It’s summer once again and the flies are out. These pesky insects bother horses and people and controlling them can be a hassle. Here are some tips on keeping the flies at bay this summer.

First we should learn a little bit more about the most common kinds of flies that are found around the usual stable. The largest of these pests is the horse or deer fly. They are ½ to 1.5 inches in length and only the females bite. The larvae develop in aquatic or semi-aquatic areas. Horse and deer fly bites are painful and annoying to horses and can sometimes cause otherwise calm horses to spook or buck when bitten. Another type of biting fly is the stable fly. These resemble houseflies and are ¼ to 3/8 inches in length. Larvae develop in many areas including compost piles of manure and hay or feed. Unlike horse flies both male and female stable flies bite. Their bites are more common on the legs and undersides of horses causing the common stomping behavior. The third type of fly commonly found around the stable is the house fly. This fly does not bite and is more of a nuisance. They are 3/8 of an inch in length and the larvae also develop in many sources though usually manure piles. The final pest is not a fly but still deserves mentioning with the recent outbreak of West Nile. This pest is the mosquito. Mosquitoes usually go unnoticed because of their small size and are most common during the two hours after sunset and like horse and stable flies bite. Larvae develop in reliable standing water sources such as low lying areas, tree holes, old tires and other containers. They are more common in urban areas where standing water is common. Mosquitoes can carry deadly diseases such as West Nile which makes them a danger to horses.

Now that we know a little bit more about the pests that bother our horses here are some tips on how to control them. Sanitation is the center of any fly management program. By eliminating breeding grounds there will be no young and therefore no new adults. For example by eliminating areas of standing water there will be nowhere for mosquitoes to lay their eggs or young to develop. If it is impossible to eliminate breeding areas then avoid them. For example deer and horse flies are more commonly located in wooded areas and tend to avoid stables so by stabling your horses if possible during their peak season you can avoid them.

Once you have a sanitation program there are many products that can help protect against adult flies. Fly predators are becoming popular. These are small fly-like insects that can kill much more of the adult population that most other methods. They are unnoticeable and never become pests themselves. These usually need to be released well in advance of fly season however. Repellents are the most common way of repelling flies. Just make sure whatever kind you choose is formulated to repel all kinds of flies in your area. Some of these may not repel horse flies or mosquitoes. Roll-on sticks are useful for protecting your horse’s face. Another method is fly masks, sheets and leg boots. Make sure that if you choose any of these that they are removed regularly to check for rubbing. If you use fly masks make sure that these do not rub or touch the horse’s eye at all. Fly baits, traps and strips are commonly used to trap adult house flies. These can kill a small number of the population and if you plan to use them place these traps all around the property especially in the most common areas. A final way to protect against pests is installing a barn sprayer system. These are usually installed over doorways and continuously spray a mist of fly spray. This can be an expensive option however