Yes, you can absolutely get rid of horse flies, and there are many ways to do it. Getting rid of horse flies involves a mix of managing the environment, using traps, applying repellents, and knowing how to treat their bites if they do get through.
Fathoming the Horse Fly Problem
Horse flies are more than just a nuisance. They are blood-sucking pests that bother horses, livestock, and people. These insects are strong fliers. They can ruin outdoor activities and cause real stress to animals. Knowing how they live helps us fight them better.
Distinguishing Horse Flies from Other Biting Flies
People often confuse horse flies with other biting pests. It is key to know the difference so you use the right control methods.
| Feature | Horse Fly (Tabanus species) | Stable Fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) | Deer Fly (Chrysops species) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Large (up to 1 inch) | Medium size | Smaller than horse flies |
| Wings | Clear, large | Clear, often spotted | Clear, darker bands |
| Mouthparts | Large, knife-like bayonet | Sharp, piercing stylet | Smaller, piercing mouthpart |
| Biting Style | Slashes skin and laps blood | Pierces skin to suck blood | Slashes and laps blood |
| Resting Spot | Often rests on light surfaces | Prefers floors, walls, manure piles | Found near shaded brush |
If you are getting rid of biting flies around horses, you must target the right pest. Stable flies prefer manure and damp bedding. Horse flies are often found near water or open, sunny areas where they hunt.
Managing the Breeding Grounds
Horse flies need standing water to lay their eggs. This is the most important step in horse fly control methods. If you stop them from breeding, you stop the problem at its source.
Eliminating Standing Water
Horse flies thrive where water collects. Look around your property for places where water sits after rain.
- Empty buckets, old tires, or clogged gutters often hold water.
- Fix leaky faucets or hoses that drip constantly.
- Ensure drainage ditches flow freely.
Cleaning Up Areas Near Water Sources
Larvae develop in wet soil or decaying organic matter near ponds, streams, or ditches.
- Keep grassy areas mowed short near water. Long grass holds moisture.
- Remove piles of wet leaves or decaying wood debris close to animal housing.
- If you have livestock, try to keep them away from muddy areas during peak fly season.
Using Physical Barriers and Traps
When environmental control is not enough, physical barriers and traps help reduce the adult fly population quickly. This is key for how to stop horse flies biting in high-traffic areas.
Commercial Horse Fly Traps
Commercial horse fly traps work by mimicking the things horse flies look for. Most traps use two main lures: CO2 and heat.
- CO2 Traps: Horse flies are drawn to carbon dioxide, which mammals breathe out. These traps release small amounts of CO2 to lure the flies in.
- Visual Lures (Balloons/Balls): Many traps use dark, round objects, like large black rubber balls. These look like a cow or horse’s body to the fly. The fly attacks the ball, gets stuck on the sticky surface, or is sucked into a collection bag.
Place these traps strategically. Put them where flies gather most, often between the sunniest areas and where animals rest.
Fly Sheets and Masks
Protecting the animals directly is crucial. Modern fly gear offers great physical defense.
- Fly Sheets: Use lightweight, mesh fly sheets, especially during the hottest parts of the day when flies are most active. These cover the large body areas where flies love to land.
- Fly Masks: Use masks with ear and muzzle netting to protect the sensitive eyes and face from persistent biters.
Chemical and Repellent Strategies
Repellents are your frontline defense for immediate relief. You have options ranging from strong chemicals to gentler, natural remedies for horse flies.
Best Horse Fly Repellent for Horses
When choosing a repellent, look for products specifically made for horses, as they must be safe for their sensitive skin.
- Pyrethrin and Permethrin Based Sprays: These are very effective. They kill flies on contact or repel them for a few hours. You must reapply them often, especially after rain or heavy sweating.
- Oil-Based Repellents: These tend to last longer than water-based sprays. However, they can sometimes make the horse sweat more easily.
Always test a small area first. Read the label carefully to ensure the product is appropriate for the animal’s age and health status.
Repel Horse Flies Naturally
Many horse owners prefer to repel horse flies naturally to avoid chemical exposure. Natural options often require more frequent application but are very safe.
Essential Oil Blends
Certain essential oils are powerful fly deterrents. Mix these carefully with a carrier oil (like coconut or almond oil) before applying to the skin.
- Citronella: A classic, strong insect repellent scent.
- Cedarwood Oil: Effective against many biting insects.
- Peppermint Oil: The strong smell bothers flies.
- Geranium Oil: Often included in many commercial natural blends.
Natural Spray Recipe Idea:
Mix 10 drops each of Citronella, Cedarwood, and Peppermint oil into 4 ounces of witch hazel or water. Add a splash of apple cider vinegar to help it stick. Shake well before every use.
Garlic Supplements
Feeding garlic to horses is a long-standing tradition believed to help prevent horse flies on livestock from being as attracted to the animal’s scent. While results vary among animals, many users report fewer flies when their horses are regularly supplemented with garlic powder.
Stable Management for Fly Reduction
Keeping the stables clean is vital. This is especially true if you are dealing with stable fly vs horse fly confusion, as stable flies breed in manure.
- Daily Mucking: Remove manure and soiled bedding daily. Do not let it pile up near the barn doors or stalls.
- Manure Disposal: Move manure piles far away from barns and pastures. The farther away, the better. Composting manure quickly can also generate heat that kills fly eggs and larvae.
- Good Ventilation: Keep barns well-ventilated. Flies prefer dark, still air. Good airflow discourages them from resting inside.
Treating the Horse Fly Bite
If control efforts fail and your horse or you get bitten, knowing how to handle the wound is important. A horse fly bite treatment minimizes pain and prevents infection.
Signs of a Horse Fly Bite
Horse fly bites are different from mosquito bites. Since the fly slices the skin, the bite area will often look like a small cut, not just a raised bump.
- Bleeding or oozing at the bite site.
- A hard lump or swelling where the fly fed.
- The horse may show localized sensitivity or twitching when touched near the bite.
First Aid for Bites on Animals
Treating the wound promptly keeps the horse comfortable.
- Clean the Area: Gently wash the bite site with mild soap and clean water. This removes any fly saliva or dirt that could cause infection.
- Apply Antiseptic: Use a pet-safe antiseptic spray or wash. This helps prevent secondary bacterial infections.
- Reduce Swelling: Applying a cold compress or ice pack wrapped in a towel for a few minutes can reduce immediate swelling and pain.
- Use Topical Treatments: Products containing ingredients like aloe vera or hydrocortisone cream (if approved by your vet) can soothe itching and inflammation.
If the bite appears very large, continues to bleed heavily, or shows signs of serious infection (pus, excessive heat), call your veterinarian right away.
Treating Bites on Humans
For humans, the reaction is similar, though usually less severe on large animals.
- Wash the area well with soap and water.
- Apply an horse fly bite treatment like an anti-itch cream containing hydrocortisone or calamine lotion.
- Avoid scratching, as this breaks the skin and increases infection risk.
Advanced Strategies for Control
For serious, persistent infestations, you may need to combine several methods or use more targeted approaches. This involves a multi-pronged attack to succeed in getting rid of biting flies around horses.
Understanding the Life Cycle is Key
To truly win the war, you must disrupt the fly’s life cycle, which takes about 20 to 40 days depending on the temperature.
- Eggs: Laid near water or damp areas.
- Larvae: Live in the wet soil or mud for weeks.
- Pupae: Develop in the soil for a short time.
- Adults: Emerge ready to feed and breed.
By focusing efforts on destroying larvae in the mud or keeping adults from breeding, you see the biggest long-term results.
Fly Parasites
A biological control option involves releasing beneficial insects called parasitic wasps. These tiny wasps, like Muscidifurax raptor, lay their eggs inside the pupae of flies (including house flies and stable flies, and sometimes horse fly pupae).
- How They Work: You purchase the beneficial wasps online and release them around your property, especially near manure piles or breeding sites.
- Benefit: They attack the next generation of flies before they even hatch. They are a great tool to prevent horse flies on livestock without using chemicals on the animals themselves.
Timing Your Interventions
Fly activity is highest during the warmest months, usually late spring through early fall.
- Start applying natural repellents and setting up traps in early spring, before the first adults emerge.
- Increase cleaning efforts dramatically during peak summer heat.
- Be aware that adult flies are most active from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. This is when animals need maximum protection.
Comparing Repellent Types for Effectiveness
Choosing the right repellent depends on your goals—how long you need protection versus how important it is to use only natural products.
| Repellent Type | Duration of Effectiveness | Primary Mechanism | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pyrethrin Sprays | 4–8 hours | Kills or knocks down on contact | Immediate, short-term relief before riding |
| Natural Oil Blends | 1–3 hours | Strong odor masks animal scent | Daily use where chemical avoidance is key |
| Long-Lasting Wipes | Up to 12 hours | Slow release of active ingredients | Morning application for all-day coverage |
| Fly Sheets | All day | Physical barrier | Protecting large body areas during grazing |
When looking for the best horse fly repellent for horses, many professionals combine a long-lasting physical barrier (fly sheet) with a natural or light chemical spray applied to exposed areas like the legs and face.
Maintaining Safe Pastures and Barns
Your environment plays a huge role in controlling these pests. Keep your spaces unwelcoming to flies.
Pasture Management
Horses need open space to escape biting flies, but those open areas must be managed.
- Provide Shade Shelters: While flies are attracted to animals, providing run-in sheds or large trees allows animals to escape the worst of the midday sun and the thickest clouds of flies.
- Reduce Muddy Patches: If you have areas that stay perpetually wet, try to improve drainage. Use gravel or sand to cover low, muddy spots where flies might breed.
Barn Cleaning Protocols
Stable hygiene is critical not just for stable flies but also for reducing overall fly populations near where horses rest.
- Sweep aisles daily. Do not leave soiled bedding sitting in the barn hallway.
- Store feed, especially grain, in sealed containers. Rotten feed can attract other pests that compete with fly control efforts.
- Use sticky fly tape strategically in low-traffic areas within the barn to catch stray adults.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are horse flies dangerous to my horse?
Yes, they can be. Besides the pain and stress of the bite, heavy fly populations can lead to secondary issues. Constant swatting and kicking can cause muscle soreness. Their bites can also transmit certain diseases, though this is less common than the irritation and blood loss they cause.
How fast do horse flies reproduce?
Horse flies reproduce relatively quickly in warm weather. The entire cycle, from egg to adult, can be completed in as little as three weeks when temperatures are high. This speed means you need consistent control efforts throughout the season.
Can I use human insect repellent on my horse?
It is generally not recommended. Human insect repellents often contain high concentrations of DEET or other chemicals that can be too harsh for a horse’s sensitive skin or coat. Always use products labeled specifically as the best horse fly repellent for horses or consult your veterinarian first.
What is the best natural remedy for horse flies?
Many people find success with fly sprays made from a mix of essential oils like citronella, peppermint, and cedarwood diluted in water or witch hazel. Consistently applying these natural remedies for horse flies can offer good, non-toxic protection.
Do fly predators actually work for horse flies?
Fly predators (parasitic wasps) are highly effective against house flies and stable flies, whose larvae develop in manure. While some species target horse fly pupae, their effectiveness against horse flies specifically can be less certain than against manure-breeding flies. They are best used as part of a comprehensive program rather than a sole solution.