Mosquitoes are annoying, and can potentially transmit diseases to both humans and horses. Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water, long grass and damp soil, so it is important to reduce or eliminate potential breeding grounds. Mosquitoes do not breed in moving water e.g. water aerated by a fountain and are poor flyers, so wind in the form of a stable fan will reduce
airborne mosquitoes.
Some useful tips:
• Inspect your stable yard for potential breeding sites. These may include old tyres, damp soil behind dripping taps, water pooled in the bottom of garden pots, gutters that do not fully drain or are full of leaves and uncovered tanks
• Clean drinking water troughs, bowls and bird baths frequently
• Tip over buckets and bowls of water that is not needed
• Maintain drains & clean out sumps or other water control devices, checking that water does not pool. Drains are a known common source of mosquitoes in stable yards.
• Check the yard for pot holes, open drains and ditches that pooling of water, and therefore mosquitoes.
• Add a small amount (capfuls) of apple cider vinegar to water troughs and tanks, this will kill larvae and go some way to reducing flies and keeping the water clean
• There are insecticide products on the market for the reduction of flies and mosquitoes, read the label carefully before applying
Google the Internet for products that may help around the horse itself to repel mosquitoes, including rugs impregnated with insect repellant and products to apply to the horse, especially “long life”
