Insect Bites

[Kj & Jemima]

My horses live out on grass livery in a huge field bordered by woods on one side.

Sparky's legs are absolutely covered in spots which I believe are insect bites. She also has some lumps on her chest and her flanks but it is her legs which are worrying me because they are scaby. We have had a go at them with hibiscrub but she is a really water phobic horse and so it is a major struggle.

I can counter the bites on her body by putting her fly rug on but I have no idea of what to do to solve the leg problem. I do put fly repellant on but because the grass is fairly long and with all the rain, I think it just gets wet and rubs off.

The really funny confusing thing is that Jemima does not have a bite on her but Sparks is absolutely covered. I am wondering if she is allergic to bites etc and maybe needs some anti-histamine but beyond that I have no idea what to do.

Does any one have any suggestions?

Thanks very much.

[Hazel]

I dont no if this works but it was a letter in one of the horse magazines which i read, her horse and terrible bits so she fed him a marmite sandwich every morning (which he apparently loved) and after a while they stopped. As i said i have no idea if it works but if nothing else works i guess its worth a try??

[becs]

We have exactly the same with our two ponies; our aged NF with white legs is usually covered in mini-bites all summer whereas our dark bay cob never has any! I think insects are attracted to thin skin (my daughter too) and certain / different smells.

We brush his legs (when dry) to keep as clean as poss, & apply fly gel - but it never lasts long. We use Sudocrem on the bites - to soothe, but also it seems to repel flies and is so thick it stays on longer than other creams.

Another solution found by chance...when we sponged him all over with Deosect (cypermethrin) for lice, we noticed there were no flies on him for nearly a month, whoopee! When we discussed this with the vet, she suggested applying Deosect to his legs only, thro' the summer. I think the famous (& expensive) Coopers fly repellent works in a similar way.

[0dd]

i had this problem last year though it was all down his neck as opposed to his legs!
all i did in the end was get him on some garlic powder (mine was by Gold Label but i assume it's all the same stuff) and after- what was it.. about 2 days? all the bites were gone :D
we only get the occasional one now.

edit: spelling! 'garlic power'... lol