Flies are one of the biggest frustrations for horse owners. They buzz around us, bite both horses and people, and cause constant irritation and discomfort. Horses often have to endure relentless fly attacks, leading them to stomp their feet, swish their tails, shake their heads, or even run off in an attempt to escape. Fortunately, there are several ways to help keep our four-legged friends comfortable and protected. At Spikes & Houle’s, we offer a wide variety of fly-control solutions to help reduce pests and make life more enjoyable for both you and your horse.
Feed Throughs Fly Control
Most feed through fly controls contain larvicides, such as diflubenzuron or novaluron, that stop the development of fly larvae in the manure of the horse. They do this by preventing chitin, a compound in their exoskeletons, from developing which interrupts the life cycle to reduce the fly population altogether.
For this to work, we recommend leaving 2 – 3 piles of manure in your pasture, paddock or stall to draw the flies in. This will help end the larvae when the flies land on the manure.
What we offer:
- Ration Balancers with Added Fly Control: Essential K with fly control is a low sugar/starch with added ClariFly. This feed is designed to be fed to easy-keepers or overweight horses but also can be used as a top-dress with any other Tribute feeds.
- Topdress supplement: If you prefer to top dress a supplement on the feed, Simplifly and Formula 707 Multifliy are amazing options. They use different active ingredients in which Simplifly uses diflubenzuron and Multifly uses novaluron, but they both serve the same purpose and prevent development of house and stable flies in the manure
- Tubs: If you prefer a free choice tub, we carry a Purina EquiTub is offered as either a 55-lb or 125-lb free choice tub that includes Purina Outlast (for gastric support) and Purina Amplify (a fat supplement for weight gain). Research has shown horses will eat 2 to 2.5 lbs per day on average. While this product is suitable for all classes of horses, the high fat could contribute to weight gain, so we do not recommend it for horses who are easy keepers or need to lose weight.
- Blocks: Another free choice option is Tribute Fly Control Block which is a 33 – lb. vitamin and mineral block that contains added vitamins and minerals and is safe for all classes of horses. Horses should consume 1.2 ounces of this block pers of BW per day to be effective.
For either free choice option, you should have at least one block or tub available for every 1 to 5 horses.
Fly Sprays
Fly sprays can also be used to provide added relief for your horses. Spikes and Houles carriers a variety of different fly sprays for horses including FARNAM, Absorbine, Manna Pro, and Pyranha.
Some of the most common active ingredients include, pyrethrins, permethrin and piperonyl butoxide. Those just look like big words, but what do those big words actually mean?
- Pyrethrins is a natural insecticide (comes from chrysanthemum flowers), found in Farnam, Pyranha, and Manna Pro, which will knockdown flies and mosquitoes.
- Permethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid which is found in Farnam, Pyranha, and Manna Pro which provides long – lasting control of flies, ticks, mosquitoes and lice.
- Piperonyl Butoxide is a synergist which is found in nearly all major brands. It aids in making pyrethrins and pyrethroids work more effectively.
Fly Boots and Sheets
To provide additional protection to the horse, fly sheets and fly boots can be used. Spikes & Houles carries both Weatherbeeta and Shoo-Fly Leggins. Research on the Shoo-Fly Leggins performed by the University of Minnesota showed they reduced stomping due to flies.
Fly Traps
While feed through fly control, fly sprays, and fly sheets and boots help our horses directly, it can also be beneficial to combat flies remaining in the environment. One way we can do that is with fly traps in the form of bags or jugs that come with a water-soluble attractant and a one-way entry cone. Once you add the water, the bait pouch will dissolve, causing the pheromones to release. Those pheromones will draw the flies in and once inside, the flies are trapped and will drown in the water.