Whilst we unanimously spend the autumn, winter, and let’s face it - most of spring, wishing for summer, we can often forget the trials and tribulations that the hotter months brings us. Yes, we have no mud, days are longer, and the warmth almost makes the months of frozen toes worth it (almost). That said, as we perform our nationwide happy dance, there are still some negative parts of summer that creep up on us every year.

 With the warm weather comes fly season. Cluster flies, blow flies, and midges start to emerge in the spring as the weather hints at improvement and horseflies join the party in July and August. Unfortunately, they are the unwanted visitors every summer.

 It’s not just the flies that catch people out, but whilst you’re topping up on the sunscreen, don’t forget about your horse! They may have a fur coat, but horses are just as at risk from harmful sun exposure as humans. Pink skinned horses are particularly prone to sun burn and steps should be taken to protect their skin from the sun’s rays.

Sweet Itch is another summer side effect that causes a lot of horses, and their owners, grief. Sweet itch, also triggered by flies, can cause considerable distress and lead to horses rubbing out their manes and even leaving themselves with sores from intense itching. 

We don’t want anyone to miss out on the fun this summer, so here are a few of our PolyJumps suggestions for fly control and sun care with horses to keeping them feeling their best.

The Flies

Flies plague the lives of every horse, whatever their breed, colouring, or lifestyle, flies show up each summer and disrupt the peace of every horse, and by proxy every horse owner, in their radius. Amongst nearly bankrupting ourselves on expensive fly repellents and doing our best to strap fly masks onto resentful horses, trying to combat the flies is a full-time gig. 

 Whilst all flies are annoying, the aptly named horsefly is the most grievous. Their bites are painful and annoying and can leave behind some nasty welts which are uncomfortable, itchy, and take a while to heal. And if it isn’t the flies themselves, some horses turn themselves inside out trying to get away from them which can disrupt their routines and leave horse owners in despair trying to find a solution. Unfortunately for human and equine-kind, there is no failsafe way to officially get rid of flies, the best we can do is manage our horses’ routines to minimise the impact they have on them day to day.

 Vets typically recommend any fly spray with Deet. Deet is the strongest, most effective fly repellent and work with all flies from midges to horseflies. Natural ingredients, like citronella, are also effective and a better choice for horses who have sensitive skin. Garlic is another natural ingredient that repels flies, so adding a basic garlic powder to their feeds over the course of the spring and summer will build up a healthy fly repellent from the inside out.

 Fly masks and fly rugs are a good tool to invest in to keep the flies away from their bodies. This helps to prevent irritation when flies land on them, as well as reducing the rate at which they’re bitten. A horse’s eyes are a sensitive area and tend to be a magnet to for flies, so turning out in a well-fitted fly mask will stop flies clustering around their tear ducts and causing weeping or infections.

 Make sure to keep fly spray topped up and reapply as much as possible!

The Sun

 Just like people, horses are susceptible to sunburn and spending prolonged periods of time in strong sun requires sunscreen. The skin on their muzzles is often pink and more sensitive, meaning it’s the first to show signs of too much sun exposure! The tips of their ears, white faces, and lower legs can also burn easily. Sunburn in horses is much like people, the skin goes red, sore, and peels. If left untreated the sunburn can develop painful scabs and even get infected!

 Applying sunscreen regularly before turning out is - just like us - the best way to combat the sun’s rays. Any simple sun cream works but steer clear of anything scented or with harsh chemicals. Typically, any cream you would use on a baby works well for horses. If you want a specifically equine sun cream, you can find some designed especially for horses - Aniwell Filtabac is an antibacterial SPF 30+ cream designed to nourish and protect your horse’s sensitive areas.

 A lot of grey horses have pink skin, as well as the white patches on a piebald or skewbald. Pink skin is more susceptible to sun burn due to its lack of pigment and has an increased risk of skin cancer. A UV fly rug will combat the sun’s harsh rays and keep your horse comfortable and safe in direct sunlight, as well as keeping the flies away from them too, it’s a win-win!

Sweet Itch

Sweet itch is every horse owner’s worst nightmare, even hearing those two words strikes fear into the best of us. Sweet itch is a skin condition caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of biting midges, and frustratingly, once they’ve had it once it becomes a recurring condition year on year. As soon as the flies emerge, so does sweet itch, and it’s a full-time job keeping it at bay. 

Stay on top of sweet itch with specialised rugs to reduce the surface area midges can land on, and to prevent the damage done by intense itching. Some horse’s scratch so aggressively they open sores on their necks and docks, keeping them covered should reduce some of the nasty wounds.

 Midges are weak fliers so setting up fans around your horse’s stable to circulate air flow is a great hack to keep them at bay in the stables, as well as turning out when there’s a breeze. Scheduling will be your best friend, turn out during the day and keep them stabled at night- this is when midges are most active.

 Keep your horse’s skin treated with a soothing wash to alleviate itching and calm irritated skin. If you notice open sores, treat them with an antibacterial cream and keep them covered with a barrier cream or a clean rug to avoid infection. Flies are drawn to open flesh wounds, so this is a necessity! If sweet itch becomes unmanageable, don’t be shy about calling your vet! They can prescribe antihistamines or steroids to help combat the symptoms of sweet itch and make your horse more comfortable.

 Here at PolyJumps we want every summer to be the best summer! That means sharing our know how with you to help keep your horses happy in the summer months. If your horse is spending a little more time inside away from the flies and the sun, our Hay Ball is a fab tool to keep them occupied and distracted!