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Flies on Horse Face

  • 11-08-2018 3:00pm
    #1
    Toots
    Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,974 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭


    Hi guys, not sure if I should be posting here or in Farming but thought I'd try here first. I'm on hols at the minute and the house we're renting has a paddock with 2 horses and 2 foals (I think the horses may be pregnant, too) Someone is leaving food for them and also water. We go down to see them a few times a day and they're quite friendly.

    I was just down with them there and one of the horse's faces was absolutely covered in flies. There were hundreds of them, and loads of them were actually in her eyes. She was coming over towards us and kept stopping to try and shake them off her head but they kept coming back. Is this normal? I was going to get in touch with the owner of the house and tell him, but I'm not sure if that's just standard for horses. They aren't stabled at night, if that makes any difference.


Comments

  • #2
    aonb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,277 ✭✭✭aonb


    With so many flies about, most horses benefit from a "fly mask" - a netted 'mask' that fits onto their head collars. There are various sprays that can be sprayed onto the horse, that can help or just provide a little relief too. some horses seem to attract and suffer from flies more than others. With this muggy weather there are just more flies about :(

    (sounds like they are brood mares - would be normal to have a foal at foot, and be covered again so that they'll have a foal next year again) Bring them a carrot or an apple when you visit - they'll get used to you quickly


  • #3
    Toots
    Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,974 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    There are lots of apple trees in the garden so we've been buying their affection with fruit. They see us approaching at a distance now and trot up to the gate to say hello. Do you reckon I should fire a text off to the owner about the flies?


  • #4
    aonb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,277 ✭✭✭aonb


    Mares and foals will be checked daily by the owner - s/he knows well about the flies you can be sure - we always put a FLY VEIL or MASK on our horses in the summer, but we're softies and our animals are all spoiled rotten - the stud next door to us doesnt own a fly veil or mask you can be sure - horses are just stock to breeders - flies dont really bother the horses desperately (unless a open sore/wound/cut etc) - Horseflies on the other hand can drive them mad (bites)


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