Koper Equine

Which do you find most effective?

Bugs are more than just a nuisance. They can reduce comfort and performance, interfere with grazing and riding, delay wound healing, transmit disease, and contribute to skin and eye problems. The most effective insect control programs combine environmental management, physical barriers, airflow, and targeted repellents to reduce insect populations and improve horse welfare.

While Riding

• Fly bonnet or ear bonnet
• Fly fringe attached to the bridle
• Fly sheet designed for riding
• Neck and head fly sheet
• Mesh exercise sheet
• Fly boots
• Fly spray
• Fly repellent wipes for sensitive areas
• Roll-on or stick repellent for the face and ears
• Permethrin-treated gear (where appropriate)
• Avoid riding during peak insect activity (typically dawn and dusk). In hot climates such as South Carolina, riding during the hotter part of the day may reduce exposure to biting insects. Avoid heavily wooded areas and standing water where insects are abundant.
• Ride in breezier areas whenever possible.

In the Pasture

• Fly mask (with or without ears)
• Fly mask with nose extension
• Fly sheet
• Fly sheet with belly band
• Fly boots
• Fly leggings
• UV-protective fly sheets for light-colored horses
• Access to shade
• Natural windbreaks or breezy paddocks
• Run-in shelters
• Fans in shelters or loafing sheds (where electricity is available)
• Automatic fly spray systems around shelters

In the Stable

• Fans to increase air movement
• Good ventilation
• Fly screens on windows and doors
• Screen or strip curtains
• Fly traps placed away from stalls
• Sticky fly ribbons (well out of the horse’s reach)
• Fly predators (beneficial parasitic wasps)
• Automatic misting systems
• Regular manure removal
• Dry bedding
• Prompt removal of wet hay and feed
• Eliminate standing water
• Stable-safe fly sprays
• Residual insecticides on walls (used according to label directions)
• Mosquito control measures

Reducing Bugs Around the Paddock

Manure Management

• Remove manure regularly.
• Compost manure properly.
• Spread manure only after adequate composting.
• Avoid manure piles near turnout areas.

Water Management

• Eliminate standing water.
• Repair leaking waterers.
• Improve drainage.
• Clean water troughs regularly.
• Empty buckets and containers after rain.

Vegetation Management

• Mow tall grass.
• Trim weeds around fences.
• Remove decaying vegetation.
• Maintain good pasture drainage.

Biological Control

• Release fly predators (beneficial parasitic wasps).
• Encourage insect-eating birds.
• Encourage bats with bat houses where appropriate.

Traps

• Baited fly traps
• Sticky traps (away from horses)
• Horse fly traps
• Deer fly traps
• Mosquito traps (where practical)

Environmental Management

• Increase airflow with open shelters or strategic fencing.
• Rotate grazing areas.
• Reduce overcrowding.
• Locate feeding areas away from manure accumulation.
• Remove spilled feed promptly.

Landscaping

Some horse owners plant aromatic herbs and flowering plants around barns and seating areas in an effort to discourage insects. While scientific evidence is limited, these plants may provide some localized benefit and can also support pollinators.

Commonly used plants include:

• Lavender
• Lemongrass
• Rosemary
• Basil
• Mint (best grown in containers as it spreads aggressively)
• Marigolds
• Catnip
• Bee balm (Monarda)

These should be considered a complement to, rather than a replacement for, good sanitation, manure management, airflow, physical barriers, and insect repellents.

On the Horse

• Fly sprays
• Fly gels
• Roll-on repellents
• Spot-on insect repellents
• Natural repellents (effectiveness varies)
• Coat conditioners containing insect repellents
• Fly masks
• Ear covers
• Nose covers
• Fly sheets
• Belly guards
• Fly boots

Sensitivity to Fly Control Products

Not all horses tolerate fly control products equally. Some may develop skin irritation or allergic reactions to certain sprays, wipes, spot-on products, or ingredients. Heat, humidity, sweating, prolonged sun exposure, and repeated application can increase skin sensitivity and may make reactions more likely.

When using a new product, apply it to a small area first and monitor for redness, swelling, itching, hair loss, or signs of discomfort over the next 24–48 hours. Follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully, avoid contact with the eyes and other sensitive tissues unless the product is specifically intended for those areas, and discontinue use if irritation develops. If significant skin reactions occur or persist, consult your veterinarian.

Daily Inspection

Even the best fly protection should be checked every day.

• Check under fly masks and fly sheets for rubbing, trapped debris, or insects.
• Remove and clean fly gear regularly.
• Inspect the ears, eyes, nostrils, udder, sheath, and between the hind legs for bites or irritation.
• Remove ticks promptly using an appropriate technique.
• Watch for skin irritation, hair loss, rubs, or signs of infection beneath fly gear.

Eye Care During Fly Season

Flies are attracted to tears and eye secretions and can irritate the sensitive tissues around the eyes.

• Excessive rubbing caused by flies may lead to hair loss, skin irritation, corneal scratches, or ulcers.
• Fly masks can help protect the eyes, but they should fit correctly and be checked daily for rubbing, trapped debris, or damage.
• Watch for squinting, excessive tearing, cloudiness, swelling, redness, or discharge, as these may indicate an eye injury or infection requiring prompt veterinary attention.

Nutritional Support

Good nutrition supports healthy skin and coat condition. Evidence for many insect-repellent supplements remains limited, but some owners choose to use:

• Electrolyte support during hot weather
• Omega-3 fatty acids for skin health
• Garlic (research on effectiveness is mixed, and excessive amounts may be harmful)
• Commercial insect-repellent supplements (scientific evidence varies)

Managing Peak Insect Activity

• Turn horses out overnight when appropriate.
• Stable horses during dawn and dusk when many insects are most active.
• Exercise during periods of lower insect activity.
• Use fans whenever horses are indoors.

Different Bugs Require Different Strategies

House flies

• Manure management
• Good sanitation
• Fly traps
• Beneficial parasitic wasps

Stable flies

• Manure management
• Removal of wet hay and organic debris
• Fly boots
• Repellents

Horse flies and deer flies

• Fly sheets
• Fly masks
• Repellents
• Physical traps

Mosquitoes

• Eliminate standing water
• Use fans
• Stable horses around dusk
• Fly masks
• Repellents

Gnats and midges (no-see-ums)

• Fine-mesh fly sheets and masks
• Fans
• Stable horses during dawn and dusk
• Repellents

Horses with Insect Bite Hypersensitivity (Sweet Itch)

Some horses develop an exaggerated allergic reaction to insect bites.

• Begin protection before insect season starts.
• Use fine-mesh sweet itch rugs and masks.
• Stable horses when biting midges are most active.
• Fans can be especially helpful because midges are weak fliers.
• Work with your veterinarian if itching becomes severe.

Recognizing Bug-Related Problems

Watch for:

• Persistent rubbing or itching
• Hair loss
• Hives or welts
• Crusting or scabs
• Swelling
• Skin infections
• Excessive tail or mane rubbing
• Head shaking
• Ear sensitivity

Caring for Cuts and Wounds During Fly Season

Flies can delay healing and increase the risk of infection.

• Clean wounds promptly.
• Keep wounds clean whenever possible.
• Use fly-safe wound dressings or bandages when appropriate.
• Apply insect repellent around wounds unless the product is specifically designed for use on open wounds.
• Consider fly masks, fly boots, or wound covers to protect healing areas.
• Monitor wounds daily for swelling, heat, discharge, odor, or excessive granulation tissue (proud flesh).
• Contact your veterinarian for deep wounds, puncture wounds, wounds near joints or tendons, or wounds that are not healing normally.

The most effective fly control programs use multiple strategies simultaneously. Environmental management reduces insect breeding, physical barriers help prevent bites, fans and airflow make it harder for many insects to reach the horse, and targeted repellents provide additional protection. No single product works perfectly, but combining these approaches can dramatically reduce insect pressure and improve horse comfort, health, and welfare throughout fly season.

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