont care if you poured that stuff on directly(I dont, just saying)and it WONT keep the flies off.
I have to spray no less than every other day.
Im am sure the humidity has alot to do with it.
I havent felt it so icky sticky muggy and gross so early in the yr.
It feels like August already....UGH

I put up my fly bags!! Love them babies, they are filling up!!

[FredRock]

Ew I feel your pain. I know why it's worse here though- the manure management here is awful.

I've found that switching off a natural spray and a long lasting spray works well. Usually I switch off brands whenever I run out.

[gaited07]

I noticed that since I put my horses on a garlic diet it has helped with flies biting them. I've even noticed a smaller population of flies in their stall areas.

I used to use the apple cider vinegar which helped somewhat with flies but my horses would shed like crazy and the flies was still there (not bad but not as well as the garlics results:) )

The garlic that I purchase is from a restaurant which is the same thing as we eat but in commercial size. So 7 lbs cost me $15.00 verse 3 lbs at $45.00 which has the title "for horses"

[Petra]

I noticed that since I put my horses on a garlic diet it has helped with flies biting them. I've even noticed a smaller population of flies in their stall areas.

I used to use the apple cider vinegar which helped somewhat with flies but my horses would shed like crazy and the flies was still there (not bad but not as well as the garlics results:) )

The garlic that I purchase is from a restaurant which is the same thing as we eat but in commercial size. So 7 lbs cost me $15.00 verse 3 lbs at $45.00 which has the title "for horses"

I use the same kind. I buy it in Sam's club. It helps my horses too. I should probably start eating garlic myself lol. To bad it would make me stink. I'm allergic to bug spray and the mosquitoes leave the horses alone, but seems like they are ready to suck the last drop of blood out of me. I'm surprised I'm not anemic yet. I'm so bitten!
I hate mosquitoes and the biting flies!

However it was so hot in here lately they only come out in the evenings (as soon as I put the saddle on my horse; I bet they are drooling over my blood all day).
Through the day the only flies I found were the ones hiding on the bottom of my zucchini and squash leaves.

I agree Vicky, it is unusually hot for this time of year. We had 98F with 83% humidity through the day. I got suburned by the time I watered my garden.
Makes me all sticky as soon as I walk out of the door.
I don't even want to know what kind of weather is waiting for us in August. :eek:

[gabhainn]

I hear ya Vicky nothing is working this year, I sprayed Pyrhana directly on a bunch of flies and they didnt even move, and those big a$$ horseflies sheesh they are bullet proof I think........Kevin

[natisha]

Aw, you guys (Kevin) need to come see me. It's low humidity & 75 with a mild breeze, after storms yesterday afternoon/evening.
It will get into the 80's later, then a low of 56 overnight.
I saw a fly the other day
I'm only bragging because this is the only time of the year I can.

[Gliderider]

UGH ! I hear yeah that files are terrible here this year to. The only fly spray I found this year that works some is DEO-Lotion its a natural spray. Its made in Germany.

[vicklynn]

Aw, you guys (Kevin) need to come see me. It's low humidity & 75 with a mild breeze, after storms yesterday afternoon/evening.
It will get into the 80's later, then a low of 56 overnight.
I saw a fly the other day
I'm only bragging because this is the only time of the year I can.
Ya know, you didnt Have to come rub that in our face...ya snot;)

[natisha]

Ya know, you didnt Have to come rub that in our face...ya snot;)OH YES I DID~~~~I love you too :)

[vicklynn]

OH YES I DID~~~~I love you too :)
:hysterical:

[KCandAllegro'sMom]

Ya know, you didnt Have to come rub that in our face...ya snot;)

But I bet the winters there are way worse....I guess there has to be a trade off somewhere.

I'm still looking for a place where the climate is mild year round ...does such a place exist?

[Buckpoco]

My horses won't eat the garlic. Do you think you could mix it in water and put it on them. Sounds gross but I have a jar of garlic sitting here.
So far here the flies haven't been that bad...the horseflies however are awful.

[BlaiseGlaze]

That's just because you're not using Tri Tec 14!
best. flyspray. ever.

[vicklynn]

That's just because you're not using Tri Tec 14!
best. flyspray. ever.
Even that is not working this yr so I hear.
Thats what I started buying last yr, but can only find it in the quart.
The DuraGuard is just as good!!

[gabhainn]

That's just because you're not using Tri Tec 14!
best. flyspray. ever.
Doesnt. Even. Faze. Them......Kevin

[Steelhorserider]

We are using the disposable fly traps and spraying--can't remember what it is but it is medium price and in orange bottle--I have hung up 5 traps and already had to replace one and it is only June...what a long summer this is going to be.

[AppyLady]

We don't have a big fly problem here. At least not yet. I don't know if it's still too early for them, or if my fly predators are doing their job.

[shewasmyshadow]

I have to agree with Natisha. The flies are surprisingly light this year. It's weird. Usually they are kind of bad by now. It's been good temp wise too. I'm not complaining!! I love the stuff Kevin mentioned too-sorry can't spell it though.

[Peggy Sue]

Vicki Valley Vet buy 3 get one free :) find a horsey friend to go in on it with you LOL that is what I did but still having to use it about every other day instead of once a week like I normally do

[vicklynn]

We are using the disposable fly traps and spraying--can't remember what it is but it is medium price and in orange bottle--I have hung up 5 traps and already had to replace one and it is only June...what a long summer this is going to be.
I know DuraGuard is in an orange bottle, well the gallon is, I put it in my Tri Tec quart bottle. Mid range,,,NOT even, its just a dollar or 2 less than Tri Tec here, but I can get the DuraGuard in the gallon, so I buy it.

Tri Tec, DuraGuard, none of it is working.
I also use the fly bags and they are filling up quick.
Yes, a very long summer we are going to have....UGH
Its not even August yet.

Poor Myst, I went to bring her up off pasture and feed her, she has been rubbing her belly and has a bump underneath now.
I am going to give her a really nice rinse off tomorrow to cool her off. The humidity is getting to her. Damn flies got under her fly mask and made her eye water too. She is ok, just needs a good bath, ect. I think Im going to put some Pouridon on her tomorrow after her bath. Maybe that will help.
Hopefully the bump will go away soon.

[vicklynn]

Vicki Valley Vet buy 3 get one free :) find a horsey friend to go in on it with you LOL that is what I did but still having to use it about every other day instead of once a week like I normally do
PS, I have no horsey friends in the area. The ones that I know are cheap anyway. Ill try to find a buy one get one free or something.
I still have 1/2 gallon, need to fill the quart though. Im good for now. Ill use the Pouridon and the spray, see if that helps.

[Peggy Sue]

well then keep all four gallons for yourself and be set for a LONG while LOL

[vicklynn]

well then keep all four gallons for yourself and be set for a LONG while LOL
Oh ya, thats happening....NOT....LOL

[FredRock]

You could put SWAT on her belly, that might help with the flies there.

Cheyenne gets flys that bite areas of exposed skin on her tummy, so you'll see her actually laying down and scratching on the ground. I take SWAT and put it on the exposed areas- no more itching! It works a lot better than fly spray since it definitely goes on, whereas flyspray may or may not get where it should. I like to put SWAT on the face and in shaved ears too- flies stay away while riding.

"Green" sprays are working the best this year. I've used Equisect, Nature's Defense, and the new Ultrashield Green with good results. My barn buddy has had no such luck though.

[vicklynn]

The swat may help on her belly, Ill try that. Thanks!

As far as green products, with the heat and humidity were having, the flies would roll over laughing at us. We are dealing with August/September weather already and its only June. I will keep my iced watered down lemonade at my side all summer long. When I live in WA, I heard about people in MO dropping like flies due to heat stroke. I dehydrated 2 weeks a go, or 1, dont remember, but thats not happening again. Poor Myst, I went out to see her, she is not happy with the weather, you can tell she is just uncomfortable(heat wise). Ill spray her down really good tomorrow, maybe shampoo her too, either way, she will feel more comfortable.

[PatriotsDreamer]

tell me about it vick, flies are HORRIBLE here in illinois too. i used duragaurd and endure before, but they both seemed to not work for me this year, however i was told to try happy horse( it was developed in southern mo by some rednecks then bought out by a bigger company) by my bfs mom( shes used it 15 years), i cant believe my eyes but its worked best so far, and good new is for a GALLON is 44.95 at rural king now. iv been having to hose poor dreamer down everyday as hes sweaty from head to toe to get him to cool down AND hes had fans on but hes turned out all day , no shade trees , in the middle of a corn field pasture, but he can go in his stall to cool down if he wants. poor guy still literally drips with sweat.

[vicklynn]

PD, thanks for the info!
Looked up Happy Horse, I see they are in ST Louis, MO. They dont sell direct, and I looked up rural king, they dont show the product online and we dont have a rural king around here.
Ill call around and see if anyone here carries it and buy a quart. Cant hurt to give it a try.
Of course, I will try the Pouridon and Duraguard after her rinse off today. She is going to love a good wet cold scrub Im sure.

[OwnedByOurHorses]

down here is south texas flies are always terrible this works great for us. Simplify feed thru fly control along with using war paint, plus have flies bags hanging everywhere.

I last year we used the predator with great success though with the amount of rain we have had this year and are still excepting the company advised us that they would not work during wet seasons.

For those that are composting the decaying manure creates a lovely home for flies. plant garlic around you compost site. Just make sure the horses are not able to graze near the site.( they will eat the plant)

another thing that works is this. Burn your manure. in our riding only pasture which is also where our stalls are keep we burn everything that comes out of there. Every morning that stalls are cleaned it's dumped in a pile and burned. Just remember that manure will burn a very long time. so the pile will stay hot for days. make sure to do this where children and animal can get to it.

[vicklynn]

plus have flies bags hanging everywhere.

I do that already.


make sure to do this where children and animal can get to it.
REALLY? Do you have kid and animal issues?:hysterical:

I know you forgot a word, but damn, that was funny!!!

[OwnedByOurHorses]

I do that already.


REALLY? Do you have kid and animal issues?:hysterical:

I know you forgot a word, but damn, that was funny!!!

Can ya tell I haven't had enough coffee yet...

[gabhainn]

Oddly enough today, while I was riding, I got to talking to the farrier. He sprayed down all the horses with El Cheapo Bronco fly spray from TSC and it WORKED!!!! So its off to tsc I go.......Kevin

[vicklynn]

Oddly enough today, while I was riding, I got to talking to the farrier. He sprayed down all the horses with El Cheapo Bronco fly spray from TSC and it WORKED!!!! So its off to tsc I go.......Kevin
No Way! I still have some. Maybe Ill give that a try.