My daughter is fostering a retired race horse. He is very gentle, the problem is he gets bit by mosquitoes, flies and horse flies. Horse spray, human spray and Skin-So-Soft have been tried but don't work. He gets welts from the bites. Does anyone have a solution? She has to keep him in the barn with a bug zapper and fan on him but he really wants to be outside. He has broke through two fences trying to get away from the flies biting him and ran back into his stall.
Vicks vaporub works for me and my dog and I don't see why it wouldn't work for the horse, poor thing! I was around some horses last week and they were miserable from the flies. (07/09/2007)
By Susan M.
My horses graze peacefully with a face mask on, I tried looking through it and their vision is fine. No chemicals involved! I took it to my sewing machine to make it fit a bit better, I look out the window and their tails hang down most of the time, no switching. (07/09/2007)
I don't have Horses but there's a bag you can buy for the flies and it traps them like crazy. We have chickens and believe you me, they draw the flies even tho we're very clean, so I found these clear bags with a yellow plastic hanging top on them and bought 2. I hung them in a tree real close to the chicken house and the next afternoon, they were full of flies. Now we don't have but a few flies hanging around and that's because of the hot weather here in Arizona, they're looking for shade and water.
You can find the bags at the Hardware or feed store. I think I paid about $10.00, they are worth it. They smell to high Heaven and that draws the flies. They're also non-poisonous, too. As for mosquitoes and gnats, I use a Garlic mixture on my dogs and it keeps the Mosquitoes and gnats away. I found it online and ordered the powder. I also sprayed it all around my property and we're not bothered with them anymore. It also got rid of the Horse Flies. I can't remember the website but will look it up and post it later. (07/09/2007)
By Louise
When we had cows, I used Diatomaceous earth, it's what they use in filters of swimming pools. As we could not get real close to some of our cows, I could throw it on their backs and it kept the flies off. Not a poison and it should work for horses, also you can put a small amount in the grain and it will deter flies when it is expelled (07/10/2007)
By Lila Arroyo
I have tried Clear Vinegar and Dawn detergent, proportions unknown. I have been guessing, it seems to help on the horses I can spray. (07/12/2007)
By Mike
Sound like he's spent a lot of time indoors and this new life outside is something new to him. My horse tried to run from the rain when I first got her. Garlic helps, but feed too much and they get anemic. Skin So Soft doesn't last, as well as all the water based sprays. Even the oil based sprays that are nastier still don't last as long as they claim. The pour on stuff only last for 2 applications, then stops working altogether...very discouraging. I would spend the money once..get a fly sheet for him and a fly mask. He'll look like an alien standing out there, but he will have found happiness, especially where those allergic welts are concerned. (11/12/2007)
I use Dawn dish soap, white vinegar and water, equal parts. Put it in a spray container and spray away the pests! Of course, no eye areas... yikes! I also used it on young calves. Good luck! (03/27/2008)
By Chris
CITRONELLA, ROSEMARY, SUNFLOWER, AND EUCALYPTUS OIL MIX WITH 10 PARTS WATER
We also use another blend for horses that already have sores from the previous bites. (06/24/2008)
By Theasherbalcreations
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