Now that it's the humid summer here in SW FL, the flies are here in full force.  I have a 3 stall barn - 2 paint ponies and 1 Thoroughbred.  I walk in my TB's stall and the flies are swarming!!  I walk in the other 2 stalls and nothing.  This is even when he's not in there.  Yes, the flies bother him much more than the other two.  They are relentless.  I go through tons of fly spray, to no avail.  Does anyone have a suggestion for me?  I've heard about using apple cider vinegar and garlic and even brewers yeast.  But do I feed it to him or put it in his stall or what?  Rub him down with it??  Sounds silly, but just looking for some details.

Thx!

I have heard of people using acv for flies too - just spray or wipe it on. Some mix it with avon skin so soft. A friend of mine has fly catchers in her back yard - they are clear jars that hang from her tree. She bought them at wal-mart and they collect flies in them like crazy! I am going to buy a few of those and hang them around the barn. I also use an electric bug zapper. That seems to help. There is also fly tape, gross but seems affective. We get the small red biting sand flies here and have yet to find something to fight against them. :(

Have you seen any ads for "fly predators"? Fly predators are beneficial fly parasites that don't harm horses or humans but kill flies, the fly eggs I think. They were used at a boarding barn at which I used to keep Juno, until I moved her home. The FPs worked well at the boarding barn. I don't use them at my barn b/c I have few flies, but if I had a lot of flies I would definitely get more of the FPs. You are mailed a box of the FP larvae, and you sprinkle them around your manure pile or places where the flies are the worst. More FPs are mailed to you every 2 months, according to your needs. If you Google "fly predators" you'd bring up plenty of info. It might be just the ticket for you. Maybe you could put them in your TB's stall, but I think they're supposed to go on the ground or manure pile. You'd certainly get directions for use of them at any of the sites that sell them.

What is ACV???

I've also heard good things about the fly predators.  Aren't those quite expensive?  I'm working on a budget right now and thinking they may be a little too pricey.  :(

I use Citronella, Skin so Soft, and apple cider vinegar as fly spray.  Any fly spray I've used doesn't last long enough to keep him sane. 

 You do feed the Apple Cider Vinegar with garlic. I am not sure how much, but I do know that mu friend feeds the minced garlic that needs to be kept in the fridge with (what I think) is about 1/2 cup of the vinegar. I think that, just like people, the pH of some animals is different that others making them more/less attractive to the bugs....I think that the ACV makes the pH so the bugs keep away??

You can also do a "rinse" with ACV after a bath and it will get all the build up out of the coat and make them really shiny. 

Get a bottle of Cutter that attaches to the water hose.  Put the horses out and scrape the stalls down.  Spray the walls with the cutter making sure not to get it in the feed bucket or water.  Let it dry and then put new shavings down.  This will keep the bugs out for quite awhile.

Also you can just put a fan in the stall and that will help keep them out.

For fly spray I make my own and it is better than most store bought with the exception of the 14 day stuff.  I mix about 12 or 14 drops of Citronella oil, a squirt of Dawn and white vinegar in a spray bottle or if I use a gallon pump sprayer (which I personally prefer) its a tbs of citronella, 1/4 cup of Dawn and vinegar.

Apple Cider Vinegar is great stuff all around.  It helps with skin problems, arthritis, and lots of other things including pest control. 

I used to use the garlic but it has been said to cause anemia if used in large amounts.  I have also been told that extended use could possibly do the same.  I did not have any problems until this year when one of the horses got sick and the vet told us he was anemic.   I have not been using the garlic since.  The vet told me that he is almost completley sure that is not what it was but just to be on the safe side they are all off of it for now since the spray is controlling them so well.

I do not use them but I have seen horses with the fly straps for the legs and neck at rodeos and there were no flies on them.

I've fed the garlic from Springtime with success.  The way the Springtime garlic is processed, makes it very low in the component that causes anemia.  It would take nine pounds of Springtime garlic a day for an extended length of time to cause any problems.  So an ounce or two a day isn't going to hurt.  Also Springtime is offering a special sale right now, instead of buy two and get one free, they're offering buy two get two free.  They also offer a free product.  http://www.springtimeinc.com .

Spotted Pony

I am having similar issues with my gelding and mare since this is their first season in SE Georgia. I feed garlic, about a tablespoon a day in their feed. I've heard many people say they add apple cider vinegar to their horses' feed, but I'm not sure how much. I looked into the straps for their legs and neck, but most people say they only work well for a couple of weeks and some horses have allergic reactions to them. I am looking at getting fly sheets and wraps, and State Line Tack has some of both on sale right now--to cover both my horses(I already have masks) will cost me $63 including shipping. If you only need it for 1 horse, you could probably do it for around $30 including shipping. I also make my own fly spray that seems to last better than most commercial ones I've tried. It's about a tablespoon of dish soap(Dawn or whatever brand), 12 oz of vinegar, and 10 oz of water in a 24 oz spray bottle. The recipe I got was actually equal parts vinegar and water, but I make it slightly stronger and it does better. I hope you find something to help him be more comfortable--flies are annoying, pointless little bugs!