I know this has been asked millions of times but here goes...

[little lady]

What works good for horse flies...oh yes they have arrived in force, big black bombers, mid size mean green machines and ornery little gray ones and then throw the flies into the mix and I'm sure the mosquitos are soon to come. Has anybody tried the fly bands that you put around the horses necks and legs? How well do they work? I have found that deep woods off works well but I don't like to use it very often(I use to use it only when I would trail ride and it worked awesome). I tried feeding garlic didn't see a very big difference. Any other ideas...homemade recipes...

 

[Holly at WhiteTailsMinis]

I have no clue. But I think I am about to find some Avon lady and get some Skin So Soft. I dont know if it will work or not, but it sure smells good! LOL.

 

[Carolyn R]

I don't have any home made solutions other than the dawnwater and was it vinegar?????

I use endure. It is expensive, but it does work and doesn't need to be applied every day.

 

[Allure Ranch]

Pyranha fly spray works the best....

 

[Marty]

I like Pyrahna and Solitude. And actually one year I bought those little plastic cow tags down Florida and put them on the horse's halters and they worked. I just don't keep halters on horses though unless I am going to catch them right back up but you can make a mane braid and tie one into the center of the mane with a ribbon!

 

[AppyLover2]

I putt the cow tags on both halters and fly masks last year.

 

[little lady]

Oh never thought about those ear tags, will have to check that out.

A couple of years ago someone had a recipe for spray that was Skin so Soft, vinegar and seems like something else but I can't remember what? I tried it and it worked fairly well so if i could find that recipe might give that a try.

Thanks everyone for your input!

 

[LittleRibbie]

Oh dont get me started on the flies. I thought that I had them under control, Fly Predators were started earlier this year and constant spraying but all of a sudden, in one day, the fly cloud burst over my barn and now, every am its like there is a subtle buzz of these things every where!!

After breakfast it takes about 30 min. to spray,apply swat to faces, put on fly masks ( about 10 min. to find where they managed to rub them off from the day before ). I did hang, just yesterday, some of those stinky smelly fly bags around and by this AM there were already a fair amt of dead flies caught. I use Pyrahna and it does help and I have found that I like it best. Have yet to try skin so soft but have heard others highly recommend it.I try to pick up every bit of poop the minute I see it and I do make a point now not to leave my bucket of manure close to the barn. Now I dump it right in the tractor and haul off to the back property ASAP.

I love the idea about the fly tags braided into the mane. Are they a product that Tractor Supply sells? Good luck everyone and thanks for the good ideas.

 

[happy appy]

I use homemade spray. Skin so soft/Apple cider vingear/water in equal parts and then some citrenolla oil (few drops) and a crushed garlic clove dropped into the bottle. Works excellent!

 

[JaiteraMiniatures]

I use homemade spray. Skin so soft/Apple cider vingear/water in equal parts and then some citrenolla oil (few drops) and a crushed garlic clove dropped into the bottle. Works excellent!

do you know if this recipe is safe to use on foals? We can't seem to find any premade fly sprays that can be used on very young foals...but the bugs are AWFUL this year

 

[Mominis]

TSC has individual stall fly spray systems. I bought one for Shake's stall for about $50 and the refill once per month is around $9. He has the only fly-free stall on the place. In addition to the system, I use Pyrahna on his body, Deo-Lotion on his legs and face and ears, and when he gets his out time, he wears his fly sheet and mask. Sitting in the barn is miserable with all of the flies for me, but Shake is fly-free and happy.

PS Tried feeding garlic powder and he hates it, so we have to go about it another way. This has been working quite well.

 

[happy appy]

do you know if this recipe is safe to use on foals? We can't seem to find any premade fly sprays that can be used on very young foals...but the bugs are AWFUL this year

I have been using it on my this years foal. He loves getting the fine mist sprayed across his back. I spray mom on the back, neck and shoulders only though.

My parents sewar by the "Bounce" dryer sheets though. My father keeps one in his hat at all times so I bet you could braid on into the foals hair too.

 

[Tab]

Has anyone tried the marigold spray? I have used it some and seems pretty good.

 

[little lady]

Has anyone tried the marigold spray? I have used it some and seems pretty good.

Never heard of Marigold spray...but it makes sense since when marigolds are planted around the garden they are suppose to repell bugs. Where do you find it?