Guest Posts: How to Keep Pests Out of Your Barn and Horse Feed

Keeping pests out of a barn, and especially out of horse feed, is much more than a matter of convenience. While insects in a barn may be frustrating, they can also easily spread disease among horses to cause issues like digestive discomfort and stunted growth.

Sanitation Is Key

One of the most common pests found in a horse barn is the stable fly. A stable fly is different from a pesky, buzzing house fly since it’s known to cause painful bites on the lower legs, underbelly, and neck of a horse. These are all vulnerable areas on a horse that are difficult for an animal to defend.

Any experienced horse owner can tell you that the best way to keep pests out of a barn is by practicing proper sanitation. Since stable flies are known to breed in damp, decaying matter, basic sanitation standards can help to keep a fly problem under control:

• Remove manure regularly from barns, corrals, stall fronts, and exercise areas.
• Clean up spilled or leftover grain, hay, and feed at the end of each day.
• Keep a manure storage area as dry as possible; it’s advised to spread manure in direct sunlight so that it can dry out.
• Ensure proper drainage in barn stalls to prevent moisture buildup that flies may be attracted to.
• Don’t allow garbage to accumulate in open areas; use garbage cans with sturdy lids.

Chemical Pest Control Options for Horse Barns

After putting basic sanitation protocol into practice, it may be time to explore other options in fly control with the use of animal-safe pesticides. In most cases, taking the necessary precautions to get rid of excessive dampness and debris will minimize a fly problem significantly.

Insecticides to manage stable flies can come in many forms, like:

• Space sprays
• Baits
• Mist foggers
• Larvicides
• Whole-animal sprays
• Residual premise sprays

Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recommends space sprays to control an already existing adult fly population in an enclosed barn. For a moderate fly infestation in a horse barn, scatter baits can be used with the insecticide methomyl; stable fly bites on horses can be controlled with whole-animal sprays to bring temporary relief.

Extra Help from Natural Pest Control Remedies

While chemical pest control may be the only option to get a barn fly population under control, many horse owners swear by natural remedies that can be used in between regular pest control visits to discourage flies from returning.

• A simple vinegar-water spray solution can be sprayed directly on a horse to keep flies, mosquitoes, and other flying insects at bay.
• A horse can be sprayed directly with citronella oil to repel flies for up to two days at a time.
• Feeding a horse apple cider vinegar and minced garlic can help to repel biting insects by changing the odor of the horse’s breath and sweat.
• Apple cider vinegar can be sprayed onto a horse in a 1:1 solution with water to naturally ward off stable flies.

Guest Post Provided By: Classic Equine Equipment