Flies

[racaille]

It's so hot and sticky we have a plague of them, from little gnats to the new supersize mozzies and vast horseflies (taons). They are both in anti insect collars (huh! ). P is in a mask and I am using spray and gel. Won't eat garlic chips.

Any other ideas?

[kitcat]

Marmite sarnies? I don't know if you get marmite over there but some people swear by it.

Forgot to say that that is for both you and your neds

[racaille]

I LURVE Marmite! (V expensive here but can get it). But I thought horses weren't supposed to eat soft bread? Is it OK?

[kitcat]

It seems a favorite on the HHO web site, 1 slice of bread slathered with marmite and folded in half and fed to your horse. I don't know about bread being bad for them to be honest.

[fleabitten]

Havent tried marmite but ive heard its suppsed to work. I dont know about bread being bad for them either, they seem to like it though.

[fleabitten]

What about a fly sheet?

[solomon]

Marmite mixed with a bit of hot water and added to chaff? We are using masks and fly spray but it's a losing battle. Trials taking place with one of the girls on our yard using diluted dettol on her pony!

[racaille]

Flea, I think they would boil to death in fly sheets!!!! ;D

But I've been able to let the chickens out again (got some new ones and they have to stay in for a while) and they are champion fly eaters, darting around the horses' legs to snap up the taons!

Recommend chickens as fly control!

[fleabitten]

Now thats an interesting method rac! ;D

[haffyfan]

I was always taught never to feed bread as it can cause colic? I also know loads of people who do though, I also know someone who swears by marmite sandwiches for sweet itch.....might try putting some in my boys feeds actually (thanks sol) but can imagine Murph's disgust already!

I think it is a loosing battel to be honest...mine have masks on...well murph does and harry removes his the second I leave...they have full neck rugs with belly piece but they get far too hot in them and Harry is also keen on removing his rug, he's only wore the new one a handful of times and it's already holier than a string vest. Murph tends to get in the shelter if they get too bad (he's especially sensative and must smell/taste either good/bad as gets far more than Harry does around him.

[brigadier]

Interesting re the marmite!!! may give it a try.

[florence]

Well, I never heard of marmite as a fly repellent before, let alone a remedy for sweet itch! I'm definitely going to try it.

[Blonde Donkey]

I find having a regular shower usually works well at keeping the flies at bay .

Marmite sandwiches are very good and the horses tend to love them. We've found that most fly repellants on the market are really rubbish (NAF is just that lol).

[rainbow]

yeah they are being particually annoying and out in force atm. Rosie has a fly mask but tongith apprently she had a flie in her mask and was desperatly trying to get it out bless her. parrenty dunking her head in the water tossing it kicking it, friend could her it buzzinf so god knows how it got in!

Yeah i use and citronella spray but i agree that i think most things just dont work! The deet stuff is suppose to be good but havnt used it.

[kitcat]

Apparently you can use brewers yeast instead of Marmite as it is the yeast that is the important bit - it's much cheaper but doesn't sound half as much fun as feeding marmite sarnies

[spotti]

I swear by Lincoln 'Ditch The Itch' spray - the only stuff that seems to help keep the flies at bay. Also long fringes are good, as are long manes, but if you have a horsey with a short fringe and/or mane then fly fringes and masks seem ok, the shires full face ones that cover the nose seem to work

I had a friend last year who swore by marmite sarnies - her mare loved them! Only ever used to give her stale bread though, and used to wet it slightly before feeding so it didn't swell up in her gut and cause colic.
Another friend did as Sol suggested and put marmite in her sweet itch-prone geldings food, and combined with his boet fly rug and tones of fly spray, he seemed quite comfortable...obviously I can't say it was the marmite that helped, but he liked it anyway! And the sight if him in his boet was hilarious - he looked Iike a giant fly! No wonder the flies stayed away: they were probably terrified on the huge fly monster!!!