by Admin on August 18, 2009
In a recent article we explained about how horse fly rugs, or horse fly sheets as they are also sometimes known as, can help protect your horse or pony against flies, insects or midges.
Although at horserugs.me.uk we are primarily concerned with giving useful help and advice on what horse rug or horse blanket to chose for your horse or pony, we do think it is useful to give more rounded advice on particular issues. One such area is dealing with horse flies, insects and midges which are a particular problem during the summer.
We believe that no one approach is sufficient for dealing with the scourge of horse flies, insects or midges and that as well as kitting your horse or pony out in a horse fly rug or horse fly mask you should take a holistic approach. What can you change about your daily routine? What changes can you make to your horse’s diet? What other products are on the market that can help combat horse flies, insects and midges?
We all know horse’s love routine but is your routine not best planned so as to limit the impact that flies, insects or midges may be having on your horse? For instance are certain areas of your fields and paddocks more prone to flies than others? If so then consider moving your horse out of these areas, particularly if your horse in sensitive to flies, insects or midges. This is especially the case if your horse has a condition such as sweet itch. It may be that you need to bring your horse in at certain times of the day when the flies are particularly prevalent. The horse’s welfare is paramount so do always way up the benefits gained by moving your horse like this against any distress that may be caused by changing its routine.
We know from our own experience of dealing with mosquito and other insect bites that certain smells can act as a deterrent to the unwanted flies, insects and midges. It is almost certain that these insects tend to go for the least offensive smelling animals around. As such by adding certain supplements to your horses feed, such as garlic, apple cider, Brewer’s Yeast or Calendula Tincture, your horse’s level of acidity in its blood is raised which makes your horse or pony a most unappetising meal for insects. This is perfectly safe for your horse provided, as ever, that you only give your horse the recommended amount. Always read any guidelines on product packaging. And if in any doubt as to whether it is safe for your horse, contact your vet.
You will have seen numerous fly repellent sprays and products in your local equestrian supplier but which one to chose? This is probably an article in itself and if there is interest something we are certainly more than happy to cover. Your choice can be broken down into organic and natural products versus chemical sprays.
I know many of you out there will not only be wary of chemical products but also, in these cash strapped times, money conscious. Can one justify all that money on chemical spray particularly as hay prices are likely to rocket over the coming weeks and months! Why not therefore try making your own spray. A simple spray could be fashioned from Citronella, thyme and cloves! Why don’t you let us know what works for you?
by Admin on August 18, 2009
Icelandic Horse wearing Sweet Itch Rug
Although it has not been the sunniest summer since records began this hasn’t stopped the accursed plague of flies and insects causing problems for our equine friends. For those horses that are particularly susceptible to insect or midge bites a horrific conditions called Sweet Itch may develop. We recommend a holistic approach to dealing with this condition from lotions, feed supplements and repellents, but prevention is better than cure. By far the best way to stop sweet itch is to stop your horse being bitten by insects in the first place. One of the most effective ways to ensure this is through the use of protective gear such as horse fly sheets or horse fly rugs, horse fly masks, also sometimes referred to as sweet itch rugs.
As well as preventing your horse from getting bitten by midges, a horse fly rug or sweet itch rug can protect your horse from injury should it try to rub itself. This will prevent nasty raw skin conditions and will in time help to ensure that any distress that the horse may have been suffering from is alleviated. The horse will calm down and revert to its normal behaviour.
So what is a horse fly sheet or horse fly rug?
A horse fly rug or horse fly sheet is a lightweight rug fabricated from a fine mesh which offers protection to any horse or pony out in the field from flies, insects and midges during the summer. There is a bewildering choice of horse fly rugs on the market and whilst each horse fly sheet may vary in feature, fabrics and of course price, it is important whichever model of horse fly sheet you go with, to aim to cover as much of your horse or pony as possible. As such many fly rugs will also (compared with a standard horse turnout rug) cover the horse’s belly and may also cover the neck. Many horse rugs include the neck cover in the overall design of the fly sheet, whilst others may have this as an attachment. There are many horse sheets available which incorporate these important additional protections; the WeatherBeeta Airflow Mesh Combo and WeatherBeeta Original Fly Shield being just two such horse fly sheets.
If you want complete protection for your horse, then no fly rug kit is complete without a horse fly mask. The development of horse fly masks has given your horse perhaps the greatest protection from horse flies, insects and midges. While a horse fly rug or horse fly sheet may protect the horses main body, the face is one of the most sensitive areas on a horse and equally one of the most targeted by insects. In particular midgets and insects tend to be attracted to the moisture in a horse’s eye and have even been know to lay their eggs there. This causes not only great discomfort to the horse but alarm to the owner as the larvae hatch. The horse fly mask is also good for preventing insects getting into the horses ears; being particularly of benefit to horses who are liable to pick up ear infections.
Whilst you are not going to be able to go out hacking with your horse in its full fly rug kit, it will provide the horse with protection during those hours of the day when your horse is most at risk. When out riding however we have found that the use of a horse fly bonnet, which fits over the horse’s ears and attaching to the bridle is a good deterrent to flies, insects and midges. The horse fly bonnet’s tassels come down over the horse’s forelock so that when the horse moves it head, the tassels sway from side-to-side thus deterring any insects or midges from landing on the horse, or if they do, stopping them staying there too long and causing discomfort.
As well as providing you with reviews of those horse fly sheets and horse fly masks, we will also bring you advice on how you can alter your routine, the diet of your horse and use repellents to ensure that you and your horse have a happy and fly free summer!
Visit our products page where you can purchase a selection of horse fly rugs, horse fly sheets and horse fly masks.
