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Trail riding and biting flies

11K views 25 replies 17 participants last post by  Saddlebag 
#1 ·
So... we went on trail two days in a row, and both times, my (otherwise mannerly and gentle) mare started half-rearing and -- today only -- bucking! I put fly wipe on before we left. We were out for about 45 minutes in cooler woods, on a shady old road that is LOVELY.

So, when she bucked, I really got after her. Smacked her neck and told her to stop. She settled down after the fly left (my husband rides his bike with us and got it).

What do you do when a horse is reacting substantially to biting flies? On the way home she got TOTALLY flustered: stopping, refusing to walk, and then crab walking when she did go forward, stooping to try to bite it, exaggerated kicks under her belly to try to get it off, etc. Do I end the ride early, get off and try to deal with the fly, force her to carry on as if not bothered?

I feel like her focus on the flies is really undoing otherwise good training rides. Thoughts?
 
#2 ·
Some horses are just more sensitive to fly bites than others.

My TWH gelding absolutely hates those big, nasty horseflies that come out around late summer. And, unfortunately, they seem to LOVE him and are drawn to him like a magnet even when we are riding with a large group.

I've been on some rides where I felt like I should just turn around and ride backwards in the saddle for as much as I kept having to turn and smack those flies off his rump. He's not bad. . .he doesn't throw a total tantrum or buck, but it's a miserable time for him.:-(

One thing you might consider is Fly Armor - either the bands that fit onto your tack, or the kind that can be tied into the mane and tail. I've found that they are the most effective thing, especially in hot weather, because unlike fly sprays and spot-on fly control, the Fly Armor actually works BETTER the hotter it gets, and it doesn't "sweat off" or wash away in a stream crossing. I started using the mane tie-in band late last summer and it really worked well for us.

Aside from that, I don't like my horse to get too dependent on me to take care of his fly issues. Yes, I will swat them away, but he doesn't get to cut his work short just because he's reacting to the flies.

I expect my horse to stay focused on what he is doing and where he is putting his feet when we're out riding. You may want to consider a fly bonnet, or rump rug, or some other more physical/less chemical methods of fly control for your trail rides in order to keep your horse's mind off the bugs, and on you.
 
#3 ·
Like was said, some horses hate them worse than others, and one of mine only has to HEAR the giant black divebombers and he starts to jig. THere are several different types of fly sheets that you can ride with, some are like a quarter sheet, and now there is one that is pretty much like a full fly sheet. I have a neck covering one and a butt covering one, but I never use it, since I am honestly more afraid on a bee getting under it......or it getting caught on brush. I did get a new fly mask for trails, again there are several kinds, and that helps with the head shaking, which I hate.
Athletic Spandex Fly Mask in Equestrian Equipment
 
#6 ·
We laugh that my geldings name is phly, and attracts flies like no other. Especially at the croup which turns him into bucking stock.
But after a few years, he's learned that I use my hat to smash em on his rump and doesn't flinch at all or even move.
I've found swat and bacon grease the best defense for the common sensitive spots.
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#7 ·
I went on a two day trail ride and my horse was acting antsy on the second day. I thought it was flys, turned out the taller grassy areas had chiggers and she was reacting to them. When we returned home they had bit her legs and under her saddle pad. Out of four horses she is the one that had the worst reaction from the chiggers' bites.
 
#8 ·
I went on a two day trail ride and my horse was acting antsy on the second day. I thought it was flys, turned out the taller grassy areas had chiggers and she was reacting to them. When we returned home they had bit her legs and under her saddle pad. Out of four horses she is the one that had the worst reaction from the chiggers' bites.
 
#9 ·
Even the best of "my horse never bucks" horses have trouble staying sane when one of these is drilling into them. That ugly-disgusting-looking snout is bigger than a vaccination needle:-(



The best you can do, is to start building a rapport with your horse to make her understand, you're going to reach back there on her butt and kill the fly. I won't smash them because they're too big and icky but, I do take great pleasure in pulling their wings off and letting them crawl around until something gets them:-p

Chiggerbites, egads hobbyhorse, I haven't run into that one. Ticks yes, chiggers on my horses - I wish I hadn't read that:hide:

At home, I don't have much of an issues with the green deer flies or those big black horse flies. Howeverrrrr, the other day, I saw two deer flies land on one of my horses in the barn and the tub fan was aimed right at him:shock:

I've never seen the big flies follow the horses into the barn before. With all the rain many of us have had, I'm afraid this is going to be a year for flies:cry:
 
#10 ·
We have been plagued with the green horse fly here in Northwest Fl. I usually see 2 or 3 flying around each of the horses to the point that one of the other horses tries biting them in mid flight. I keep a small spray bottle with flying insect repellent to douse them while riding.

Here is a pic of what I'm talking about and they are the same size as the usual dark colored horse fly.
Green Bird Leaf Parakeet Organism
 
#15 ·
We have been plagued with the green horse fly here in Northwest Fl. I usually see 2 or 3 flying around each of the horses to the point that one of the other horses tries biting them in mid flight. I keep a small spray bottle with flying insect repellent to douse them while riding.

Here is a pic of what I'm talking about and they are the same size as the usual dark colored horse fly.
View attachment 214010
"Northwest FL" I'm sure they wouldn't have much trouble finding their way to southern Middle Tennessee <sigh>

Please keep those ugly looking things down your way. Maybe you could hook up one of those big vent fans that go into the side of a cow barn, and blow them into the Gulf????

Geez, they are more nightmarish looking than the black ones:cry:

Storybook, it's a crap shoot when it comes to getting off or staying on, out in the woods. I've done both, just depends on the situation. If I can twist around and get the fly on the butt, or wrap around my horse's neck to get it on the chest, I stay on. If not, I get off and do some major killing.

Your horse learns what's what - believe me. 9 horses out of ten won't think you getting off is an "aha!" moment, if you're engaged in fly killing.

Now, if you get off because you're in a panic attack over something the horse did, yes they will pick up on that in a skinny minute:)

I don't sheet my horses in the summer but, I may end up making this summer an exception, if those d**n deer flies coming right into the barn (and I didn't have the lights on:( mean anything:cry:
 
#13 ·
LOVE the glove idea. Grace (my mare) does not like the spray bottle, so I use an old rag to wipe her down and put on her fly mask every morning, and I wipe her every evening. I always wipe her between her hind legs, all up in there. I wiped her before the rides as well, naturally.

It's up under her belly that the biting flies drive her CRAZY... up under, on her soft teats. Even in the field, she's very sensitive to flies, which is why I am diligent about using the wipe daily AM and PM. On the trail, the sweat obviously attracts them... and seemingly, mostly "down under" her. I really didn't notice any flies on her butt, where I could get them.

So here's my big question: "Is getting off to deal with flies a good idea?" She's going nuts under me, and I'm in the middle of a trail. What to do? I don't getting off to shoo flies is wise, because 1) they come right back and 2) over time, won't she get into all kinds of mischief when she realizes that behaviors can get me off?

On the other hand, to force her into working when she's really being bitten in some tender places seems cruel and unusual. So, "fly fixes" (sheets, wipes, etc.) aside, if flies get through whatever precautions I take, how do I best deal with her bahaviors, do you you think? :-(
 
#14 ·
Diaper rash cream is also good to use to protect the sheath/teats. It also lasts longer than fly spray. Swat works too of course.

For me, I address the bucking or what have you. It's okay if my horse lets me know that he's unhappy, it's not okay if he puts me in danger.
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#17 ·
We've got deer flies (I think that's what they are) early this year and they drive my horses mad - some more than others but the ******s really do hurt when they bite you so cant blame them for getting upset
Loads and loads of spray, protective gear, if we get in a bad spot we get out of it as fast as we can. Heavily treed areas (yay Connecticut!!) are worse than open land for attracting them
We carry long leafy twigs off trees and swish them away while we're riding along but some horses get nervous about that so you have to desensitize them to it first
 
#18 ·
We've owned and trail ridden horses since 1985. I live in IL which is particularly buggy in the summer, as I'm sure that WV is, too. She is probably reacting to Horse Flies. I have been bitten many times by all the flies that love horses, and the horse flies REALLY bite hard, so be sympathetic.
I suggest that you bathe her before trailering for a ride, and use SWAT under her eyes, on her ears and ANY fly sensitive places, plus use the strongest and best fly repellent ALL OVER. Make sure that you only use ACV on her face ABOVE her eyes bc fly repellent that weeps into their eyes can sting. I use gloves or a rag to put fly repellent on my horse's faces. If you have crocheted ear covers (?--don't remember what they're called, sorry) those are effective, too.
If you're riding Western you could attach one of those fly whisks (cotton) to hang from the cinch.
 
#19 ·
If you're riding Western you could attach one of those fly whisks (cotton) to hang from the cinch.
I'm riding English, but in a trail saddle, so I have rings. I think attaching a whisk that I could flick under her belly might be a REALLY good idea. THANKS!

I do agree with others above that the biting flies HURT. Hence, my query about getting off. I know it's situational; I was more asking for a general opinion of the likelihood of her taking advantage of my kindness vs. riding her through the situation and REQUIRING her to mind. THANKS to all who responded. I've learned a lot!
 
#20 ·
I suggest applying fly sprays AFTER you put the saddle on. Some horses react to fly sprays in areas like under the saddle when they sweat heavily.

I have also heard that a BLUE (not red, like the song, sorry) solo cup, strapped to a horses head between the ears, coated with glue stick glue will actually attract the deer flies to it and they get stuck. I have never tried it, since I am afraid it would attract more than might be there otherwise. You can also put one on your own helmet. However, being the product of an older brother who made always made up something stupid for me to do so he could laugh, this seemed eerily similar......;-)
 
#21 ·
I suggest applying fly sprays AFTER you put the saddle on. Some horses react to fly sprays in areas like under the saddle when they sweat heavily.

I have also heard that a BLUE (not red, like the song, sorry) solo cup, strapped to a horses head between the ears, coated with glue stick glue will actually attract the deer flies to it and they get stuck. I have never tried it, since I am afraid it would attract more than might be there otherwise. You can also put one on your own helmet. However, being the product of an older brother who made always made up something stupid for me to do so he could laugh, this seemed eerily similar......;-)
Ditto spraying the horse after it's been saddled. Also spraying after SMB boots have been put on, if the horse uses them:)

Blue solo cup and glue stick glue? That sounds just dumb enough to work but it could be like you say, somebody else's brother was pulling a "brother trick" on you:-p

I would have to try that when I was sure I was alone in the woods:lol::lol:
 
#25 ·
If you use an under belly whisk, walk your horse in hand first to make sure they don't find the whisk to be offensive. My friend found that one out the hard way!
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#26 ·
My arab had a tremendously thick tail so I removed excess hair, bound the cut end and fashioned it on to an old riding crop. The hair is over two feet long. Horse flies and the heel flies are attracted to carbon dioxide. Deer flies are attracted to a shade of medium blue that is moving. I painted an old helmet and added tanglefoot, real sticky stuff. I usually find half a dozen deer flies stuck to it.
 
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