[SheepCrazy!]

Hi Guys, I have a small dilemma as soon as I spray my mare with Flyguard which works great on all the nasty biting insects around here. They ALL turn on me so the question is what should I be wearing to prevent flies this summer.

Any horse fly repellent recipes would be much appreciated for both horse and owner, as this year seems to be particularly bad. for horse flies 

[happygolucky]

I made a mix for me from here, not sure what thread but I bought some surgical spirit, soaked cloves in it for a few days, added some citronella (that's my addition) and baby oil......well it works on me, I put it on my arms and face and the horse flies kept getting at my ankles as there was none on that, my husband got bitten so last night put some of the potion on and it worked for him too...not sure about animals but for us its not bad, also cheap and smells nice  ...(makes me fancy a hot toddy)

[SheepCrazy!]

Sounds good thanks and no nasty chemicals for me or the horse! I'll give it a go, Where did you buy your citreonella from?

[happygolucky]

The chemist got some for me, it was less than £2 the bottle that is the size of one of the usual aromatherapy oils....it does smell nice and I think its harmless
 

[EcoGypsy]

Try adding garlic to the feed, flies dont like smell of it on the horse!

[SheepCrazy!]

Thanks guys, for the advise i'll pop into the chemist asap, Abbey (the horse) has a garlic supalyx year round which does help but the horse flies seem to be awful this year. I did try her with granules in her food but she just wouldn't eat it! But she doesn't get hard feed in the summer or she'd be a barrel.

[happygolucky]

Our potion works  but I think I need more baby oil in it to stick better....but it does work and smells sort of nice

[ellied]

I have noticed (and large inflamed lumps do get my attention quickly!) a huge increase in clegs here this summer, I assume it's the prolonged dry heat.. 

The only thing works for me is taking antihistamines, cetirizine hydrochloride unbranded from the chemist 10mg is the best and cheap for having no brand name over it - plus it's a non-drowsy making one so safe to take before finishing with anything that requires attention, from driving and machinery to just animal handling..  I also have Pollenase which is 4mg chlorphenamine maleate but it does make you drowsy and can't be taken if you plan a drink in the evening either, so I no longer use it for preference.

Anything on the skin washes off with sweat or water in this hot weather, gets rubbed off by dirt, animals etc or fades so quickly it doesn't deter a housefly let alone a cleg  Couple of days last week I got half a dozen cleg bites within a couple of hours, so the tablets were a godsend.

[happygolucky]

Funny thing, the first trial of my potion my husband did not and refused to put any on, he was covered in little bites,  luckily they went and did  not swell up, however, I had non although the cleggs kept sticking and biting my legs through my thin leggings and I did get a few bits, one on my ankle that itched  but that's all, we were in the forest for over an hour but I take the potion with us now and just put more on when/if needed and it keeps them at bay. The flies must hate the smell but I find it rather nice, next time I will put some on my legs, Oh and we stayed to let the dogs swim and the B **"$ things kept bitting my bum 

[in the hills]

Ahhhh .... so now I know what cleggs are.


Never took much notice of different kinds of fly but just had a quick look at horse flies. Sounds as though it could be those that like to bite me. Last time was about 4 years ago. Didn't actually see the fly but the bite really was sharp. Swelling spread from my ankle as far as my knee. Couldn't get a shoe on. Bright red and felt as though my leg could burst. Felt quite ill with it. Used to get these type bites and reactions quite often but not had one since moving here ... too cold and wet for many flies til now. 


Might have to have a go at your potion HGL .... is it copyright ?

[SheepCrazy!]

Thanks happygolucky, seeing as I've been working all week Abbey  has had olive oil soaked with cloves on (its all I had in the cupboard and it does seems to be working  just as well as her Flyguard. So I'll be off to town tomorrow for some citronella!

I've spoken to a few people and cleggs do seem to be worse this year I wonder if thats due to the mild winter we had? This is the first year I've been bitten and yes it was on the bum  that will teach me for wearing short shorts! A friend of mine is allergic to clegg bites and was advised to put TCP, repeatedly on the bites which helps reduce the swelling.

[happygolucky]

Tonight I have bites on my ankles and lower leg....no potion was applied to those parts but my arms, and the top of my body and face are no itchy....and we stood near the water for a while then I went into a wild meadow and not one  bite on the top bit of me where the potion is applied but you do need to keep applying it, its not unpleasant and I have another load fermenting with more baby oil in so it could last longer!!! 

[EcoGypsy]

One old method I heard of, is boiling linden leaves and after cooling it down, wash the horse. Never tried it tho!

[SheepCrazy!]

Oh shes due a wash!  I wondered about lavender oil as the stuff I got for the bath is vile

[happygolucky]

I have loads of bites on my legs, the little $%£"&, bit me through my leggings, but where I put the potion is fine, they are nasty itchy bites so I can understand how the poor horses feel..... I have just made a new lot with baby oil in so it will stick better........funny that the midges have disappeared for now but been replaced buy Cleggs