What should I do if I find bot fly eggs on my horse? | arlo.® Atlas

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If you find bot fly eggs on your horse, the usual next step is to remove them as part of your normal grooming routine and keep a close eye on where they’re appearing. Bot fly eggs are often seen in fly season and on areas the horse can reach while grooming, so it’s sensible to check the horse’s coat and plan your next fly-season routine. There can be a few reasons they’re appearing, so it’s best to focus on practical checking rather than trying to rule everything out at home.

Things To Check

1. Check where the eggs are sitting on the horse’s body, such as the forelegs, shoulders, belly or mane area.

2. Look for signs of irritation, such as stamping, tail swishing, rubbing, or restlessness when being groomed.

3. Check whether the eggs are fresh, pale, and clustered, or whether there are already signs of rubbing or broken hair around them.

4. Look over the coat for any areas of scurf, scabs, redness or sensitivity that might make grooming uncomfortable.

5. Check turnout routines, especially whether the horse is spending more time in fields, around hedges, or in peak fly activity.

6. Look at your usual grooming routine and whether eggs may be missed in thicker coat, feather or longer hair.

7. Check if other horses in the yard are showing similar signs, which may suggest a general fly-season issue rather than a problem with one horse alone.

Common Causes

The most common cause is straightforward bot fly activity in the fly season. Eggs are often laid on the horse’s coat and can show up on areas the horse licks or scratches.

Sometimes the issue is not the eggs themselves but the irritation they’re causing, especially if the horse is sensitive, already itchy, or spending more time outdoors.

Less commonly, repeated rubbing or skin discomfort from another cause may make the area look more irritated than expected, so it’s worth keeping an open mind if the skin seems sore or inflamed.

What To Do

Remove visible eggs as part of grooming, following your normal yard routine. A bot knife or similar grooming aid may help with routine removal, but be gentle and avoid irritating the skin.

Keep checking the horse regularly during fly season, especially after turnout or exercise. Clean grooming tools and a tidy coat can make it easier to spot fresh eggs early.

Review turnout and fly-season management. More frequent grooming, sensible stable routine and careful coat checking can all help you keep on top of the problem.

If the horse seems particularly bothered, or the skin looks sore, it’s sensible to pause and assess what’s going on rather than keep grooming over a tender area.

Products That May Help

If bot fly eggs are showing up during fly season, a routine that supports grooming and summer comfort can be useful alongside regular checking and removal of eggs where appropriate.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

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