How to Kill Flies Around Horses

It is an unfortunate fact of life that horses tend to attract flies. As the weather gets warmer and the flies become more active, they can become a real nuisance around the barn, riding ring and paddock area. As a horse owner, you can reduce the number of flies through proper manure disposal and good hygiene practices, but there is no way to eliminate these pests altogether. The best you can do is use a variety of fly killing products to reduce their impact.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly predators
  • Fly traps
  • Fly sticks
  • Fly repellant
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Instructions

    • 1

      Release a set of fly predators each month, starting a few months before flies typically become a problem in your area. Fly predators are harmles insects that feed on fly larvae, killing those troublesome pests before they even have a chance to hatch. When you buy fly predators, they arrive in a larval state, and you must wait until they begin to hatch before releasing them. Sprinkle the fly predators around manure piles for maximum impact, and continue to use them throughout the season.

    • 2

      Hang fly traps around the paddock, pasture and barn area, and around the areas where you store manure prior to disposal. Fly traps use a water filled container to which a specially scented fly attractant is added. The flies enter the trap, are unable to escape and drown in the water. The attractants used with the traps have a strong,and unpleasant, odor, so it is best to hang them far away from where you work and ride.

    • 3

      Place an assortment of fly stickers in each horse's stall, and in the aisle way of the barn as well. Hang the fly stickers high enough so that the horse's cannot be caught on them. These fly killers have a sticky surface, and they are designed to snare flies as they make their way around the barn.

    • 4

      Spray your horse with fly repellent every time you ride, or every few days when you are not riding. Flies that bite the horse while the fly repellent is strongest will die, and the lingering effect of the repellant should help keep flies at bay. It is a good idea to rotate between several different brands of fly repellant throughout the season, since flies seem to get used to, and less affected by, one particular brand.

    • 5

      Test hanging a bug zapper in or near the barn, but keep in mind that some horses are bothered by the constant noise. If the sound of the bug zapper bothers your horses, you can hang it around your home instead to catch any flies that make their way from the barn to the house.