How long do horseflies stay around? my horses have been under attack for 2 months

Question

we have terrible horseflies every summer. last year, it was really dry and very hot and they were bad, but this summer, they have been even worse. what can we do to keep them away??

Answer 1

Horseflies seem to stay around until the weather changes back to cold (or at least drops significantly and stays there).

One thing we do to help minimize the impact of the flies is to spray our horses in the field and let them go roll in the dirt.  This seems to help quite a bit.  It requires more grooming when you ride, but in the meantime the horses seem more comfortable.

Another thing you can try is to use a fly spray with an insecticide in it (unless you're one of those all-natural products people).  They work much better than those other fly sprays.

My friend tried tying dryer sheets in her horse's mane and tail.  It seemed to work reasonably well.

You could also try making your own fly spray.  I believe the trick is to use citronella.  Start with a small amount mixed with water and vinegar.  Citronella can cause the fur to fall out if you use too much, so start with a small amount and see how it does before increasing the amount of citronella.

You can also buy Avon's Skin So Soft, dilute it and spray it on.  It works really well, too.  Dilute it quite a bit because it will cause your horse's fur to fall out if you use too much!

Hope these ideas help!