I live in an area of Arkansas that is mostly farmland that they intentionally flood and therefore the flies and mosquities are AWFUL!!  My poor gelding's legs are getting torn up by the flies.  I fly spray him every morning and that doesn't seem to help much.  My baby doesn't seem to have as much of a problem as he does. 

 I was wondering if any of you have ever used those fly boots.  If you have, did they work?  Did they have any problems with sliding down around their ankles? 

 Also, what fly sprays do you find work the best.  I have used Bronco which doesn't work well especially if the horses is sweating.  I've also used Bug Block and Pyrahna.  

 Does anyone have any homemade remedies that work. 

I apologize for all the questions.  I just feel so bad for him.  I know the flies must be driving him nuts.  Any help is appreciated!

You could try smearing his legs with Vaseline.  I've never used the boots.  My guys are hell on anything I put on their legs for turnout, so I haven't wanted to waste the money.  Right now I'm using a fly spray called "Horse and Pony Fly Spray", I think.  Appropriate name!  LOL  I got it at TSC.  Anyway, it smells good and is oil-based so it doesn't come off in the rain.  My guys are on 24-hour turnout, and we're LOADED with gypsy moth larvae that can be very irritating to the skin.  So far, so good.  I'm itching like mad, but the horses are fine. 

Being originally from SE PA, I know what you're going through! I'll take the rattle snakes in the desert over flies and mosquitoes, any day!! LOL

 Oil based products are the best, even though they attract dirt. I've heard you can brush opposite the lay of the hair, spray the horse liberally and then brush with the lay of the hair. Maybe this helps keep the spray active longer.

Have you tried a roll on which you can massage into the hair well? I use the Endure roll on for faces, ears and sheaths and it lasts about a week.

I don't have experiene wth the fly boots, but I tried the neck and leg bands which have the citronella in them and both horses broke out so badly, I took them off and tossed them. I tried to get my $ back and couldn't get a response from the manufacturer.

 BTW, I use the fly spray on myself, too!

betsypony262:

I'll give that fly spray a try! I know the one I have now is a water based fly spray. Thanks for the advice!

I forgot to mention that it's also got a sunscreen in it, and you can buy it in spray bottles or by the gallon.    I used it on Zip yesterday after our workout, and even after I hosed off all his sweat, the flyspray seemed to remain intact.  He was still shiny and smelled of the product.  It's not often I find one I like.  I'm delighted I stumbled on this one.

Scout's Mom:

I don't have experiene wth the fly boots, but I tried the neck and leg bands which have the citronella in them and both horses broke out so badly, I took them off and tossed them. I tried to get my $ back and couldn't get a response from the manufacturer.

 BTW, I use the fly spray on myself, too!

SM, I hope that's not horse spray you're using on yourself!  Most of them have warning labels.  You'll smell good and be fly-free, but have a rash to put rain rot to shame.    Speaking of which, are you having the gypsy moth rash problems in SE PA?  AAAAARGH!  My rash is moving at will around my body, and nothing I do makes any difference.

I'm with you on the citronella neck bands, etc.  I tried the neck bands and the fly fringe that attaches to the halter.  Aside from the horses enjoying the game of ripping them off each other, they served no good purpose and were far too expensive.

I love fly boots -- just make sure you get some specifically designed not to sag!  It will say so in the product description.