Due to local flooding, we have a HUGE mosquito problem, please help...

I live about an hour away from the area flooded out by the Missouri River. Due to this flooding, mosquitos are the worst I have ever seen them in my life. I have finally found something that works on me... Ultrathon, but I have to use almost half a can. But I can't find anything to help Cinny.

Just so you know, our BO has made sure there is NO standing water on the place, and has treated the water supplies in the turnouts. He is doing everything he can on the premises. I think the problem is our stable is butt up against a HUGE wilderness park complete with creek, water holes, etc. It's a state park and the state has contracted for the city to run it. City says the state needs to take care of treating for mosquitos, state says it's the cities responsibility so NOBODY is doing it. We can't even go out on trail because as soon as I pass a certain point Cinny becomes engulfed in a cloud of mosqitos so thick you almost can't see through them!

At night around dusk the mosquito clouds end up in the barns and make Cinny just miserable despite the auto insecticide sprayer. I have tried pretty much every fly spray that says it repels mosquitos too with no real help. What can I do to help him? I'm tempted to spray the ultrathon on him but I don't know if it will make him sick because it's designed for people and is pretty strong (gives me a headache when I use it). Does anybody have any suggestions?

Does he stay in a stall? Can you put mosquito nets around it? Or but him fly sheets/masks/boots? I have boots and I'm ordering a mask.

Yikes, that sounds awful! Your poor horse. My area's having a very bad mosquito season too. I don't have any good suggestions for sprays for horses, but if you can install some bat houses (aka bat boxes), they're a completely natural way to get rid of mosquitoes. It may take a few weeks for the bats to move it, but they can eat 1,000 mosquitoes an hour, and depending on the size of bat house you get, you can house 25-200 bats in one house. I put them up around the property and at dusk they're all over. Not an instant solution, but it will help long-term, and no chemical side effects! Plus, bats are becoming endangered in many places.

You can buy pre-made bat houses on ebay, or at hardware stores. Good luck!

I"ll talk to the barn owner about the bat houses. Not sure how he will feel about them because he just had to sink a ton of $ into repairing the loft in the arena due to bat guano damage so I think they may be a sore spot with him, lol.

I do have a fly sheet for Cinny, as well as a mask and leg wraps but they don't help us much for riding. He is getting sour from staying in the arenas but not much I can do about going on trail right now and it will probably be that way until winter unless I figure out what kind of repellant I can get for him that will actually work.

I've found that fly sprays suck for mosquito repellent. Try getting the "deep woods" version of OFF that's for people. It really works wonders.
Posted via Mobile Device

I can understand why the barn owner would be worried if he's previously had bat problems, but getting bats to roost in the houses actually keeps them out of attics, lofts, etc. where we don't want them.

I also agree with the post about getting 'human' bug sprays; it costs a lot to cover a horse, but at least they work.

Thanks for the ideas. I'll go ahead and try the Ultrathon on him but only for trail and wash it off when I get back :)

Aerosol Deep Woods Off works best here for mosquitoes. I do have to take it with me on trail rides because after 30 minutes or so, you need to reapply.

I do wonder if these would work as well for a trail ride?

Off Clip on Starter Mosquito Repellent - Odorles

If he is in a stall at night, you could but several of those and hang em up where he couldn't reach em...see if it doesn't help?

Fans in the barn area will help too.

Well, I didn't get to try the Ultrathon. I got to the stable to find that Cinny had take a huge chunk out of the outside of his front right hoof and is now standing wonky. I'm afraid to even turn him out because I'm worried he'll try to plan and blow out his knee or something, it's that bad.

So, I'll have to try out the Ultrathon on trail after I get the farrier out to fix him up. I guess it's time for front shoes.