Has anyone used the natural apple cider vinegar formula I just read that if you give your horse 1 tablespoon a day in the water or on their grain it keeps the flies off from bothering them?

It sounds good enough. I use Garlic Pills I buy from a fishing store when I am going on a camping trip and I am always the one with no mosquito bites! Of course everyone cleans out my bottle by the time we are done. But it takes a day or two to get into your system.

Should be something similar the horses could take? And I might give this a go. If I can get back some feedback.

I've heard that but I also heard you had to start doing that in fall prior to the next bug season. I started using fly preditors last year. They worked very well and I just released my first batch of the year last week. No fuss, no chemicals, just seed them when they arrive every 4 weeks.

Cowboydad,

Their are numerous things to try.
*Apple cider vinager, if your horses will drink the water that is great, wouldn't want them to become dehydrated, or you could put it on their feed. I want to say it is more than a tbls if you put it in their water.
*Garlic works also just like it does for people you would have to see if your horse would eat it. You know the garlic is working if you can smell it on their breath. You have to be able to smell it. There are a number of commerical garlic products.
* There are the fly preditors.
* There is the feed through fly control which works well also, my neighbor uses it although it is expensive, and can't be used on pregnant mares. she has noticed a considerable difference in flys.
* I had a client tell me the other day that she uses a topical wipe that she applies once a week made by pyrannah. and she has no flys.

I think it is a matter of what fits your budget and what works for you. Good luck on controling those nasty little bugs.

We would always use Skin So Soft wipes from Avon. The horses smelled great and the flies hated the smell!


Huntress

What are fly predators? Are they actual bugs that eat flies? (spiders, perhaps?)
And, what do you mean by "seeding" them?"

Thanks!!

Fly Predators are very small wasps that eat the fly larve. They do not hurt people or horses. When you order them they come in a pouch and you spread them around the horses manure areas. They have a website and they advertise in most of the equine magazines. Oh, found it, here is the info:

Spalding Fly Predators
760 Printz Rd.
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
1-888-880-1178
www.7619.spalding-labs.com

These predators are smaller than the fly.

ACV works great and i also put garlic power on the feed...but i takes a week to start working good

The garlic and vinegar ideas have been around long enough to have research done that shows both of those products used on a consistant[all summer] basis over a period of time had a 170% increase in the horse developing gastric ulcers and some 1.5% liver and .075% kidney damage.
I personally use the feed through larvicides either Equitrol or MVP the research has shown these to be effective and non harmful. With kidney function being the only organ affected in .0026% of horses. Not all products are the same the Simplifly can also have side effects much higher than the others and I've found the Solitude a waste of time.
The fly predators do work, but they are to be placed on a manure stock pile.
I have all horses in my barn on it, started it March 1, most of the time there are between 8-15 horses, monthly cost $80. But have not purchased fly spray or any topical product in 3 years. I do also hang the cheap fly bags.
I can take an open coffee to feed mornings/evenings set down 5 minutes later-not a single bug.
Being a HUGE coffee drinker- thats enough of a sales pitch for me !

Feed through work good also just be careful as many are not recomended for breeding stock (Mares/stallions).