Horse flies are a major nuisance for horses, livestock, and humans alike because they bite painfully to draw blood. To get rid of horse flies now, you should use a mix of immediate physical barriers, fast-acting topical treatments, and long-term environmental management.
Horse flies, often called biting flies, make life miserable for animals and people during warm months. These pests don’t just annoy; their bites can cause stress, allergic reactions, and even spread diseases. Dealing with them requires a quick, multi-pronged attack. This guide will show you how to quickly reduce their presence using fast, easy, and natural methods.
Why Horse Flies Love Your Space
To fight horse flies effectively, we must know where they breed. Horse flies have a complex life cycle. The adult females need blood meals to produce eggs. This makes them relentless pests, especially around animals.
The Horse Fly Life Cycle
The life cycle has four main stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
- Eggs: Females lay hundreds of eggs near moist soil or water sources, like ponds or damp ditches.
- Larvae: The larvae hatch and live in wet soil or aquatic areas. They feed on small soil organisms. This stage lasts several weeks to months.
- Pupae: The larvae turn into pupae, usually in drier soil nearby.
- Adults: The adult flies emerge ready to seek blood meals.
Horse flies thrive where it is warm and wet. If you have standing water or marshy areas near your stables or pastures, you have a breeding ground. Knowing this helps target areas for preventing horse fly infestations.
Fast Action: Immediate Relief from Biting Flies
When horse flies are swarming right now, you need instant solutions. These methods focus on immediate defense and quick removal.
Using Physical Barriers to Stop Horse Flies Biting
Physical barriers are the first line of defense. They work instantly by blocking access to your animals.
Fly Sheets and Masks
Putting specialized gear on your horses offers great protection.
- Fly Sheets: Use lightweight, UV-protective fly sheets. These cover most of the horse’s body. Look for sheets with neck covers. They make it hard for flies to land and bite.
- Fly Masks: Eye protection is key. Horse flies often target the eyes and face. Use fly masks with ear covers. This helps stop horse flies biting sensitive areas.
Stable Management for Quick Results
If flies are bad in the barn, act fast inside.
- Restrict Access: Keep doors and windows closed during peak fly hours (mid-morning to late afternoon). Use fine-mesh screens on windows.
- Improve Airflow: Use powerful fans. Horse flies are weak flyers. Strong airflow makes it hard for them to land on horses or people in the barn. This is a very effective, fast way to eliminate biting flies from indoor spaces.
Quick Topical Treatments
When flies are biting right now, a quick spray can give temporary relief.
Commercial Horse Fly Repellent Sprays
Many commercial sprays work fast. They often contain pyrethrins or synthetic pyrethroids. These chemicals offer immediate knockdown and protection.
- Apply lightly but thoroughly, avoiding eyes and nostrils.
- Reapply often, especially after the horse sweats or rolls.
Quick Homemade Fly Spray for Horses
If you need something right now and cannot get to the store, a simple homemade mix can offer temporary relief.
Simple Vinegar Spray Recipe:
| Ingredient | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Cider Vinegar | 1 cup | Natural deterrent base |
| Water | 1 cup | Dilution |
| Dish Soap (mild) | 1 teaspoon | Helps the mixture stick |
Mix well in a spray bottle. Spray lightly over the coat. Vinegar is a good horse fly deterrent because many biting flies dislike the scent.
Easy Control: Setting Up Traps Now
Traps are essential for reducing the overall population flying around your property. Setting up best horse fly traps requires minimal effort but provides ongoing control.
Types of Effective Fly Traps
There are two main types of traps that work well for horse flies and similar pests like controlling deer flies on horses.
1. Sticky Traps (Limited Use for Horse Flies)
While common for house flies, sticky traps are less effective for large, strong horse flies unless placed directly in their flight path.
2. Water-Based Traps (Highly Recommended)
These traps mimic the flies’ need for moisture and host presence. They lure flies in and trap them under water or in a collection container.
- CO2 Traps: These are the most effective but often costlier. They release carbon dioxide and sometimes heat to mimic a large animal, attracting female horse flies seeking a blood meal.
- Bag Traps (DIY Options): These often use a dark, inflated balloon (the target) suspended over a bucket of soapy water. The flies see the dark, round object, try to bite it, and fall into the water below. This is a great way to start getting rid of stable flies and horse flies too.
Placement Tip: Place traps at the edge of the pasture, not directly where the horses congregate. This draws flies away from your animals.
Natural Horse Fly Control Strategies
For long-term, sustainable management, focus on natural horse fly control. These methods reduce reliance on chemicals.
Environmental Management: Removing Breeding Sites
This is the most crucial long-term step. If you stop them from breeding, you stop the infestation.
- Drain Wet Areas: Fill in low spots in pastures where water collects. Horse flies and stable flies breed in damp organic matter.
- Manage Manure: Stable flies breed heavily in decaying manure, especially if it stays wet. Remove manure piles frequently (daily if possible). Compost manure piles properly, turning them regularly to dry them out. This is key to getting rid of stable flies.
- Keep Grass Short: Mowing pastures frequently reduces damp, sheltered spots where larvae can develop.
Utilizing Natural Deterrents
Certain natural substances repel flies without harmful chemicals.
Garlic and Yeast
Some horse owners report success using brewer’s yeast mixed into the horse’s feed. The theory suggests that the metabolic changes cause the horse to give off a scent that repels flies.
- Note: Results vary widely. Start feeding a small, recommended amount as directed by a veterinarian or feed specialist.
Essential Oils in Homemade Fly Spray for Horses
Essential oils can be potent horse fly deterrents when mixed correctly. Caution: Essential oils must always be diluted heavily, as they can burn skin if applied neat.
Strong Essential Oil Blend (For Dilution):
- Cedarwood Oil
- Peppermint Oil
- Geranium Oil (sometimes cited as effective against ticks and flies)
Dilution Guide: For a safe spray, use about 10-15 total drops of essential oils per 8 ounces of carrier liquid (water mixed with a splash of witch hazel or white vinegar). Always test a small patch of skin first.
Biological Control: Encouraging Natural Enemies
Nature has its own ways of controlling pests. Encourage predators that eat fly larvae.
- Beneficial Nematodes: These microscopic worms parasitize fly larvae in the soil. You can purchase them online and apply them to damp, manure-rich areas where fly larvae thrive. They work best when the soil is moist. This is an excellent natural method for preventing horse fly infestations at the source.
Controlling Deer Flies on Horses and Similar Pests
Deer flies are smaller cousins of horse flies but bite just as hard. They often favor sunny, open areas.
Targeting Deer Fly Hotspots
Deer flies often rest on vegetation or tall grasses when waiting for a host.
- Clear Brush: Trim tall weeds and brush around fence lines and entry gates.
- Focus on the Face: Since deer flies are small, they often target the head and neck. Make sure your horse fly repellent applications cover these areas well, or ensure fly masks have good coverage.
Advanced Tactics: Getting Rid of Stable Flies
Stable flies are often mistaken for house flies, but they bite painfully, usually targeting the lower legs and flanks of animals. They are very difficult to control because they breed in decaying organic matter mixed with moisture—think soiled bedding and wet straw buildup.
Manure and Bedding Discipline
To effectively target stable flies, your sanitation must be excellent.
- Daily Removal: Remove soiled bedding and droppings daily from stalls.
- Bedding Depth: Maintain deep, dry bedding. If bedding gets soaked and starts to decompose, it becomes a perfect nursery for stable fly larvae.
- Leaking Waterers: Check water troughs and feeders for leaks that create persistent puddles near the barn structure.
Stable Fly Traps
While large water traps help, specific sticky traps placed low to the ground near common resting spots (like stall entrances) can help reduce the local population of getting rid of stable flies.
Maintaining Control: Long-Term Defense Systems
Getting rid of horse flies is not a one-time fix. It requires consistent maintenance. Use this section to build a robust defense system.
Rotation of Horse Fly Repellent Ingredients
Flies can adapt to certain chemicals or scents over time. Rotate your methods to keep them guessing.
- If you use commercial sprays containing Permethrin for one month, switch to a geranium-based essential oil spray the next month. This variety helps keep your horse fly repellent effective.
Regular Trap Maintenance
Traps only work if maintained.
- Empty Frequently: Water traps, especially DIY ones, must be emptied and refreshed often. Stagnant water attracts mosquitoes more than it traps flies.
- Replace Sticky Surfaces: Replace sticky tape or outer bags on traps as they become full of flies or coated with dust.
Pasture Management for Pest Reduction
Long-term natural horse fly control means changing the landscape slightly to be less inviting.
- Drainage: Improve pasture drainage. A dry pasture is a fly-resistant pasture. If you cannot drain an area completely, consider planting grass that tolerates wetter conditions, which minimizes decaying matter build-up.
- Grazing Patterns: Try to keep horses in open, breezy areas during high-fly activity times, rather than sheltered, still spots near trees or woods.
Comprehending Fly Behavior for Better Control
Knowing when flies are active helps you time your defense actions.
Peak Biting Times
Horse flies are generally diurnal (day active).
- Morning: Activity starts increasing after sunrise as temperatures rise.
- Midday: Peak activity often occurs between 10 AM and 3 PM, especially on sunny, warm days.
- Evening: Activity slows down significantly after the sun starts to drop.
When planning treatments or turnout, try to schedule activities during low-activity periods if possible. This lessens the need for heavy horse fly repellent applications.
Visual Attraction vs. Chemical Attraction
Horse flies are primarily attracted to movement, dark shapes, and CO2 (breath). This is why large, dark objects work as lures for the best horse fly traps.
- Use lighter-colored fly sheets to make your horse less of a target compared to dark objects nearby.
Creating a Comprehensive Fly Control Plan
To truly eliminate biting flies, combine every method discussed. Here is a sample weekly plan focusing on fast, easy, and natural methods.
| Action | Frequency | Method Type | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manure/Bedding Removal | Daily | Sanitation/Easy | Getting rid of stable flies source |
| Fly Sheet/Mask Application | Daily (Daytime) | Physical Barrier/Fast | Stop horse flies biting instantly |
| Fan Use in Stalls | Daily (During Warm Hours) | Environmental/Fast | Deter indoor flies |
| Check and Refresh Water Traps | 2-3 Times Weekly | Trapping/Easy | Population reduction |
| Apply Natural/Vinegar Spray | Daily or As Needed | Topical/Fast/Natural | Immediate defense |
| Check Drainage and Fill Puddles | Weekly | Environmental/Natural | Preventing horse fly infestations |
| Apply Nematodes (Seasonally) | Monthly (During warm months) | Biological/Natural | Larval control |
By following this schedule, you are actively implementing natural horse fly control while using fast fixes when necessary.
Summary of Essential Tools for Biting Fly Control
To make sure you have everything you need to eliminate biting flies, keep these items stocked:
- Quality Fly Sheets and Masks.
- Effective Horse Fly Repellent (both commercial and ingredients for homemade mixtures).
- At least one effective water-based or CO2 fly trap (the best horse fly traps).
- Shovel and wheelbarrow for rapid manure removal.
- Safety scissors or clippers for trimming vegetation near activity zones.
Remember, consistency is vital. A single day off from cleaning or spraying can lead to a surge in the fly population, making it much harder to stop horse flies biting the next day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use essential oils directly on my horse to get rid of horse flies?
No, you should never apply essential oils directly to your horse’s skin without heavy dilution. They can cause skin irritation or burns. Always mix them into a carrier liquid like water, vinegar, or witch hazel when creating a homemade fly spray for horses.
Are those dark, round traps really effective for horse flies?
Yes, the large, dark, inflatable ball traps (often called “Wait’s Traps”) are surprisingly effective for controlling deer flies on horses and horse flies. They use visual cues that mimic a potential host, leading the fly to attempt a bite and fall into the collection bucket.
How long does it take for natural fly deterrents to start working?
Natural methods usually require patience. While a strong vinegar or essential oil spray offers immediate, short-term relief, natural horse fly control like feeding yeast or waiting for beneficial nematodes to work takes several days to weeks to show a real drop in the overall population.
What is the single best way to prevent horse fly infestations near my barn?
The single best method is rigorous sanitation. Removing wet manure and draining standing water eliminates the breeding grounds. If you stop the larvae from developing, you stop the adults from hatching. This is crucial for preventing horse fly infestations.
How can I stop stable flies from biting my horse’s legs?
Stable flies favor low areas. Use fly boots or leg wraps when flies are active. Also, focus intensely on keeping stall bedding dry and removing all soiled material daily to avoid getting rid of stable flies breeding in the shavings.