{"id":3811,"date":"2025-05-10T15:36:59","date_gmt":"2025-05-10T14:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/rbe\/?p=3811"},"modified":"2025-05-10T15:37:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T14:37:00","slug":"top-tips-on-repelling-flies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/rbe\/top-tips-on-repelling-flies\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Tips on Repelling Flies"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Flies are frustrating, irritating and can cause unwanted behavioural reactions.\u00a0 There are lots of different flying insects, for us as horse owners, it is the horse fly that receives the most attention.\u00a0 However, there are many others of which we need to be aware.\u00a0<\/p>

Flies also pose challenges to horse owners trying to determine the best course of action, in order to keep their horse comfortable.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Recognising What Lands<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Black Fly finds a home inside their ears, they need an area with little hair and suck the blood from there.\u00a0 The Black Fly is around throughout the warmer months along with the Midge.\u00a0 The Midge becomes more active at the break of dawn or dusk, as they bite it releases saliva into the skin, it is this that can initiate the itching sensation.\u00a0 The Crab Fly tends to remain between the hindlegs but have no wings, they have to be brushed away.\u00a0 Then you have the Stable Fly, these breed in our muckheaps and tend to gather around the face and the eyes and appear around the same time as the Horse Fly.\u00a0 The Horse Fly receives the most attention, likely down to the fact it can cut through the skin, this will create a larger lesion and possibly result in a skin reaction.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Fly Repellent Safety<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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It is a legal requirement that all fly repellents come under Biocide and Pesticide regulations, each repellent will require a HSE number which must be displayed on the product label. This registration ensures you are using active ingredients proven to be both safe and effective, therefore look for the approval number on repellents to ensure the product you choose is legal. Beware of essential oils and home remedies, they can be very aggressive, causing severe reactions on some horses, dependent on both concentration rates and how they have been combined. There are many fly repellents on the market today without a registered HSE number.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Types of Repellent<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Some plants have the natural ability to mask scents that are attractive to insects, while others can confuse the insects odour receptors and create an unappealing landing environment for them.\u00a0<\/p>

DEET<\/p>

DEET is a well-known synthetic repellent.\u00a0 It combines what nature has taught us into one product.\u00a0 Formulated by US soldiers upon testing times in the jungle during 1944.\u00a0 Its original form was known as \u2018bug juice\u2019, generally, the higher the rate of DEET the more effective it will be. \u00a0However, safe levels for use on horses and in our environment, are capped, so avoid using DEET repellents designed for use on people, as these are likely to be too high for your horse.\u00a0 As with any topical application it is always worth doing a patch test for 48 hours.\u00a0 DEET works by confusing the flies receptors, so while they may continue to fly \u2013 they will struggle and be confused by where they may land.\u00a0 Effects can last up to 6-8 hours.<\/p>

Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil<\/p>

A naturally derived oil with proven insect repellency and a lemon scent.\u00a0 The oil is used in many different insect repellents as it is believed to disrupt the insects odour receptors.\u00a0<\/p>

Permethrin and Cypermethrin<\/p>

These are active ingredients found in some equine fly repellents on the US market. \u00a0These products are not approved for topical application to horse other than as agreed by the Veterinary Medicines Directive, due to their high toxicity. \u00a0Permethrin and Cypermethrin work by targeting the nervous system and creating paralysis or worse when the insect lands. These compounds are toxic to both fish and cats, so caution would be advised when using around your horse \u2013 particularly if your yard relies on an efficient feline for rodent control.\u00a0 Permethrin and Cypermethrin are neurotoxins, however, they are broken down quickly in sunlight which may limit their long lasting capabilities.<\/p>

Citronella Oil<\/p>

Citronella Oil has traditionally been used to deter insects, however, its legal status for this has never been established in terms of efficacy and safety, and therefore no product based on Citronella Oil can be marketed as a fly repellent. \u00a0This has led to confusion, with some people thinking it is banned for competition use, but that is not the case. \u00a0Citronella products are safe and legal to use in competition, both generally and under FEI rules \u2013 they simply can\u2019t be marketed as a fly repellents.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Managing your Fly Free Zone<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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