Why is fly protection so important for the horse?

While humans only have the option of flapping their hands around like crazy, horses have taken advantage of a few characteristics to protect themselves from insects.

• Long hair: Mane, tail and forelock act as a natural fly curtain and protect neck, head and hind legs from horseflies, black flies & co.

• Musculature & movement: Everyone knows the typical muscle twitch when a fly intends to land on the horse. And also the beating of the tail and hooves as well as the shaking of the head that can often be observed in the pasture in summer.

• Rolling in sand or mud: The instinctive rolling in sand or mud creates an additional protective layer so that insects cannot get directly to the horse’s skin.

Apart from these natural and instinctive protective measures, horses are helpless against insects. Depending on the breed and the type of husbandry, the horse’s natural protective mechanisms may not be used sufficiently or may be completely absent. Thus, horse owners often trim their horses‘ manes for visual reasons or to make grooming easier, an excellent example being the traditional mane trim on Fjord horses. In addition to the enormous physical stress caused by bites and their consequences, the constant muscle twitching and the urge to chase away the pests by shaking their heads or beating their hooves can become a test of patience for the animals. Instead of coming out of the pasture relaxed, many horses are rather irritated and exhausted from the exertion in summer.

How can I help my horse during fly season?

• Turnout: Unfortunately, there is hardly a time of day in summer when insects are not active. Mosquitoes and other biting insects are mostly out and about at dusk, while horseflies are particularly fond of buzzing around at midday. Which insect species is mainly found in your pasture also depends on the location of the paddock (edge of the forest, standing water nearby, …). Usually, the (very) early morning hours and the night are best for relaxed grazing. After turnout, plan some time to thoroughly check your horse for ticks. They can transmit dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease or TBE. If a tick has bitten your horse, we explain how to remove it safely in our guide on fly protection for riders. The procedure is identical for horse and rider.

• Hygiene measures: Most insects are attracted by the smell of sweat. On particularly hot days, it is advisable to hose down the horse before turnout. In the stable, too, you should avoid potential breeding grounds of the bloodsuckers. Flies prefer to lay their eggs in dung heaps, while mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Daily mucking out in the stable and poo-picking in the paddock as well as covering rain barrels or other water accumulations should be part of the routine, especially during the insect-rich period. More tips can be found in our guide on fly protection in the stable.

• Feed: The body odour of horses can be influenced in such a way that insects prefer to keep their distance by giving them supplementary feed such as garlic. In addition, additives can be added that have a positive effect on the skin. Oils with unsaturated fatty acids, such as linseed or hemp oil, and special sweet itch oils achieve good results. You can find out more about this in the guide on fly protection for horses.

• Textile protection: One of the most sensible things you can do during the fly season is to put a textile barrier on the horse. You can find out more about fly rugs and sweet itch rugs in the guide on fly protection for horses.

• Fly repellents: There are many products on the market that repel insects in the form of sprays or gels. You should pay attention to the ingredients. There are natural active ingredients, but also sprays based on chemicals, which often have a stronger effect. Learn more about this in our guide on fly repellent for horses.