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Post by julianne on Jun 29, 2009 13:59:35 GMT
Can anyone help - I have never had to even use a fly sheet on any of our horses but this year everyone has had to have one. Being based on the coast we have always been fly-free but this year they are horrendous - does any know much about the horse fly and why this year it is so bad and is there anything that we could try on them - we have tried all the usual methods, but if anyone can help I would really appreciate it.
Julianne Veteran Horse Society
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Post by JadeCannon on Jun 29, 2009 14:04:02 GMT
I am stuck too- mine are all being eaten to death no matter how much fly repellant I put on. Got told by my vets to use 'Deo-Sect' as its really strong and used to kill lice - it works for about 30mins!! Also been told about a skin oil (for humans) called SSS - Body Oil - apparently the SAS use it as fly repellant!
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Milliesmum
H G Addict
COCKERP00S RULE!!!
Posts: 23,901
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Post by Milliesmum on Jun 29, 2009 14:11:06 GMT
The SSS body oil you have been told about is the one from Avon. It's called skin-so-soft dry oil body spray, and you need the one in the blue bottle, it used to be called woodland fresh but I think the name has changed. I believe it still has fresh in the title though.
I know lots of people who use it and haven't heard anyone say it doesn't work.
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finc
Newbie
Posts: 35
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Post by finc on Jun 29, 2009 14:20:01 GMT
Avon Skin So Soft Dry Oil Body Spray (one in blue bottle) is the only Fly Spray I have found to work. I spray it all over their fly sheets, legs etc. every morning seems to last about 5-7 hours (mine come in at tea time).
Horse flies where terrible in my area last year, not a problem this year (so far).
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Post by lisak on Jun 29, 2009 15:41:51 GMT
Yep the Avon sss oil spray, Soft and Fresh is great as a fly repellant. I'm an Avon rep if anyone needs some!
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Post by sageandonion on Jun 29, 2009 16:13:56 GMT
Is it the very pale blue bottle. Trouble is bottles not very big.
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mizzy
Full Member
Posts: 336
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Post by mizzy on Jun 29, 2009 16:24:49 GMT
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Post by JadeCannon on Jun 29, 2009 16:37:37 GMT
Fab - I have gone for 10 as well!
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Post by brightlite on Jun 29, 2009 16:45:28 GMT
thanks , ive ordered too , they wont know whats hit them !
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mizzy
Full Member
Posts: 336
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Post by mizzy on Jun 29, 2009 16:49:19 GMT
Maybe for every bottle we order, we could send £1 to Caroline's Fund! Still makes them nearly half price even with the donation!!!!
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Post by sallyw on Jun 29, 2009 17:19:27 GMT
What a good idea I am going to order some too, We use fly sheets and face masks but the horse flies get everywhere. I have to plaster my boys sheaths with Sudocreme as they seem to get badly bitten there.
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Post by sallyw on Jun 29, 2009 17:31:21 GMT
If you order over £20 worth of stuff you get the postage free - I just ordered some shower gel and hand wash - always need that!! You just enter the code LS in the code bit (I got it from vouchercodes.co.uk - brilliant for saving money on allsorts of things).
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Post by JadeCannon on Jun 29, 2009 20:56:26 GMT
What a good idea I am going to order some too, We use fly sheets and face masks but the horse flies get everywhere. I have to plaster my boys sheaths with Sudocreme as they seem to get badly bitten there. Does the sudocreme actuallt stop them or just soothe it?? My mare is very sensitive and has lumps all over the inside of her hindlegs
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Post by jinja on Jun 29, 2009 21:30:25 GMT
well sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings but I bought 10 bottles of teh Avon spray and it does not work on any of ours in fact I am scared of using it when the sun is hot in case it burns their skin as their is somekind of oil in it but I have used it whenever the sun is not too hot and its no good at all
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Post by gtr121 on Jun 29, 2009 21:41:26 GMT
I've admitted defeat. I leave horses in during the day and let them out at night.
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Post by danniebmum on Jun 29, 2009 21:59:19 GMT
we have tried all sorts of things but are now leaving out at night and in day time aswell
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Post by bowditchblobs on Jun 29, 2009 22:01:21 GMT
Skin so Soft is the only thing that works on mine, i spray it on neat, fab stuff. I also mix my own fly gumption, not had any problems yet even with my sweet itcher.
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Post by julianne on Jun 29, 2009 22:50:15 GMT
thanks everyone - but with 24 people with me tonight and 26 by tomorrow afternoon - rescue tomorrow very early - cost is really hard. I have over the weekend bought fly sheets for 20, some good some not, but now have the problem of 4 minature shetlands. Everyone is in the day out at night, but these flies mean business, even when I was in the Midlands it was nothing like this - must look into the sad life of a horse fly. I have 2 blind ones as well so night is not a problem out but they must sense night is here, and usually in, but eaten alive in the day and terrible to watch. They are sprayed before they have sheets on at about 4pm but still they attack, I even had the vet out today with a nasty attack on the eye in a stable. Is it because they were late coming out and need to feed and breed quickly? If anyone would like to send a product to trial and it works we can certainly help promote it. There is no harden or fast rule of this fly, it attacks some with thick fur some without. If anyone has a contact for very small fly sheet please could they email or reply. my email is info@veteran-horse-society.co.uk Again thank you Julianne
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bh
Full Member
www.borderhillstud.co.uk
Posts: 325
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Post by bh on Jun 30, 2009 13:50:18 GMT
I have just ordered a couple of bottles - the horse flies are really bad here! -
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Post by sallyw on Jun 30, 2009 13:53:50 GMT
To reply to the query about Sudocreme, it sooths and seems to stop further bites. My one boy has very sensitive skin and it really helps him. We have had rain on and off today and if we thought the flies were bad before they are ludicrous now. Cant put the ponies out even when the rain stops.
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Post by Guestless on Jun 30, 2009 14:20:07 GMT
Skin so soft doesn't touch the midges around here and the cleggs are wild! I bought some new repellent to try at RHS so touch wood something must work!
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Post by cayo on Jun 30, 2009 14:51:25 GMT
we had to miss the show at weekend as raven had three bites in one spot it was filled up like a football on her chest really nasty cant find anything to stop them tried it all
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Post by starrider on Jun 30, 2009 14:58:55 GMT
well our horses are suffering - and so am I - I have three huge bites now and a wedding to go to at weekend They are out in force and on a mission it seems!
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Post by saithstud on Jun 30, 2009 16:10:17 GMT
Mine are Ninja !! I have never seen them so bad. Im doing more mucking out now than in the winter ! Going through 2 bales of hay a day, and trying every spray I can find, no avail.
My 2 year old is covered in lumps. Someone said to put brown vinegar in their water - this apparently makes the "taste" of horses not so nice. Might try that one, do anything now. Not sure if the horses will drink it though ! lol
H
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Post by shelleyj on Jun 30, 2009 16:27:19 GMT
try feeding garlic, supposed to be a natural repellant, worth a go!
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Post by JadeCannon on Jun 30, 2009 19:40:06 GMT
Im going to crush some bloody garlic up and roll my ponies in it!! Never mind feed it to them - the horse flies are driving me insane!
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woof
Full Member
Posts: 358
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Post by woof on Jun 30, 2009 20:52:42 GMT
Phew, so relieved to read this thread, I don't feel quite so alone!! lol Never had horse flies so bad, what a nightmare, we've I 'm willing to try anything at the mo. Keep smiling everyone
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Post by harryhorse2560 on Jun 30, 2009 21:33:15 GMT
Hope it works, I have just ordered 10 bottles too, had to see medic at Northern got bitten myself and arm blew up, so I know how poor horses feel!!!! - going to try it on me too........
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Post by Ziggy on Jun 30, 2009 23:54:12 GMT
Horse flies are horrendous here!. someone suggested to me to put Cider vinegar in ponies feed. have not tried it yet so can't say if it works. when I buy fly spray I always go for something with DEET in it as that helps a bit. fortuantely my two have sense and head for shade of thier shelter when sun and fles are at thier worst!
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Post by jinja on Jul 1, 2009 6:46:11 GMT
mine never live out but go out during the day, but they come straight up to the gate in summer because of the flies, and up to the gate in winter when the fields are really wet. I do not think they are having any enjoyable time in the fields this year I am at my wits end as I am scared of leaving them out overnight. They are spending too much time in their stables. These fields are the same ones I used as a child 40 years ago and I never remember flies like this, we certainly did not have money for fly spray and I spent all day every day of the summer holidays on the farm with my pony.
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