Why does my horse become difficult to ride when flies are bad?

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

When flies are bad, some horses become hard to ride because they’re distracted, irritated or trying to avoid being bothered. Head shaking, stamping, rushing, tensing or napping can all happen when a horse feels under pressure from insects, especially in warm weather or on still days.

There can be several possible reasons, including simple fly irritation, skin sensitivity, tack discomfort made worse by heat, or a more general issue such as pain or eye irritation. It’s worth checking a few practical things first before assuming it’s just the flies.

Things To Check

1. Notice when it starts. Is it worse at certain times of day, in the field, during schooling, or as soon as you go outside?

2. Look for signs of irritation such as head tossing, face rubbing, ear flicking, tail swishing, stamping or sudden tension.

3. Check the face, ears, eyes and muzzle for redness, swelling, discharge, scabs, broken skin or obvious fly strike marks.

4. Feel the tack areas for rubs, heat or soreness, especially under the bridle, noseband, girth and saddle points.

5. Watch whether the horse is also uncomfortable when being groomed, tacked up or handled from the ground.

6. Consider whether the horse is more bothered in bright sunlight, strong wind, or around dusty tracks and hedges where insects gather.

7. Check if the behaviour is new, getting worse, or only happening on certain rides rather than all the time.

Common Causes

The most common cause is fly irritation around the face, ears, eyes or body. Some horses react by shaking their head, hollowing, rushing or becoming difficult to focus.

Heat and sweat can also make a horse more sensitive, especially if flies are landing on already irritated skin or under tack.

Sometimes the issue is tack-related. A bridle, noseband, saddle or girth that’s slightly uncomfortable can become much more noticeable when the horse is already annoyed by flies.

Less commonly, head shaking can be linked with eye irritation, ear sensitivity, dental discomfort or another source of pain. If the behaviour is persistent or seems out of character, it’s worth taking it seriously.

What To Do

Start by reducing the fly burden as much as you can. Turn out or ride at quieter times if possible, and avoid the worst periods of insect activity when you can plan around them.

Keep the face and surrounding areas clean and check for any small sores or areas of rubbing. Make sure the tack fits well and isn’t adding extra pressure where the horse is already sensitive.

If the horse only struggles in very fly-heavy conditions, keep a simple note of when it happens, what the weather was like and whether any particular area seemed to bother them. That can help you spot a pattern.

If the problem carries on despite better fly management, or it starts happening in cooler weather too, ask your vet or an experienced professional to help look for an underlying cause.

Products That May Help

Fly-season management can make a real difference to a horse that’s bothered by insects under saddle. The right routine may help support a calmer, more comfortable ride when flies are active.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

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