Summer is often a challenging time for your horse, with high heat and humidity - and plenty of flies! The warmer months are prime time for biting insects, which can cause your horse severe discomfort.
Let's look at why it's important to protect your equine friend from insects, and how you can do it - including the best fly rugs for horses.
What insects can bother your horse?
Flies, ticks and midges can be a problem for horses in Australia. They feed on your horse’s blood, and their saliva can cause irritation and skin issues on top of pain from the bite itself. Insects can also carry diseases.
- Your horse can easily pick up a tick, particularly if they are paddocked or you're riding through a heavily-vegetated area. According to the RSPCA, the ticks of concern in Australia are cattle ticks, New Zealand ticks and paralysis ticks which can cause serious health problems for your horse.
- Culicoides midge. This little insect is the usual cause of Queensland Itch. This is a nasty skin condition occurring in horses in areas where there is stagnant water during summer.
- Bot flies. These flies can lay thousands of eggs that attach to individual hairs, mainly on the legs and chest of your horse. The horse can ingest them via licking, and the eggs hatch larvae in the mouth, then migrate to the stomach. Heavy infestation can cause mouth ulcers and oral discomfort, and lead ultimately to weight loss and poor condition generally.
- March flies. These are known as horse or stable flies. They’re a blood feeding fly that requires blood to help form their eggs. The bites are painful, and if plentiful can cause severe skin irritation.
Stress and agitation from being bitten may also lead to accidents in the paddock or stable, or during a ride in an infested area.
How to protect your horse from flies and other insects
There are several strategies you can use to protect your horse from being plagued by insects. These include:
- Insects tend to be most prevalent during the early morning and late afternoon periods of the day. Keeping your horse in a yard or stable during those times can help reduce exposure.
- Insects are attracted to manure, so keep your stable clean, and clear manure from your yards and paddocks regularly.
- Standing or stagnant water attracts insects, so keep troughs and buckets clean and re-fill them regularly. Keep your horse away from boggy wet areas in paddocks.
- Another thing insects love is sweat. Tree cover in paddocks or an open shed that offers shade will help keep your horse cooler.
- Fly masks. Correctly fitted fly masks or veils offer protection for your horse's head. Just make sure to check your horse's mask regularly for debris or damage, and don't leave it on overnight.
- Topical repellents. There are a range of different fly sprays and gels that you can use on your horse, particularly during rides where you may venture into areas where insects are more prevalent.
- Fly rugs for horses. Lightweight fly mesh rugs keep your horse covered and can be a convenient alternative to sprays that have to be applied regularly to be effective. You can even buy fly rugs that have been treated with insect repellent for added protection.
Euro-Guard Mesh Combo now available at Caribu
At Caribu, we're always looking for quality products that will help keep your horse safe and comfortable, whatever the conditions. We're proud to stock the new Euro-Guard Mesh Combo rug, which offers a range of clever features to help protect your horse from insects - without overheating.
The combo is made of mesh fabric which has been treated with insect repellent Permethrin for an added layer of defence.
The 190GSM soft polyester mesh is lightweight, and allows for good airflow to help keep your horse cool. At the same time, the rug offers full coverage of the body and neck, with a generous drop and tent tail flap.
There is fleece padding for added comfort across the wither, and additional internal lining in the chest and mane strip to alleviate rubbing. Belly surcingles, adjustable leg straps and reinforced chest straps keep it on securely, while gussets at the shoulders enable ease of movement. It also features night reflectors for added safety.
This horse rug has been designed and made with the Australian climate in mind. Along with other measures, like keeping paddocks clean and fly sprays, it can help your horse itch-free in summer!