IN THE ZONE: With Fly Control

No single fly product can solve the perennial fly control problem. Owners need a comprehensive plan that includes controlling insects on their horses, and where the bugs congregate and breed. For simplicity let's call this complete program "Zone Control"- Zone 1: On Your Horse, Zone 2: In The Barn, and Zone 3: In Outdoor Areas.

The first tactic is to start your control program early in the season, when it's easier and more economical to prevent heavy pest buildup rather than to fight it.

Zone 1: On-Animal Control Techniques
Clearly, keeping flies and other insects off your horse is your ultimate goal. On-animal controls include various insecticidal/repellent wipes, sprays, roll-ons, spot-ons, lotions, ointments and fly masks. Here are some general tips to remember when using any of the mentioned fly and pest control methods:

• Always read all labels thoroughly before use and heed warnings.
• Don't mix different kinds of fly repellents together.
• Never apply repellents to sensitive mucus membranes (eyes, mouth, nostrils, etc).
• Direct sunlight, heat and water vapor break down chemicals that repel flies, so do not leave your sprays outside.

The diversity of control methods provides horse owners with a variety of tools to create an integrated pest management program. For example, fly sprays are ideal for horse owners who are training and/or riding their horses several times a week. One particularly effective fly spray is Farnam's Endure®. The spray contains four active ingredients, which repel and kill biting and nuisance flies, gnats, mosquitoes, lice and deer ticks that may transmit Lyme disease. Endure® also contains a sunscreen to help protect against harmful UV rays as well as, RepeLock®, a special conditioning agent that binds to the hair shaft, keeping the repellent in place.

"Endure® has become one of our most popular fly control products for horses - not only because it is so effective as a repellent, but because it is resistant to both sweat and water," said Liz Bishop, marketing manager for Farnam Horse's external pest products.

Some consumers may find the long-term control of a spot-on to be more convenient. Farnam offers Equi-Spot®, a spot-on repellent that provides freedom from the daily application of fly spray, and kills and repels house and stable flies, face and horn flies, eye gnats and ticks on horses for up to 2 weeks. It also protects against horse flies, deer flies, mosquitoes and black flies.

Another method of control is fly masks. SuperMask® II with double-latch closure is made of 2000 denier "Rip-Block"™ material that is durable for stabled or pastured horses. The new double-latch closure makes the mask twice as durable and difficult for horses to rub off or remove from one another -- yet it still provides "break away" protection if the mask gets caught on a fence.

Zone 2: Premise Control Methods For Use In the Barn
Fly control in the barn eliminates adult flies and prevents them from breeding. Flies breed in manure and other moist, decaying organic matter, so it's important to keep the barn area as clean as possible. It is wise to always keep feeds covered and to avoid allowing waste feed to accumulate on the floor. Indoor premise controls for the barn area include sprays, insecticide-free traps, sticky traps, and feed-thru fly control supplements. More general tips include:

• Avoid using attractant traps inside the barn, as they draw more flies to the area. Instead, use odor-free sticky traps to catch flies in the barn.
• Treat fly resting places a week or two before flies become active to delay fly season in the stable.
• When temperatures exceed 80º F, flies gather and feed on the floor so put traps on the ground.

One recommended premise spray is Attack-All™, which is registered by the EPA for use on horses and livestock as well as on premise areas such as the barn and home. The broad-spectrum insecticide kills and repels a wide variety of pests. Its quick-killing ingredient, pyrethrin, controls more than two-dozen flying and crawling insects including flies, mosquitoes, gnats, fleas, ticks, cockroaches, spiders and scorpions.

Another weapon that fights flies in the stable is EZ Trap™ Insecticide-Free Fly Trap. The innovative design offers a high-volume trapping surface, more than three times larger than traditional sticky fly traps, at an economical price.

"EZ Trap™ is versatile and has a large volume trapping capacity so it catches more flies in the area without inviting more in-and doesn't stink-up the barn," Bishop said. "Horse owners can hang it up, stand it up, or 'gang' several traps together in well-lit, high infestation areas for improved efficiency." The insecticide-free, adhesive surface is rain-proof and never dries out-allowing it to continuously trap flies and other flying insects both inside and out. Insects have always thrived where horses and manure exist. Adding an insecticide-free method of trapping flies to your overall fly control program will maximize protection.

Zone 3: Outdoor Area Control Tactics
Outdoor fly control helps reduce fly populations before they come into the barn and irritate your horse. By keeping outdoor areas clean and free of manure and other trash, owners eliminate fly breeding grounds and help keep populations down. Products for Zone 3 include jug traps, bag traps and scatter bait such as Trap 'n Toss™, Fly Relief™, and BlueStreak™. Keep in mind the following tips:

• Use attractant (jug type) traps on perimeter of property to draw flies away from the barn, patio, kennel or house.
• Keep paddocks and corrals clean and dry.

Flies and other irritants are here to stay, but current control methods and innovative advancements in pest control will help us manage those populations. Use these guidelines and tips to create a comprehensive fly control program that works for you. Whichever combination you choose, your horse will thank you.

Fly Control Brochure