Shoo fly!

By Jennifer Kunz, AnimalForum.com staff

We all know how nasty flies and insects can be to our horses during the summer. They carry disease and can leave nasty bites behind. There is something else to consider though, the effect they have on your horse's legs.

Horses stomp their feet when flies bother them in an attempt to shoo the flies away. The costs to a horse's legs and feet are subtle, but important to recognize.

• Stomping on hard ground can crack and chip hooves badly.
• Repeated stomping is a leading cause of foot abscesses.
• Constant concussion can inflame the leg bones of a young horse and cause permanent damage.
• If no relief is found and the action is continued for long periods of time, weight loss can occur.

There are ways to make your horse more comfortable though.

• Provide access to shade, preferably somewhere with a breeze that will discourage flies from following.
• Generously apply fly spray to the legs and belly of your horse, there are longer lasting waterproof products available.
• The smell of basil seems to repel flies as well. Plant it in hanging baskets around your barn and enjoy a fly-free zone and some lovely fresh herbs for your dinner table!
• Fly repellent leg wraps for extreme cases are available at your local tack store.