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Location: Texas | Has anyone had any success feeding apple cider vinegar (ACV) or garlic to help deter flies, mesquitoes and/or ticks? For some reason last summer seemed to be especially horrific for bugs. My one gelding has a pretty thin coat. I kept a fly sheet on him during the days & would pull it off at night. By morning he would come in with welts all over. And I would find oozing tick bites, as well as a live tick every now and then, in his tail. My horses pasture is not real wooded, only a half dozen trees in their pasture that they do stand under when not grazing. I bought a garlic product to try but I highly doubt that I am going to get them to eat the full recommended, effective amount of 1-2 scoops. I am currently only feeding 1/2 tsp and my thin coated gelding is already turning up his nose. Thinking about trying the ACV. Anyone have any experience with either for bug control? |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
 
Location: Kansas | following, the mesquitos here are already bad....flies are getting there. |
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 Unknown Drip
Posts: 5624
Location: Back in MT BABY!!! | I feed both every year to every horse I have. It helps. I buy garlic powder in bulk or chop up fresh garlic. I don't have a problem with any of them eating it. My young horses will pick around it the first few times but will eventually eat it.
If you have a lot of bugs and you don't mind chickens that is the best bug control I've found. :) |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| Will ACV aggravate an ulcery type horse? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Idahome | FLITASTIC - 2015-03-17 10:45 AM Will ACV aggravate an ulcery type horse?
I think it would help if anything. Even though vinegar is acidic, ACV has an alkaline effect on the body. |
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Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | How much ACV do you feed per day to get results? |
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Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | babiemox - 2015-03-17 9:42 AM I feed both every year to every horse I have. It helps. I buy garlic powder in bulk or chop up fresh garlic. I don't have a problem with any of them eating it. My young horses will pick around it the first few times but will eventually eat it.
If you have a lot of bugs and you don't mind chickens that is the best bug control I've found. :)
How much of the ACV and garlic do you feed? I am giving 1/2 tsp of garlic twice per day, trying to work them up to more. Product recommends 1-2 scoops (3/4 oz/scoop), which seems like a lot! http://www.springtimeinc.com/product/bug-off-garlic-horses
I have read online about 1/4 cup ACV. How much do you give? Do you get the more expensive ACV with the "mother" in it i.e. Braggs brand? |
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 Vodka for Lunch
Location: Lala Land | I feed ACV (with the mother) with every feeding, and did feed organic garlic last summer as well. Here's a neat website on acv benefits. http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/horse-care.html |
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Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | Lovin Life - How much ACV do you feed per day? And how much garlic were you feeding? Did you notice a difference in the bugs attracted to your horses?
Edited by TBone 2015-03-17 1:32 PM
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Vodka for Lunch
Location: Lala Land | We just pour a little over the grain not real technical but no more than 2 tablespoons 2x per day. I used a silver lining scoop for the garlic 1x per day. I think thats a tablespoon. I live in Austin where it's miserable for flies and mosquitoes can't say that I really noticed a diff we went through a crazy amount of fly spray last summer trying to keep the VS bugs away. He also has a fly sheet and fly mask. If I could put him in bubble wrap I would try it. lol |
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | We fed the granulated garlic last year and I do think it helped. I think maybe a teaspoon a.m. and p.m. with their feed. |
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Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | Lovin Life - I live east of Austin so I feel your pain about the bugs last season. That is why I am trying to get a jump on it this year. Thanks for the feedback. |
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Vodka for Lunch
Location: Lala Land | TBone - 2015-03-17 2:03 PM
Lovin Life - I live east of Austin so I feel your pain about the bugs last season. That is why I am trying to get a jump on it this year. Thanks for the feedback.
I hear ya. I have had the best luck with the Absorbine Ultrashield in the black bottle. |
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Unknown Drip
Posts: 5624
Location: Back in MT BABY!!! | I only grain once a day...ACV about 1/4 cup depending on how much grain there is I just used the regular ACV by the gallon. Like someone else said I just put this on don't always measure it...garlic I think my scoop is a tablespoon. I usually give a heaping scoop or if they look like they are getting sick I will increase it to two.
I buy my garlic from the health food store and can get 20# or 25# for a little over $100. Last time I bought was two summers ago (it lasts awhile) I will be getting more this summer. |
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Expert
Posts: 5293
| Just read some studies online that showed they used ACV to INDUCE ulcers in horses? |
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Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | FLITASTIC - 2015-03-17 2:18 PM Just read some studies online that showed they used ACV to INDUCE ulcers in horses?
REALLY???? I would rather deal with the bugs than induce ulcers. Of course the ACV proponents all say it is good for the gut and digestion. Who & what to believe??? |
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Unknown Drip
Posts: 5624
Location: Back in MT BABY!!! | TBone - 2015-03-17 1:32 PM FLITASTIC - 2015-03-17 2:18 PM Just read some studies online that showed they used ACV to INDUCE ulcers in horses? REALLY???? I would rather deal with the bugs than induce ulcers. Of course the ACV proponents all say it is good for the gut and digestion. Who & what to believe???
I just did a quick google search and everything I found said it was good for aiding the prevention of ulcers....created more saliva which coats the stomach and helps prevent ulcers. I don't have time to really do indepth research on this right now but I've fed it for years and never have had issues with ulcers in our horses. |
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 Saint Stacey
| Be aware that garlic acts as a blood thinner when it's fed to horses. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I have one tree on my property on the hill... With that being said when the wind blows during the summer and spring it is usually so strong it keeps the flies off their backs. LOL
Maybe you could also hang fly traps from the trees they stand under? Just a thought 
Edited by IRunOnFaith 2015-03-17 3:56 PM
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I feed 1/4 cup a day for flies. I know it works pretty good at my house. I ran out last year and couldn't find any for a week or so. The flies really started getting after the horses. Another thing is LQRS, I think, had a post about the right way to put fly spray on your horse. I did that while I was looking for ACV and that really helped too. You brush their hair backwards, spray the fly spray, wait a minute or so, then brush their hair back down. I didn't have to respray for a couple of days. |
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