Can I just say first that I don’t normally delight in killing things? Even when it comes to insects – I admire hardworking ants and have taught my kids to stand still (instead of swatting) in the presence of a bee. We relocate spiders and crickets and weathered last year’s 17-year cicadas with a heavier dose of scientific interest than disgust.
But horseflies are different.
They torment my horse with their buzzing and biting. They zing and whiz and threaten to bite for blood. They thrive in heat and wooded areas – both of which we have in abundance in Maryland in summer. My gelding, Taff, and I have bonded over the killing of horseflies lately. It goes something like this:
Him: Freeze, swivel ears, crow-hop, switch tail, dance a little jig.
Me: Step forward, eyes searching for the source of the aggravation. “If you hang on, I can get him.”
Him: Listening. Feet still, he stops his skin from twitching for just a moment. Tail hangs quiet. Ready position. He trusts I’ll do my job.
Me: Step forward, slap, curse, flick dead fly into the ether, curse again, say “ew!” and feel a momentary astonishment that I just killed that huge thing.
This post starts writing itself in my head in one of these moments. As I get busy memorializing the first dead horse fly on a piece of gravel and grabbing my camera, another gigantic horse fly buzzes by to start the blood-thirsty dance all over again. Taff and I seek refuge in the shadows of the barn.
By the time I leave the farm I have killed about 12 horse flies. Have I saved us from thousands of future generations of big biting bugs? I hope so. Meanwhile, I’ll check out this article by Cindy Hale about fly prevention and see what I can do about the ones already here.
Back to Life with Horses
Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…
When standing near a Belgian Draft Horse, it’s easy to feel small—intimated, even. But the Belgian Draft is the epitome…
Opinions about blanketing can be as varied as the weather itself, and horse owners are often confused when confronted with…
Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…
While many experts agree that fleas are an uncommon parasite for horses, ticks can be prevalent and potentially present a…
Horse owners who live in the United States, are 18 years of age and older, and currently own or manage…
View Comments
flies the enemy must die at least the horse stood long enough for you to kill it