I feed all mine garlic and they have a fly rug and fly mask.
I also cake them in fly spray and sponge some fly creme around their nose and eyes.
I still get the horsefly problems but the normal ones seem to go away and don't bother them.

Still dispise horseflys though

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My mare is having a terrible time with the flies this year.
I use.... Garlic twice a day in feed, fly repellant sprayed on once a day and I also have a fly mask and fringe.
She is nearly 17hh and I am 5ft2. She doesnt like the mask or the fringe so getting either on is a MASSIVE task!! She knows that as soon as she puts her head up I cant reach her so I am having to go up behind her and chuck it on as quick as possible lol
Garlic is the newest addition to my supplements and she been having it for about a month now, I dont find that it is working at all. I dont know if it is because she has only just beed introduced to it, or if it just doesnt work for her cos a lot of friends use it and it works fine!
She repellant doesnt work too well either.
I am hating putting her out because she does get covered in them and it horrible but I dont want her in so she is having to put up with it right now.

Also, JSR - Where do you buy rosehip from and how do you use it? My mare is starting to get really clicky back legs (she is nearly 13 so this is expected) but If I can do something about it I want to. Am willing to try?

Thanks

I think the best thing is sponging fly repellent around the eyes and face although I did once have a citronella roll on formula specifically for eyes which worked quite well, the only thing is if they're out all day it tends to wear off! Normal flies don't like citronella but I don't think horse flies have a problem with anything!!

I think the masks are very difficult, as much as it does to keep them off it's worse when flies get stuck inside and can't get out!

Yes, I used to give my ancient sheltand (she died at 40yrs) a 2cm squeeze of garlic paste (or a garlic pill) on a bit of bread and black molasses daily. I am sure it helped her mobility and she wasn't bothered much by flies, I reckon it came through her skin. (Although I never noticed it!) It does take a bit of time to build up.

Also have used 1/10 mix of oil and citronella oil which you can buy - you can use mineral oil as the base, but I used cheapest veg oil. I did find some of the horses skin was sensitive to it, and as others have said, it seemed to wear off.

I have tried Avon's 'Woodland Fresh' dry oil spray - walkers swear by it to combat mosquitoes, but also seems to wear off after a while.

Id recommend trying a full face fly mask, the flies cannot get under it!
Also garlic is a good longterm option, once in the diet..also i dampen cotton wool with fly spray and wipe around the top of the eye and down along the cheek bone....my boy seems to like it as i think he knows the benefit it will be!
Maz

Hi folks,

I'd highly recommend Avons Skin so Soft (soft and fresh) green label. It's a winner, don't know how or why but repells flies, midges etc. I use it on both my horses and myself and it works wonders. You would have to be carefull not to get it in your horses eyes. I just spray some in my hand and apply. Smells nice, don't have to apply much to get the effect, not too expensive and works!