Watch this! It’s gross. This horse figured out we will get horseflies off her if she stands still.

[@reedhq]

Dang you could practically ride the flies

[@Americandreamfarm]

🤣🤣😆

[@Ninjetterfox]

@@reedhq REAL

[@freyawyttthegoddessandchip7764]

...it’s not the fly that’s grœussę - it’s ppl...

[@Ninjetterfox]

@@FrozenMermaid666 flies are an insect.. girl what you mean “flies are also animals!” They serve no purpose but to be annoying

[@berhonkusbardledoo]

@@Ninjetterfox um. Bugs are animals. And they are one of the most important things in ecosystems. Yapper

[@thebower8027]

I feel so bad for the horses. There used to be a horse pasture behind our property and I witnessed the utter torment they went through and never before in my life had I seen a full grown adult horsefly until then. One had landed on the branch of a nearby tree and my nephew tried to catch it. Well, that thing flew at us like a wasp and we were screaming to get away. It was black and HUGE!!! About an inch or more in length.

[@Americandreamfarm]

Yes, they are enormous and very sturdy. Hard to kill.

[@dawsie]

My brother use to catch them and tie a thread around them like a harness, never figured out how he caught them when we were children. Mom had to tell him to stop as it was cruel what he was doing. Thankfully he did stop.

[@thebower8027]

@@dawsie Never mind what they do is cruel. Ha!

[@cranialfluids09]

@@dawsie I did that once to a regular fly that wouldn't stop annoying me when I was a teen. Tied the other end to my finger and kept that little bugger as a dang pet for two days before I got bored lol.

[@zoe2466]

Nasty buggers! Well done June! Sweet gal learning how to get the horrible flies off . Cheers! And thank you. Everyone looks beautiful.

[@Americandreamfarm]

Thank you too!

[@DanseLuve3r]

My gelding used to come flying across the pasture in obvious discomfort from a horsefly, then slide his rear end right underneath my waiting hand. After a solid WHACK on the critter, my gelding would turn around nuzzle me and then trot off back to the other horses. Miss them all. Many pleasant memories...

[@Americandreamfarm]

That's awesome! Thank you for sharing =]

[@dhisufiroafrozenseraphimdragon]

I respect you for not being afraid of the fly like I'd be👍

[@suep9445]

You could saddle those horseflies! But they'd be hard to ride. Here in southeast Michigan we had a bigger problem with horse bot flies, that would make our horses go nuts as they zinged around laying eggs on their lower legs. Id wash them with warm soapy water, and the friction would open them up, which would do them in. Sometimes, I'd scrape them off into a bucket with a little isopropyl alcohol in it - also did them in.

[@sleepinglioness5754]

So funny...I was just going to post the same 'saddling them up' comment 🤣 Those things are disgusting!!!

[@frederickbooth7970]

Here in Western Oregon we have bot flies almost as big! Those bot flies occasionally cause the Longhorns next to our farm to stampede wildly! Never used to have bot fly problems until the Longhorns showed up several years ago. Those horseflies are huge! Never seen any that large.

[@sleepinglioness5754]

@@frederickbooth7970 Problems and pests the average person doesn't even realize. Multiple challenges, aren't there.

[@kkirsch3583]

Get her a striped flysheet, or paint her with temporary stripes (hair chalk?) It’s been proven to reduce biting of flies by > 50%❤

[@PigeonsPie1]

I can't BELIEVE the size of that fly. That thing could take a chunk off of me and leave a SCAR

[@Americandreamfarm]

When they bite they leave a V shaped wound. Their mouths are like scissors.

[@PigeonsPie1]

@@Americandreamfarm Oh great. Now I have a mental image to keep me awake nights... Ugh

[@PigeonsPie1]

@@Americandreamfarm Couldn't you use a spray bottle of STEM? I use it in the house on flies here [Conn.]. It is non-poisonous and safe for kids and pets. What it does is suffocates the fly as they breathe through their exoskeleton. They die almost immediately. If you sprayed the horse fly you would then not need to 'grab' it with your fingers which is disgusting on that level, thus risking it flying away. Ingredients. ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: GERANIOL 6.0%, LEMONGRASS OIL 0.5%, OTHER INGREDIENTS: (WHITE MINERAL OIL, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, ETHYL LACTATE, CARBON DIOXIDE) 93.5%, TOTAL 100.0%.

[@Americandreamfarm]

@@PigeonsPie1 Hahaha! I'm sorry.

[@PigeonsPie1]

@@Americandreamfarm I just sent info on the possibility of you using a product called STEM. Ingredients. ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: GERANIOL 6.0%, LEMONGRASS OIL 0.5%, OTHER INGREDIENTS: (WHITE MINERAL OIL, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, ETHYL LACTATE, CARBON DIOXIDE) 93.5%, TOTAL 100.0%. You could spray the horseflies. Non-toxic. Kills flies almost immediately. Did you get that reply from me??? I think this stuff is genius. You wouldn't have to even touch the fly (I don't think).

[@averycheesypotato]

Ugh, hate those things! You’re right to stay safe, horses really panic when they get bit

[@maynelson7439]

Wow those things are massive!!! Where we live they are a lot smaller than that, poor horses❤

[@Americandreamfarm]

Yes, and we are doing all we can with fly deterrents, but Horseflies are visual hunters and are unaffected by any of them.

[@sugarsore]

I have never seen a fly that big.

[@rcdude86]

I hate those flys. They attack people as well. They see heat. So dark cloths don’t help. Darker horse as well too.

[@Americandreamfarm]

Yes, they always go after our black horse the most! Awful creatures!

[@rcdude86]

@@Americandreamfarm kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooDYgWiNlqibm8Usi=gzCRAW3MqL1qz6Kk really cool vid about a black horse fly trap for other farms. Might look into.

[@emergencyfood3568]

@@Americandreamfarm Awful creatures? They have a purpose and a right to exist, as does literally every other living being on this planet. It seems clear you decide at will which animals have value and which don't, and have zero remorse about destroying the latter. Creatures such as horseflies are operating how evolution designed them to operate, a mechanism they cannot control. Vilifying them is a reflection of your biased view and refusal to coexist peacefully with lifeforms that were here millions of years before us.

[@dawsie]

I had a horsefly bite me once dam them buggers really hurt. We get them up at the house due to the fact we have a field across from us with half a dozen horse and on really windy days they can be found up by the house, as sone as the wind settles back down they are gone back down to the field again.

[@Americandreamfarm]

Yes, those nasty little things travel up to 5 - 6 miles.

[@NavvyMom]

Yeah, I've been running the horsey part of a summer camp for over 30 years. We'd rent horses from an outfitter. Most learned we'd help them, but it could be dicey until they figured out to let us get to them to get the fly. Well actually it was ME who usually helped. My horsey helpers were almost always too squeamish or scared of the horseflies, no matter how often I explained to them that the fly couldn't hurt you. Some of the braver ones would try to smack the fly, but you have to pin it down and get a grip on it so it doesn't just fly away. If you smack hard enough to kill the fly, you're hitting the horse too hard. It was frustrating to have someone "get" the fly only to not pin it so it just zoomed off to come back again. We did have one horse who would hurry over to us and lean his rump over to help us get it. I loved showing the kids the stabbing mouthparts on the horsefly. They understood why the horse was so scared/frantic to get it off. I always decapitated them to be sure they'd never bite again. Anyone remember the song, "The Bluetail Fly"? The "bluetails" are the male horseflies, and they aren't around as much because they don't need the blood meal. I've killed a few over the years, but they're probably mostly after the female flies and not the horse.

[@lazygardens]

"the fly couldn't hurt you." ... have you ever been bitten by one. They leave bleeding wounds.

[@Americandreamfarm]

That's the thing, if we try to help the horse and get it off them we have to be safe and also not be afraid or squeamish about bugs. You are a brave soldier! Commendable!

[@Americandreamfarm]

@@lazygardens Yes, they release an anticoagulant when they bite so the blood flows. Horrible creatures!

[@NavvyMom]

@@lazygardens I wasn't talking about when it's trying to bite ME. I was talking about when you try to trap/grab one on a horse. People are afraid/squeamish, but when you grab the fly it won't try to bite you. All it wants is to escape from you. Turning the tables. Hunter becomes hunted.

[@MegF142857]

Ours are black color horse flies. Our horses also know that we will help them when outside.

[@Americandreamfarm]

That's awesome! Where are you located?

[@Eyes.WideOpen]

Do you spray the horses with fly repellent?

[@Americandreamfarm]

We do, however horse flies are visual hunters. They seem unaffected by the fly spray.

[@cherylmillard2067]

@@Americandreamfarm Wipe seemed to work, they may see the horse, but the repellant makes the meal unpalatable, lol.

[@johnhoover8952]

I remember my dad telling me how when he my unlces and aunty were kids they would catch horse flies and tie strings to them and fly them.

[@anonydun82fgoog35]

Ahh yes, remembering the few times in my youth when I was bitten by horse flies. Ouch. I haven't missed it.

[@whichkatami]

Horseflies GONE! I used to do the same thing g y’all are doing. Once I started to set traps up early, it interrupted the horse flies life cycle, we’ve got no more horseflies, it’s been 40 years now! Also, my horses are in stalls, out of the Sun, heat away from other flies n bugs, ((as they are show horses), we set traps to trap a multitude of biting flies and we use the fly wasps, they work. We on,y use fly sprays if going on trail rides.

[@barbarabrown9269]

My horses run to me in desperation and rub up against me “get it off!” They cry. I almost get trampled but I smack the horrid things off anyway! Horses are so grateful!! Instantly relax and thank me!

[@Americandreamfarm]

I agree with you. I think they are very grateful when we help get the horseflies off them.100 %

[@The-gender-goblin]

I’m glad horse flies can just barely survive in maine weather, its annoying enough to get the small ones appearing, and terrifying the the point i will stay under the lake for ten minutes waiting for it to go away when i see a larger one, I can’t imagine having to live with them being a common issue

[@breannestahlman5953]

I never seen them, they are gigantic ! ! !

[@parsith7620]

Our Buster would run straight to the house if he had one of those things on him..... We always could tell by his head and tail movements that it was a fly and not just him being happy to be a horse play.

[@petert3355]

That looks like what we call a March Fly in Australia. One of them bites you, you know it. The buggers hurt.

[@Americandreamfarm]

Yes, the mouth on them looks like scissors.

[@richardb8104]

I thought you didn't know what a cicada was. Turns out I don't know how big horseflies can get.

[@Americandreamfarm]

🤣🤣😂Living here in Georgia I definitely know what a cicada is. We are starting to find their moltings everywhere! They are enormous this year!

[@therealbahamut]

So horseflies are like the mosquito's bigger, meaner sister. No wonder the horses are bucking them off.

[@AmberU]

I no idea how big horse flies were that gave me the creeps why do they have to be so freakin big at least you go help the horses.

[@Americandreamfarm]

They are huge here.

[@grose2272]

Can't believe the size of them 🤮

[@Americandreamfarm]

They are huge!

[@angelinabrown3142]

Dang things HURT. Blossom had one bite her while we were on trail and she about put me into the creek bucking. I killed the fly but we had a touch-and-go moment there. After that, I'd take a swatter with me to keep brushing her backside to keep them from landing. She never minded the swatter. She probably knew what it was for.

[@Americandreamfarm]

I feel positive she did. Once our horses figure out we are trying to help them by smacking the horsefly they let us help them.

[@Fifi-wv3bd]

Oh my gosh these things look like cartoons they're so big! 😬

[@Americandreamfarm]

They’re huge! And those creepy eyes!

[@Fifi-wv3bd]

@@Americandreamfarm we have midges here in Scotland - they're too small to see but have a big bite on humans!

[@Americandreamfarm]

@@Fifi-wv3bd We visited Scotland in 2019. Heaven on earth if you ask me. I would love to go back! What part of Scotland are you in?

[@Fifi-wv3bd]

@@Americandreamfarm so glad to hear that you enjoyed your trip to Scotland! I now live in the outskirts of Glasgow. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Americandreamfarm]

@@Fifi-wv3bd Next time we go we are definitely going to the Galsgow side. We flew into Edinburough and made lots of day trips. My daughter and I rode horses in North Berwick on the beach where Bass Rock is and visited Tantallon Castle. Such an amazing place!

[@JosephA.-ns9hr]

Diatomaceous earth!!❤❤❤

[@sevs9550]

I understand the horses dilemma 😅 sometimes it feels like you've been shot when they bite

[@Americandreamfarm]

So true! They really hurt and they will bite right through your clothing.

[@rayray8687]

@@sevs9550: That of course applies only if you’ve been shot for comparison.

[@LoriNuttall]

Their bite is so painful! Mine also know I'll help with bot flies too!

[@Americandreamfarm]

I love that your guys know you will help. They really do hurt and the pain lasts long after they let go and fly away.

[@AgentRains]

This is fascinating. We don't have those massive flies here! So if ubguys ate not around to help they roll or scratch it off?

[@Americandreamfarm]

Yes, most of the horses will either roll to get it off or run by another horse in hopes that it will transfer to the other horse. We get them when we can. We are starting to see dragonflies which are predators for horseflies.

[@maggiefranks6849]

I've been bitten by a horsefly before. It hurts!

[@Americandreamfarm]

One bit me right through my shirt last week in the arena.

[@rchrdjms62]

Are they pretty much the same thing as a deer fly? I was bitten by deer fly once. It felt like somebody stabbed me in my ankle. I slapped at it and blood flew everywhere.

[@Americandreamfarm]

They are much larger than deer flies and actually like the sun. Deer flies tend to stay in the shade and the woods, but they both are after blood.

[@Izzy95009]

We live in colorado, and the horse flies arnt usually to bad here! But this year they have been terrible. 😢

[@Americandreamfarm]

All the bugs here are way worse than usual. Queen our appaloosa came from Colorado. She is having a hard time adjusting to this climate and all the allergens here.

[@Izzy95009]

@@Americandreamfarm what state are you guys in?

[@Americandreamfarm]

@@Izzy95009 We are in Northeast Georgia.

[@lucas8141]

Quick question cuz I'm uninformed. Is there nothing that people can use to get rid of horse flies that's also safe for the horse?

[@Americandreamfarm]

Some folks use fly sheets, but they can bite right through them. It's torment not being able to do anything about them. One bit me right through my shirt the other day while I was in the arena giving a lesson.

[@horseygurl143]

Go to your feed store and buy a good quality fly spray, oil based, and fly spray her so that this does not happen. Spray her all over, top to bottom, and she will be comfortable. It's a sacrifice that we horse owners take for our babies. Yours are so sweet!

[@robinshane4661]

IC3 is a natural pesticide that you can spray on your horses to keep the flies me ticks off. You can buy it on line. Personally I,can’t see letting my animals be that miserable. Maybe I don’t understand owning horses.

[@Americandreamfarm]

No worries. Trust me when I tell you we fly spray our horses every single day, often times more than once. Unfortunately, horse flies are visual hunters and are unaffected by fly spray.

[@averycheesypotato]

Fly spray only does so much

[@chris5942]

This must be in Australia. The flies are as big as the horses.

[@Americandreamfarm]

We are in Northeast Georgia, USA. They are huge!

[@chris5942]

@@Americandreamfarm I live in south dakota. I was around horses and got nailed by a deer fly. Those things are flying chainsaws. I cant imagine being bit by a fly 10 times larger. 😬😬😬😬

[@gerrycoleman7290]

I had a horse that was well trained to come to me so I could remove the horse fly.

[@Americandreamfarm]

That's the best thing we can do for our horses. Once they realize we are helping them they are more than willing to comply =]

[@L.Alchemy]

Never had to deal with one of those, but I did get bitten by a deer fly once... Nasty bastards.

[@Americandreamfarm]

They sure are! I have been bitten by both, equally as painful.

[@rickowens3427]

That is not a horsefly. Looks to be a cicada to me.

[@nab-v1w]

V been bite once by one, had an orange size ball under the skin for two days

[@Americandreamfarm]

Oh no! That sounds horrible. The bite hurts long after they let go and fly away.

[@Turboy65]

The world does not have any NEED for horse flies. Or ANY large flies.

[@Americandreamfarm]

I concur!

[@Cinnaray]

I heard if you use a fake dragonfly the horseflies would stay away

[@foreverpainful]

so what im hearing is they should start a dragonfly farm/pond

[@bryan-k2b]

If that fly had a second brain he would go for areas and horse where it can't be swatted and I mean those areas😂

[@Americandreamfarm]

🤣🤣😂

[@acaciawilliams9015]

@@bryan-k2b horse I ride had welts all over that area from horse flies this year. They've been really bad starting about a month ago.

[@ShaunPringle-g1o]

Stupid autocorrect I said ant nest

[@farrierette5216]

Use zebra striped sheets and fly masks the stripes confuse flies. t Thats a proven fact also rotate fly spray brands. Those suckers put holes in me!

[@Americandreamfarm]

One bit me right through my shirt yesterday during lessons. It still hurts!

[@Nadine-ol8dn]

We could all do without horse flies

[@Americandreamfarm]

Wait until you see the video I'm working on from yesterday's horse fly situation. Tess is brutal!

[@kirkpalis6064]

I loathe horseflies.

[@Americandreamfarm]

Same! Just wait until you see the video I am working on. Retaliation happened yesterday. It's pretty gross!

[@kirkpalis6064]

@@Americandreamfarm Sounds good. About two months ago I went on an early morning 3 mile walk and got bitten by horseflies five times. Now when I leave the house that early in the morning I have insect repellent on.

[@georgieippolito9924]

What do do if you caught a fly that big, release it in a library or restaurant, grab a seat and enjoy the show

[@Americandreamfarm]

🤣🤣😂