Posted 2015-04-06 7:08 PM Subject: RE: Little bugs on horses
The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810 Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo.
I don't know of any spray that truly works on the buffalo gnats.... I give my horses relief by letting them stay in the barn under fans. Otherwise they just run and worry themselves silly and lose weight during this horrid time of gnats.
Posted 2015-04-06 8:38 PM Subject: RE: Little bugs on horses
Accident Prone
Posts: 22277 Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR
The stupid gnats arrived at my house today. Those dudes are nasty and I have one horse that's allergic to them. Nothing keeps them off except maybe a coating of mud.
Posted 2015-04-06 11:37 PM Subject: RE: Little bugs on horses
My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159 Location: Arkansas
Three 4 Luck - 2015-04-06 8:38 PM
The stupid gnats arrived at my house today. Those dudes are nasty and I have one horse that's allergic to them. Nothing keeps them off except maybe a coating of mud.
They are burrowing up in what's left of the winter hair around their ears and driving all 5 of them nuts. And under their bellies too. ASA they eat they head for the muddy part and roll. Tried everything and nothing helps.
Posted 2015-04-07 7:42 AM Subject: RE: Little bugs on horses
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182 Location: Do I hear Banjos?
I have pretty good results smearing a line of Swat along their dorsal midline and anywhere else the nasty things like to get them. It is messy but it works. And...I know it will sound silly...but the Pink original Swat seems to really work a lot better than the clear version.
Posted 2015-04-07 10:12 AM Subject: RE: Little bugs on horses
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399
When we have trouble with those little buggers in the ears and round the eyes we coat their ears with Vaseline and around their eyes and nose. Then when they land they end up smothering themselves.
Posted 2015-04-07 11:54 AM Subject: RE: Little bugs on horses
Expert
Posts: 2457
I work in a research facility with these lil buggers - while there are many varieties - Culicoidies are the main ones that cause allergic reactions in horses.
SWAT smeared in and around their ears works really well. If you can find a repellent with Permethrin in it, that is best as well.
Posted 2015-04-07 12:03 PM Subject: RE: Little bugs on horses
Expert
Posts: 1857
I just use Vaseline and smear it in their ears. I putt a lot, it'll drown the gnats basically. Take a rag every couple days and wipe it out and put more in. Has worked for us and is cheap.