[ILoveRedRanger!]

Would it help leaving him in the barn during days?

[Heavenly Jumper]

Originally Posted by Dawn

What brand of fly spray are you using?

This is what I have -

Martin 10% Permethrin Concentrate

Originally Posted by ILoveRedRanger!

Would it help leaving him in the barn during days?

Our barn is completely open and the flies would have no trouble coming and going. The horses have in and out access to their stalls if they wish.

[BonnieM]

Try putting a fan on him in the barn--We do that when the flies are bad & it is hot... the breeze keeps the bugs away. You could also put up fly traps in the barn that would help capture the flies that are in there. They work!! I get some cheap ones from Valley Vet called Rescue Fly Traps...3.50 or so, put some water in them, hang up and voila...something flies cannot resist. Doesn't help with gnats or skeeters though.

BonnieM

[twyns2]

Good luck getting relief from your vet.Mine just tells me to keep my 4yr.old in his stall.
Same problem here too with my boy.I use a sheet and plenty of bug spray.Swat for his face.It does help with the healing but wish i had access to a more caring vet here.

[Redfishy]

I have a horse in my yard with the same issue and a friend has one that's prob as bad as poor Azar. I think a lot of it has to do with living in the wonderful location of the US we are in! I do know my vet gives them a shot and helps the itches then on goes the fly spray and sheets/masks.

For fly spray the other barn uses Repel-X mixed with Skin So Soft and Listerine (blue). I use either Equi-sect or ManaPro Fly & Mosquito mixed with Listerine (I use the generic dollar store version of the gold/brown) and sometimes Skin So Soft (depending on my mood). In addition I also use Spot-On ever 2 weeks on the ones in my yard.

Another thing, flax! We (friend and I in conjunction with vet experimenting on ours and others) have found that flax 2x a day has also been a big help. I have a second horse with very mild allergies to bugs and I've had him on several of the feed throughs throughout the years and they don't seem to work.

So in my yard the shot, flax, mask, fly spray and Spot-On do the trick. Sheets don't last for this horse nor have leg wraps...but he's ok other than no mane/tail base. For friend she has to do the shot, flax, spray, mask, sheet, fed garlic...and he's still miserable. I do think the biggest difference in my yard and her's is she has 20+ and I have 4 with none surrounding and she has surrounding as well. Why I think that is b/c of other issues that my horses had while in her yard that went away when moved (another story another day!).

Ok I hope all that came out right!

[Dawn]

What are you diluting it with? Does it say if it's an oil or a water base to it?

[barrelchick4393]

I have one that breaks out in hives on any days that the bugs are bad. We are using a fly sheet on him and it really seems to help, but we also took a plunge and bought one of those misters that you can out outside your barn that keeps moisture in the air and keeps the horses cooler. We usually turn it on for about 30 minutes a day, and it helps keep the flies off and if my gelding breaks out it reduces the swelling all over. The only thing is that we have to make sure the fly sheet stays clean & dry which is quite a chore around my messy horses!

[barrelchick4393]

Originally Posted by ILoveRedRanger!

Would it help leaving him in the barn during days?

yes that would probably help but horses that are kept in stalls all day are a lot more likely to develop other problems such as vices, and they are also 4 times more likely to develop navicular. Horses should really be allowed several hours a day to exercise and forage as this keeps them much more healthy and can cut down on the vet bills in the long run.

[Heavenly Jumper]

Originally Posted by Dawn

What are you diluting it with? Does it say if it's an oil or a water base to it?

Here is the info from the supply site -

Martin 10% Permethrin Concentrate

Long-Lasting Fly Repellent with up to 28 days of residual activity for just pennies a horse!

This long-lasting fly spray features a new, exclusive, safer formula. (Residual activity for up to 28 days*) Our best results came from mixing from 2 to 4 ounces of concentrate in a gallon of water and for some extreme infestations up to 6 ounces per gallon for spot treatments on the ears, face, and along the back line. (We suggest starting at 2 ounces per gallon and increasing the amount if needed in heavy infestations.) Special, non-burning formula contains no solvents or petroleum distillates. It has virtually no odor when mixed with water. Effective against one of the widest range of insects available. Among the many pests this fly spray is effective against are: horn flies, face flies, lice, ticks, deer ticks, mosquitoes, and many other pesky insects.

Sizes:
pint – makes 8 – 25 gallons of ready-to-use spray or wipe-on OR up to 50 galls of premise spray)
quart - will mix up to 16 - 50 gallons of ready-to-use spray or wipe-on OR up to 100 gallons of premise spray
gallon – will mix up to 64 – 200 gallons of ready-to-use spray or wipe-on OR up to 400 gallons of premise spray

[StockHorseGirl]

Maybe a different fly spray would work? Bronco Gold is the only thing I've used that really keeps the flies off.

Poor little guy.