What’s New on the Ranch
Take advantage of our “Early Bird” special and receive a 10% discount on your fly control program by ordering by May 1st, 2012. And, recommend a friend or neighbor and we’ll reward you with a double order...
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Helpful Tips from Horse Owners
The Organic Cowboy is always looking for input from fellow horse lovers on how they are using fly parasites to create a successful control program. We share some tips and feedback on usage to help you create... read more
The Happy Stable
Recommend the Organic Cowboy to a friend or neighbor, and when they order, we’ll send both you and your friend an extra order of fly parasites. Email friends@organiccowboy.com and let us know who you referred and upon their order, we’ll ship a bonus order to all.
You Need a Strategy
What we hear from most of you is that it is still the basics – removing manure from the property as regularly as possible and cleaning stalls at the minimum every week. This activity is highly effective in breaking up the fly’s breeding cycle.
If you don’t remove the manure from your property, choose your pastures for spreading fresh manure carefully. Try not to spread manure in pastures where you’ll keep horses during fly season. Always spread a light layer.
Get a Jump on the Fly Population
Make sure your automatic barn sprayers are serviced before the fly season starts. Also, don’t delay application of the fly parasites and don’t let the manure get ahead of you early in the season.
Another solid practice is by providing your horses access to open, breezy pastures that can help keep flies at bay. Properly fitted horse masks are highly effective in keeping pest flies out of their eyes and protecting from “pink eye.”
Standing and dripping water contribute to ripe fly breeding habitats. So, check faucets, pipes and waterers for leaks, and when you repair them, fill in the puddles and try to drain low lying areas.
Your Fly Parasites
Be sure that your UPS or Postman understands that your deliveries are perishable. If you need us to send your shipment to an alternate address for good handling, let us know and we'll update your shipping plan.
Be sure to release your fly parasites in fly breeding habitats as soon as you can after receiving them. That means 24-48 hours after you receive them for best results.
Other Fly Control Products
You all mentioned sprays, roll-ons, gels, shampoos that create a barrier to flies. Active ingredients can include insecticides that are natural or synthetic that repel flies. These types of products come in a variety of brands and are easy to find at farm stores or your favorite tack store.
With lower-priced products, apply daily or directly before riding. For higher-end products, apply every five days to two weeks (see product labels for specifications).
It’s Just a Start
We all have our special approach, but we have the common desire to make the summer fly control a comfortable one for horses and livestock. If you have any suggestions to share please email friends@organiccowboy.com to keep us posted.