Brinnicombe 'Think Fly'

[harleydales]

I've bought a tub of this supplement from Brinnicombe in Devon or Cornwall. It arrived the other day, smells lovely and the horses seem to like it. It's 16% (I think) protein and has something in it to repel flies from the inside. It has other vits/mins, ash etc in it too.

It says to feed at 100gms per day - that's 4 ounces!! Haerly only gets 6 ounces of feed without this added in!! At the moment they are on 1 ounce and I'll build it up.

Has anyone else used it, and did it work, and how much did you feed??

[kermie]

Friend bought the big blocks for the field last year but didn't think they made any difference.

[jet]

I think all the flies are getting immune to all fly repellent sprays and potions! I only put stuff on mine at the shows but it doesn't work even then so I'm giving up!

[DalesLady]

I used this all last year as someone recommended it to me. I didn't think it actually made much difference at all, and after using flysheets, flysprays, wipes and goodness knows what, this year I have left them to their own defences and use spray only at shows as a just in case it might work measure! However, the lady who recommended it to me is still adamant it works. She keeps her ponies somewhat differently to me because of circumstances - ie., a lot less land, so her ponies are in much more, and when in or out, are completely rugged/covered according to weather (cotton sheets in sunshine etc,).

To be honest, flysheets I am dubious about as they are not sealed around the pony and we did have a fly underneath the sheet on Diana a couple of years ago, it had stung/bitten her a few times and made a real mess of her so I have left them off ever since. This year neither she, nor Joanne have been bothered at all. Aster had a time of it with flies last year, but this year they have left her alone too. Lady is clear of them as well.

Maria has been bitten, Rhythm too and I have used topical teatree oil on the bites (the type which can be applied to the skin) - a few hours later there has been no sign of them at all.

I wonder if these ponies build an immunity to flies themselves?

[harleydales]

It's so hard to know what to do isn't it? Unless you are there to put fly stuff on every hour, it just wears off, and as soon as they roll it will lose it's potency. I can see the theory behind feeding stuff to help as it's then attacking from the inside but must say I'm not totally convinced.

Harley wrecked the fly rug he had, and he does so much rolling it always went wonky and didn't do the job. Beecause he can be head shy I am always dubious about putting something round his neck that might frighten him or get caught.

I've used Spot On on Jenny and Monty (Jenny had reacted badly to tick bites, looked like bubble wrap) and it has worked, but I wouldn't be happy riding for several days after application as you put it behind the shoulders and I reckon it could get irritated by the saddle as it spreads out down the flanks.

Wretched flies!!!!

[Debbie]

I've been using Celebration spot on for Blossom and Lady Bear as it works *brilliantly* against the ticks and mosquitoes. The flies...well, they stay away mostly for the first few days and then gradually come back.

I'd heard the problems before as to where you're supposed to put the spot on...it causes problems with your saddle over the shoulders etc. On Lady Bear, I just applied the Celebration on either side of the neck in front of the shoulders. It still absorbs into the skin near the withers area, but doesn't impede with the saddle fit at all. The Celebration also gets applied on the poll, hindquarters in two stripes above the tail, and a spot on each leg. Perhaps you can do the same pattern with your spot on instead of just the stripe down the back???

I've used a Defy the Fly collar on Lady Bear as the face flies were simply horrendous on her. I didn't think it worked all that well, as she still had a few flies, but when it broke completely and she was without, I quickly saw it had been working! Just now I've got a new collar, called a Fly Free Zone. I didn't realize as it was also touted as 'all natural' but has chemicals so it can't be used with another pesticide. I've had to wait as I applied my old favorite, Repel X yesterday for fear of a reaction. If this doesn't work, I'll get another Defy the Fly headcollar...

Blossom's not as bothered by the flies, but the wretched things do bite on her belly, and legs. She refuses flysprays so other than the Celebration, she's on her own with the fly fight. I've been using the water traps like mad around their field and compost pile. And yesterday I FINALLY got in my bucket of diatomaceous earth!!! Yippeee!!! I'll be using this on their pooh spots in the field and muck heap to further fight the wretched things.

[Daftmare]

We have just invested in a tub of global herbs flyfree, it smells like nerve gas but they eat it readily and there isnt a fly in sight. Tansy was smashing her head off things the horseflies were so bad. They are so much happier today

[harleydales]

Mine were being plagued to death by flies today - so much for the think fly!! I'll double the dose and see if that helps. Doubt I'll buy any more theough
The global herb stuff has a good name.

[merlinalison]

I've given up trying to keep the flies off Merlin - none of the repellents seemed to make any difference at all. Luckily he has enough mane and tail to make it easy for him to flick them off, and his field is quite breezy so we don't have too much trouble. All I do now is apply Lincoln fly repellent wound gel to any small open cuts/bites or wounds. Its antiseptic and so greasy that it stays on for hours and the flies can't get through it. (Its also very economical - a little goes a very long way)