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Terrible giant horse flies right now -- in MD -- elsewhere?

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  • #21
    Look on the bright side. At least our horses have plenty of impulsion.
    Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
    Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
    -Rudyard Kipling

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    • #22
      Yup, I've noticed the invasion as well. I got bit through my jeans by one of them the other day and it left a welt the size of my fist- OUCH! I've had luck with spraying the horse down with Ultrashield Sport and then a mist of 40% DEET for when I'm trail riding.
      "You'll never see yourself in the mirror with your eyes closed"

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      • #23
        Our horseflies came out earlier in the summer, haven't noticed them recently.

        This year I switched to a insecticide for cattle with a higher permethrin % than any of the horse brands. It reeks like a Dow Chemical factory--but I don't care because it really, really works, even for the big nasties. I apply in the AM while they're eating and it lasts all through the day. It's also helped prevent the sweet itch that my poor gelding gets every summer.
        Bpnus-- it was way cheaper than the horse-specific brand with the pretty label and pleasant scent.

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        • #24
          Sorry, bug spray doesn't work on these guys. They go by site and will follow you. I hate it worst when they fly along 3 inches behind your back and 3 inches above theirs.

          Fortunately, they seem to be slow enough to hit and sometimes you can ride out of their area.

          Best we found is the string fly sheets to keep brushing over them to keep them from landing.

          Not a great picture, but gives you the idea. You can also ride with them over your saddle pad, under the saddle if need be.

          http://www.bigblackhorse.com/BBH01/horse-fly-net.html

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          • #25
            We have them in TN right now, too. They send my old horse into a dead panic every year.

            Fly sheets are the only thing I've found that help, but it's been SO hot and humid the past week that fly sheets are out of the question.
            Don't fall for a girl who fell for a horse just to be number two in her world... ~EFO

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            • #26
              West TN has plenty to go around.

              Usually we get them for the whole month of August. This year cooler temps seemed to have kept them at bay until the past two weeks. Now they come out in droves.

              Lots of stopping, dropping and rolling going on around here!

              Comment

              • #27
                I just moved to a new boarding facility. Yesterday, I went out to bring my girls in from the pasture and the huge dive bomber flies were attacking. Tess swung her head around to get one and busted my nose. I had x-rays done this morning. I haven't heard if it is truly broken or just swollen and bruised, yet.

                When leading your horses, please be watchful. If my nose is broken, it will be the fourth time that a horse has gotten it. It is awful going through life with a big shnozolla. (How did Jimmy Durrante spell it?)
                When in Doubt, let your horse do the Thinking!

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                • Original Poster
                  #28
                  Wow, timely thread. Sorry for your injury, Auburn.

                  When my guy reaches for flies as I lead him, he usually swings his head away from me, so instead of braining me, he just yanks my arm out of the socket.

                  But he is smart enough to know that when I thwack him on the middle of his back with the cotton lead rope, it's to get the evil flies.
                  I tolerate all kinds of animal idiosyncrasies.
                  I've found that I don't tolerate people idiosyncrasies as well. - Casey09

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                  • #29
                    we have had them up here in Mass for years. My hubby's horse had a quarter-sized circle of bites from them just on top of his rump where he could not scratch.

                    My draft cross used to let me whack them off him. he would prance over and sorta give me his butt to get them off!

                    it was like hitting a mouse - yewwww

                    Comment

                    • #30
                      Originally posted by Drive NJ View Post
                      Sorry, bug spray doesn't work on these guys. They go by site and will follow you. I hate it worst when they fly along 3 inches behind your back and 3 inches above theirs.

                      Well either my spray works or I am just really lucky- I can be out on a ride with several other people and mine will be the only horse not getting attacked
                      "You'll never see yourself in the mirror with your eyes closed"

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                      • #31
                        Do the fly predators help with them? For some reason I didn't think that was a species targeted, but if it is I'll buy predators from here on out! High season around here!
                        Real Horses. Real Riders. Real Results! www.wvhorsetrainer.com

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                        • #32
                          Originally posted by tabula rashah View Post
                          Well either my spray works or I am just really lucky- I can be out on a ride with several other people and mine will be the only horse not getting attacked
                          Well they sure do love your ex horse ;-) LOL
                          Kerri

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                          • #33
                            Originally posted by kasjordan View Post
                            Well they sure do love your ex horse ;-) LOL
                            Ha! He probably invites them over to play with him LOL!
                            "You'll never see yourself in the mirror with your eyes closed"

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                            • #34
                              They are the worst that I have seen them here in Central Delaware. My horses absolutely don't want to go out until it gets dark and I can't blame them. I thought maybe because it is now dry here? We have missed the rain the past few weeks and the bombers seemed to come out in full force. First we had mosquito's from all the rain and now these evil creatures. Ready for fall!
                              http://www.benchmarksporthorses.com/

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                              • #35
                                I ride with a fly wisk all summer but at this time of year I even walk around with it. All my horses are used to getting swished all over - I think they appreciate it and it saves me from getting bitten (usually)!

                                Comment

                                • #36
                                  Originally posted by thathorse View Post
                                  Do the fly predators help with them? For some reason I didn't think that was a species targeted, but if it is I'll buy predators from here on out! High season around here!
                                  No, predators are really only good for stable flies. The B52s seem to be worse than usual everywhere this year, nasty things.

                                  I had one bite the crap out of me while I was mowing the pastures on Sunday. Ouch!!! No wonder the horses go crazy when one lands on them.
                                  Homeopathy claims water can cure you since it once held medicine. That's like saying you can get sustenance from an empty plate because it once held food.

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                                  • Original Poster
                                    #37
                                    Don't much like guns, but these guys are big enough we should just use a .22.
                                    I tolerate all kinds of animal idiosyncrasies.
                                    I've found that I don't tolerate people idiosyncrasies as well. - Casey09

                                    Comment

                                    • #38
                                      I believe they are hatched with the location of that spot along the spine at the top of the corup that the horses can't reach encoded in their DNA.

                                      I was turning horses out in a distant paddock yesterday and one poor horse was doing the bucking in place thing trying to get two of them off.
                                      The plural of anecdote is not data.

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                                      • #39
                                        how big are the flies?

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                                        • Original Poster
                                          #40
                                          I have seen them nearly an inch long, about the same wing span.

                                          Photo:
                                          http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Tabanus_2.jpg

                                          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse-fly
                                          I tolerate all kinds of animal idiosyncrasies.
                                          I've found that I don't tolerate people idiosyncrasies as well. - Casey09

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