first horse - flys - really bad - please help!

[amysotis]

I've just 1/2 leased my first horse - the other 1/2 is shared with the school. I have a question because the horse's belly is totally chewed up by flys. He has one giant scab and underneath his "arms" and his sheath there are open sores. I feel HORRIBLE for this poor guy. I don't even want to put a girth on him. He's kept out at night (I don't know why). I put Swat and LOTS of fly spray on him when I put him out at night but I only put him out 3 or 4 times a week. Any suggestions as to what to do for him? It's gotten so bad at times that he gets on the ground and rubs his belly on the grass.

Please help!

thanks!

[qwerty]

I feel for you and the poor li'l guy :(
If the sores look like they are getting infected talk to the school and see what they say. A horse at my school reacts badly to flies so he wears a soft girth guard, that may be useful if the sores are in that area. Try a different type of fly repellant as they do become immune to it if it is used for a long time. You half own this horse so you should have a say in weather he is kept out at might. This sounds a stupid thing to do so discuss this with whoever puts him out. I'm not saying kep him in all day, just not all night! ;) Look at the threads "Problems wiv Flies?" and "Reaction to bites of some sort?". Both of these have some really good tips for keeping flies away.
Are they normal flies or horseflies?
Is the paddock near to flowers and bushes? If it is, are there any others he could move to that are further away?
Hope he feels better! :)

[Gracie]

Some fly sheets are made REALLY well and have the belly straps and tail straps and therefore could be put on your horse for turn-out! I bought a cheap on for my horse, just for when I'am grazing her and it works really well.. believe it or not! You would have to buy one with the proper strapping though so it wouldn't fall off your horse or get recked by other horses
Best of luck!!!

[Wally]

Your chap sounds to me to have sweet itch, If this is the case no fly repellent in the world will work, he will either have to be kept in during the midgy times of day or you'll have to get him a Boett rug which he can wear all the time in the summer to stop the blighters from biting.

Benzyle Benzoate from the chemist will help a lot, add some citronella oil to it. Get him some anyway and paint all the sensitive bits with it. Under his belly, between his back legs, everywhere he's sore. Don't get it in your eyes or his or on any mucous membranes, it can cause a burning sensation! wash your hands after using it. It really helps!

[qwerty]

Feed him garlic so the flies wont find him sweet anymore! It really works and doesn't harm the horse. Garlic powder in the feed is the easiest way.

[amysotis]

I've got a call into the school and I'm asking about a fly sheet. I don't care what it costs - when I got to the stable this AM, he was lying on the floor, rubbing his belly. I hurt my back and couldn't ride him, but I grabbed him, put him on the crossties and rubbed his belly for 15 minutes. His lips were quivering and he was rocking - he was in heaven! I think I'm learning why it's better to own your horse than it is to do a 1/2 lease with a school; I feel so helpless. I'm already totally in love with this animal so I'll have to keep pushing.

Thanks for your help!

Amy

[floppy]

liek wally said see about investing in a boeet rug..not the cheapest but certainly the best...they are the only ones i have seen on the market so far that actually fit the horse good and prevent the flies from getting in..

[Wally]

For goodness sake don't start the "itch, scratch, itch" cycle, scratching a sweet itchy horse is not a good thing. Treat the cause not the symptoms. (the symptoms do need attention but not from scratching!)
Stop the midges from biting him. Treat the itching with a lotion from the vet.

A Boett rug is about the best on the market. Use Benzyle Benzoate too to help with the biting and itching.

Garlic with sweet itch will have no effect at all.

Don't scratch him your self, this will only make him sore.

[floppy]

well i geuss its like if you have an itch adn scratch yoruself you hit the spot and know how hard you hcan scratch yoruself..but if you ask someone esle to scratch your itch they will either tickle it or or use too much pressur enad hurt you even mor e:)

wally is Benzyle Benzoate like a milky colour liquid??

[Wally]

Yes, it is a white liquid. it is used to treat scabies and crabs in people and scaly beak in budgies (so I'm told)

[amysotis]

Actually, I used a soft brush on it. Sorry, I'm VERY new to this and I just wanted to help a horse in distress. It may not be the best thing for him, but I know by the relieved reaction I get from him that I'm not hurting him at all. The owner of the stable had a baby on Monday so I have to give her a break and wait another week or so before I go to her. I asked one of the instructors about a fly sheet. Althought she doesn't have the authority to give me a final answer, she told me that it was dangerous to put him out at night with a sheet on because it could get caught on something. I asked if they used blankets in the winter and wondered what the difference was. I'm waiting for that answer.

Anyway, what is a boett rug? And regarding the Benzyle Benzoate, if it will burn my eyes, won't it burn his open sores? I've been using Swat - do you think that's helping at all?

Amy

[Wally]

Benzyle Benzoate seems to be fine on open sores, it actually calms the angry, sores. It is used in humans with skin problems which includes broken skin.

A Boett rug is designed to be left on 24/7. It has built in destruction levels in it so the horse cannot hang himself with it! A winter canvas rug is far more likely to become snarled up in something!

Fly repellent is of no use with a sweet itchy horse, I think the Boett rug co. have a website, try "Boett rug" on a search engine.