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Post by fleabitten on Apr 29, 2008 16:06:53 GMT
Ok here is some tips from my book called 'Insect Protection for Horses'. Was reading through to find a recipe for fly spray which someone wanted in the horsey chat section and thought I would share some tips while I was at it! Some of these tips you might do anyway!
Prevention and Protection through stable and field hygiene and feeding.
* Muck out your stable/shelter every day and skip out regularly during the day.
* Keep your feed mangers and water buckets clean so the flies dont buzz round them. You can wash them out with lemon juice or vinegar mixed with water.
* Poo pick the field twice a week (every day is better)
* Keep your muck heap tidy - you could put a plastic sheet over it to keep the flies away.
* Cover mucky patches and puddles with sand to keep midges away.
* Spray lavender oil on the walls of your stable.
* Hang sticky fly papers in the stable, hang a fly trap or something similar.
* Did you know that elder bushes have a strong smell that permanently drives away insects.
* Make sure your horse has shelter in the field.
* Fields which are located close to rivers or forests are prone to lots of insects.
*Feeding garlic will help repel insects.
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Post by racaille on Apr 29, 2008 16:59:06 GMT
He he, I like the joke of fly protection tips from fleabitten! Our paddocks are next to a big river and flies and midges are always a problem. Some of the (more sensible) horses wear masks but I swear by Emouchine gel. I daresay you can get it in UK too. It works brilliantly and Paco is never overly bothered by flies. Triangle the shettie gets garlic chips (Decathlon) but I can't say they are 100% effective. I can't get Emouchine on him very often ( I do Paco most days) as he is such a beggar to catch. He rips off ear bonnets in seconds  |
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abi
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
Posts: 593
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Post by abi on Apr 29, 2008 20:53:18 GMT
twas me wanting fly spray recepie, much appreciated thankyou. I like the tips, up goes your karma!
also, leave some cobwebs in shelters/stables (not too many as theyre a fire hazard) as they catch some flies x
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Post by salexis on Apr 29, 2008 22:06:10 GMT
hmmm OH always moaning that stable tidier than I keep the house. Can just imagine his reaction if I start spraying lavender oil in the stable too - never live that one down!
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Post by duckles on Apr 30, 2008 14:36:23 GMT
I love the lavender oil sprayed on the stables!! Really like that- good tip- can just imagine my horse's reaction!
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ceej
Administrator 
im back.... :)
Posts: 5,363
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Post by ceej on Apr 30, 2008 14:44:57 GMT
I ma liking the lavender too! Be careful with the use of fly paper - bats get stuck on them - awful sight...  |
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Post by racaille on Apr 30, 2008 16:58:43 GMT
Talking of bats ... we have nests of them in the roof space of our open-air terrace and they are quite a sight in the evening as they all swoop out to chase insects (good boys!) But they will also skim the pool for a sip of water and last year I was cleaning out one of the skimmers and there was a poor bedraggled bat in there. Preseumably he's got it wrong when swooping down and been sucked in. He'd climbed out of the water and was hanging onto the pipe but when I tried to save him the little beggar tried to bite me! So if all they eat are teeny weeny insects, how come bats have teeth like a piranha???  |
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Post by fleabitten on May 1, 2008 19:29:01 GMT
ha ha racaille! I never noticed the joke - fly protection tips from fleabitten! must have been sleeping!
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Post by salexis on May 2, 2008 21:39:13 GMT
racaille - south of france, open air terrace, pool... sigh.... I so need a holiday, I am sat here green with envy!
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Post by kateflashy on May 3, 2008 7:15:30 GMT
i use the emouchine concentrate in the field but got a citronella one for riding cos cant stand the smell of the emouchine salexisj i aint got a pool but we go in the river for a dip www.labastidette.iowners.net/ |
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Post by salexis on May 3, 2008 20:58:23 GMT
kateflashy your gite looks lovely.
My mum has a place not too far from you, she is in the Lot, in a tiny village called Loupiac, near Villeneuve and Villefranche-de-Rouergue and (why are there so many villefranches in France!)
The area is absolutely stunning, I've been there a couple of times now as there is a fantastic riding place just 'up the road' from your gite in the Averyon.
My mum is retiring there to live in September. My OH and I are already staying in her place in August, but I shall keep details of your gite for when we all go to visit once she's moved into her place full time!
I so wish I was there now, I just checked out the lovely warm weather on the weather bit of your website! Great website btw, the only other thing I would look for is proximity to the nearest horse riding place, but that's me, a bit horse obsessed...
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Post by rainbow on May 14, 2008 14:43:21 GMT
did u say there was some fly spray recipes somewhere? i wouldnt mind if anyone has got any, could u please tell me  |
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lucinda
Whipper Snapper
We are their carers not their masters
Posts: 138
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Post by lucinda on May 14, 2008 14:57:09 GMT
I ma liking the lavender too! Be careful with the use of fly paper - bats get stuck on them - awful sight... Ohh Ceej.. Thats really tickled me ! I gonna have to go change my tena lady now..naughty Ceej ;D Luc x |
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Post by kateflashy on May 14, 2008 15:44:08 GMT
kateflashy your gite looks lovely. The area is absolutely stunning, I've been there a couple of times now as there is a fantastic riding place just 'up the road' from your gite in the Averyon. My mum is retiring there to live in September. My OH and I are already staying in her place in August, but I shall keep details of your gite for when we all go to visit once she's moved into her place full time! I so wish I was there now, I just checked out the lovely warm weather on the weather bit of your website! Great website btw, the only other thing I would look for is proximity to the nearest horse riding place, but that's me, a bit horse obsessed... the place in averyon is it parc de combelles at rodez been there a few times to watch jumping lovely place |
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