Fly Spray Archives - Big Dee's Tack & Vet Supplies

It’s almost that time again in Northeast Ohio – with the warming temperatures and shedding horses come the flies, gnats, mosquitoes and ticks. Nothing puts a damper on your good mood like swatting tiny gnats out of your face while grooming your horse. Or getting tail whipped in the eye by your trusty steed while saddling up. Luckily, there are ways to make the burden of bugs a lesser problem in the summer!

Feed Through

I’ll start with one of my favorites, and, one of the most important to start earlier in the season if you are utilizing feed thru benefits. There are two basic kinds of feed through supplements – one kind is meant to prevent flies from the inside out and the other kind helps break the cycle of fly populations. The goal of garlic based feed through supplements like Hilton Herbs Bye Bye Fly Garlic Granules and Equilite Herbals Fly Away Garlic is to deter flies from ever landing on your horse. This option may work better in boarding situations when not all horses are fed feed through fly prevention supplements.

The more complex feed through supplements like Farnam Simplifly with Larvastop and Solitude IGR don’t repel adult flies. They actually work by your horse consuming the product, which ends up in the manure and subsequently prevents the future larvae from ever reaching adulthood. This type of feed through takes the cooperation of an entire barn to truly work effectively. Every horse needs to be fed this to stop the fly population around the barn.

This will be my third summer using Simplifly and it makes a world of difference in the amount of flies in and around my barn. I start feeding it in early April so I can stop the fly population before it even begins.

With both types of feed through supplements, it’s recommended to start feeding them in early spring, through summer and into fall.

Perimeter Control

The next type of bug prevention should be started early in the Spring as well since it will essentially create a barrier for your barn. I used the Spartan Mosquito Eradictor for the first time last year and was blown away by the results. I placed the canisters away from my barn early in the year and was able to prevent a large influx of mosquitoes around my barn and pasture. By keeping up with the directions, I was able to keep my property relatively mosquito-free all year. This year at Big Dee’s, we are introducing the Terry Bradshaw 4 Ring Protection Mosquito Free Zone, which works incredibly fast to make a space mosquito free.

I place four Spartan canisters around my property in mid-April. They don’t bother wildlife and are easy to spot when my trails get dense with growth.

Other tried and true methods include the sticky tape, fly bags and timed-spray control systems. I like hanging a few sticky tapes near my barn doorway to catch gnats and the straggler flies, and use a fly bag near the pasture gates (be prepared to change these often – they work VERY well, but get heavy and gross quickly).

Masks, Leg Wraps and Sheets

One of the best investments for bug prevention is a nice fly mask. They range in materials, with or without ears, with or without extended noses or fringe and so many color and pattern options! My go-to is the Cashel mask with ears. It has darts to keep the material off of their eyes, while having a forelock hole and double secure velcro – not to mention fun new patterns every year! I use fly veils when riding in my english tack, but have found the Cashel Quiet Ride to be essential while riding in my western tack.

Sensitive skinned horses can benefit greatly from extra fly protection during the summer.

Leg wraps are another great tool if you have horses with sensitive skin, or in my case a grey gelding that gets bitten pretty badly if he goes out without anything. Fly sheets and scrims are fabulous for turnout and as an accessory for shows and trail rides. Fly sheets are breathable, lightweight and help keep biting insects from a large part of the body. Scrims are useful at shows to keep the bugs from pestering too badly while waiting for your classes.

Fly Sprays

When it comes to fly sprays, there are so many options. It can be a little overwhelming, but having knowledge on general terms can make the decisions easier. First, there are water and oil-based fly sprays. Each have their pros and cons. Water-based doesn’t attract dust like oil, but it also isn’t as sweat resistant and easily rinses off in rain. Oil-based can last a longer in the elements but can feel a little “heavier” and attract dust. I like having both options in the barn – for an oil based spray I like Pyranha Wipe N Spray and for water based I use Absorbine Ultrashield Ex.

An alternative to chemical-based are the all natural fly sprays. These tend to be environmentally friendly and non-toxic, and serve as a great option for those who want to go green. These products use natural oils like citronella and eucalyptus but need to be applied more regularly. For trail riding, I’ll use a natural-based like Equiderma Neem and Aloe so I can re-apply (lightly) as needed.

Another thing to consider is whether the fly spray is “ready-to-use” or a concentrate. Ready-to-use you can simply apply straight from the bottle, but concentrate needs to be diluted in a separate spray bottle. It’s best to test any product before using it on the entire body. Some horses are sensitive to different ingredients, and it’s better to find out in a small part of skin. Always read the labels carefully and apply as advised – too much can saturate and cause discomfort for the horse, while too little will be ineffective against the biting insects.

Spot Treatments and Balms

The final piece to the bug prevention puzzle are spot-treatment and topical options for the delicate areas of your horse. Roll-on is a popular choice because you can easily focus on areas of the face, like ears and muzzle. My personal favorite are Mug Balm and Belly Balm. I’ll use the Mug Balm on the white markings on my horse’s faces and the Belly Balm on their sheaths to protect from nasty bites. SWAT ointment is another option to protect delicate and difficult areas. Spot treatments like Equi-Spot are great alternative for horses who live in the pasture 24/7. By following the guidelines on each application point, you could help prevent ticks, flies and mosquitoes. The same advice applies for spot treatments, roll-ons and balms – test a small area first before applying like normal.

Takeaway

There are so many tips, tricks and trusted brands when it comes to finding the perfect bug prevention plan for your situation. Here at Big Dee’s, we can help because we have used so many of these products! Feel free to reach out to our team at 1-800-321-2142, through our chat feature on our website (www.bigdweb.com) or through social media!

Written by Marketing Associate, Cassie

As we stare at the Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies’ timeline, it’s hard to not feel sentimental. Borrowing the famous phrase from Sally Field (And modifying it slightly), “You like us, you really like us!” We couldn’t feel more honored, more humbled or more excited! We pledge to show all of our fans, each and every week, just how much your support and patronage means to us. With that in mind, we have searched the prize cabinet and have come up with a great prize package for this week’s contest! With a value of over $400, this prize package has something for everyone. Here’s a peak at everything inside:

The Prize Package:

Jolly Pet’s Jumbo Jolly Lick

Jolly Pets does not disappoint with this innovative toy! The Jumbo Jolly Lick toy includes a spot for a Jolly Stall Snack for maximum fun! This horse toy, which helps reduce your horse’s boredom, is designed to attach to the your horse’s stall. Young and old alike, this toy and treat combo is perfect for horses of all ages! The plastic toy spins to keep your horse entertained while the Jolly Pets’ Jolly Stall Snack will keep your horse coming back for more! The Jolly Stall Snack isn’t included, but isn’t an expensive add on at only $4.50. With flavors such as apple, carrot, mint and molasses, you are sure to find a stall snack that your horse loves!

Centaura Fly Insect Repellent for Horse & Rider

This unique new equine fly spray by Farnam is great for both Horse & Rider! For your horse, it provides 12 hour effective protection from flies and mosquitoes. For you and your family, it provides 12 hour long lasting protection from mosquitoes and ticks. It also repels biting flies, stable flies, black flies, gnats, chiggers and sand flies for up to eight hours. As an extra bonus, it smells great and isn’t sticky! If this isn’t enough to convince you, check out the Centaura Fly Spray reviews or the video testimonial, which was done by Big Dee’s Operation’s Manager, Jessica Roslan!

Vision Focus & Calming Paste & Pellets by Vitaflex

If you’re looking for a calming supplement for your horse, then this new product by Vitaflex might be your answer. The Vision Focus & Calming supplement, which boasts of seven stress relieving active ingredients, won’t cause drowsiness. Speaking from my own experience, I used this Vision Focus and Calming Paste when moving my horse from her training stable to her winter stable. My mare was calm while traveling and adjusted quickly to her new surroundings. I was even able to ride her on her first trail ride. During the ride, she was attentive but not spooky. If you ask me, that is the perfect combination.

Succeed Digestive Oral Paste by Freedom Health LLC

Succeed Digestive Oral Paste is one of the best trade secrets in the business! From improved temperament to a better body condition, how you treat your horse’s insides definitely shows on the outside. This equine digestive product gives your horse everything he or she needs to succeed (Pun intended). These single serving pastes are great for shows, the track or starting your horse on the Succeed Digestive Conditioning Program. If you haven’t heard of the Succeed Digestive Conditioning Program for horses, please take a moment to read our more detailed description and watch the video. I think you’ll be impressed.

Next Level Performance Equine Joint Pellets by Farnam

Next Level Performance is a new equine joint supplement by Farnam. This pelleted equine joint supplement contains MicroLactin, a patented dried milk protein that helps manage inflammation caused by daily exercise and training. In addition to MicroLactin, it also contains Chondroitin, Glucosamine, Manganese, Vitamin C and Zinc.

Other Prizes:

In addition to the great prizes mentioned above, this package also includes a sample of Calxequin By Nutramax, which is a concentrated daily hoof supplement. A small sample of Pyranha fly spray, a $50.00 Big Dee’s gift card, some treats for your dog, a set of cordless trimmers from Oster and some great promo items from Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies! Phew, that was a mouthful. Now you can really see how there is something for everyone is this prize package.

Contest Rules:

The rules are easy… You just need to comment on this contest(Here on the blog), telling us why you are a fan of Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies and like the link to this contest on Facebook! Do you like our products? Is it our fast shipping? Or, maybe it’s our knowledgeable CSR’s? Whatever it is, we want to know!

On 09/06/12 at 8:00 AM, we’ll pick one random winner to win the ENTIRE PRIZE PACKAGE!

No Purchase Necessary. Random Winner chosen on 09/06/12 at 8:00 AM. Must have a valid US Address to participate.

Big Dee's Tack & Vet Supplies

Tag Archives: Fly Spray

Fly Prevention