Are you finding your horse and stable plagued by a constant swarm of pests? Flies and biting irritants get drawn to particular conditions, proving not only to be a real nuisance but also a health threat. To combat these irritants, follow our guide on the best pest prevention, made just for your horse equine partner.
The importance of equine pest prevention
Just as you would prevent your house pet and home suffering from ticks and fleas, the stable deserves an equal amount of attention and care. For a fast-track tutorial on tips and solutions to stable pest prevention, watch our video on applying treatment to horse and stables.
Pests
Equine pest prevention is essential for the well-being of your horse. Various types of flies with sponging or piercing mouthparts can cause harm. Not only do they bite and feed on horses, but they will also lay eggs which hatch and feed on horses, developing into a parasitic situation. The pests to keep clear especially from your horse and immediate stable include flies, mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies and biting midges. Egg growth is stimulated by both friction and moisture, a combination that will end in health complications to gums, tongue, skin, intestines and more.
You should pay particular attention to the forelegs, chest, neck, belly, hindlegs and flanks for signs of flies, as well as the lips, jaw and throat when checking your horse.
How to prevent equine pests
Pest prevention requires active practices and routines to make your treatment as effective as possible. Follow these pointers for a simple way to tackle your checklist:
Good protection practices
1. Manure management
Clear away manure regularly. The wet, odorous remnants are the biggest welcome any fly needs. Stable care requires manure removal and exposure to sunlight to completely dry out. This will substantially reduce flies in stables and areas near your horse.
2. Clean water
Cleaning and replenishing fresh water troughs is important in order to avoid diseased spread by mosquitoes. Stagnant water is a huge draw for breeding mosquitoes, who lay their eggs in and around standing water. One way to combat this is to refresh water troughs regularly. If you have a pond where your horses drink, introduce goldfish who will not only eat algae but also fest on troublesome mosquitoes and larvae.
3. Protective gear
Use fly sheets and fly masks. These pieces of protective gear not only shield horses from harsh heat and sunshine but will also provide a protective barrier on prime areas for pest biting and laying.
4. Fly repellent
It is imperative to prevent flies and use effective measures to keep flies at bay for the health and safety of your horse. General pest control methods also extend to eliminating breeding material (standing water and manure), controlling moisture, using various forms of mechanical control.
How to control equine pests – effectively
On your horse
It is important to treat horses if you have found signs of eggs but to also use preventative measures. A great solution – Efekto Bio Kill Equine & Stable Spray. This ready-to-use product treats flies, mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies and biting mosquitoes. As a 1.5-litre pressure sprayer that comes with an adjustable spray nozzle, it works by loosening and pointing the nozzle in the direction and angle needed for maximum coverage. Efekto Bio Kill Equine works best when applied to horses twice a day in morning and evening as they sweat. Spray the product directly onto the coat, but be careful to avoid eyes, ears or any open orifices. We recommend using 25 to 75 ml per horse per application, but this may differ depending on its size.
For the stables
Not only can Efekto Equine Bio Kill Equine & Stable Spray treat the horse directly, but also on surfaces like walls, bedding and windows, as well as boxes and feed store’s walls. In a stable environment, we recommend reapplying at least every ten days or more often if required. Use a rate of 20 – 25 ml Bio Kill Stable Spray per square metre.
Additional measures include using a Redtop Standard Fly Catcher. This is a further measure to supplement other fly catching methods with an effective and hygienic system that is easy to use.
Keep on trotting
We wish you well on your journey to equine and stable care with these best pest prevention practices. For more information, we invite you to join our Efekto Whatsapp group to contact our pest control experts directly for tips, tricks and advice, as well as visit our contact page.
