There's nothing more rewarding to a horse owner than to have her barn swarming with attentive, appreciative guests. Unless, of course, those guests come in the unwelcome form of pests. Not only are unwelcome visitors such as insects, vermin, and birds annoying, they can also cause disease and injury.
With a two-pronged approach horse owners can send existing pests packing, and send a new message that these types of guests are not welcome at the inn. The first step is to rid the facility of existing pests and take measures that prevent re-infestation. The second step is to protect your horses from the pests that are still around. Barn owners who use careful management can ensure that their facility is a safer, more pleasant place for both horses and humans.
Insects
The most problematic pest is generally the common fly. Although they have short lives they have an efficient way of breeding, and barn owners without the proper management skills can suddenly find their property literally swarming with them. Not only are flies annoying, they can cause injury when a horse repeatedly stomps his legs to rid himself of them. Flies can also cause skin sores and stomach problems.
The common fly lays its eggs in manure, so the barn owner who cleans manure from the barns and paddocks every day and stores it in a covered dumpster is taking the first and most important step in controlling flies. Flypaper and gallon-size jar traps filled with chicken fat and rotting meat will also diminish the fly population. Owners may also want to consider an overhead or central repellent system, most of which are low-maintenance and relatively inexpensive, coupled with fly spray and wipes. Fly sprays with pyrethrums and permethrums are usually the most effective, although some people prefer to buy or make their own natural sprays with ingredients such as citronella and chrysanthemum juice.
(When using chemicals in central misters and fly sprays and wipes, pay attention to make sure you are not going overboard. If your horse seems listless, disinterested, or is exhibiting abnormal behavior, contact your veterinarian and tell him about your pest control program.)
Some pelleted and mineral block feed contains additives that safely pass through the equine digestive system and kill larvae in fresh manure. Another option is to purchase wasp eggs and spread them on the manure pile. The newly hatched wasps will eat the fly larvae and prevent them from hatching. Bats are also excellent for controlling flies. Barn owners can build or buy a bathouse, place it ten feet off the ground on the warmest side of your barn, and watch the fly population diminish.
While these steps will make life at the barn much more bearable for both horses and humans, it will not completely eradicate flies. So the next step is to protect the horses from the flies that remain. Using screens on barn windows and doors is one way to keep your horses comfortable when they are inside. There is also a paint called Bug Ban, which can be used on barns and run-in sheds, that repels flies. Horses should wear fly masks and sheets, and will benefit from having chemically treated strips braided into their manes and tails. A long mane, long tail, and unclipped ears will also give the horse more protection.
Barn owners can turn run-in sheds into safe havens with a few carpet remmants. The carpet remants should be cut into three-inch strips and hung from the eaves or entryway at the horse's nose height. The owner should spray the edges with insect repellent, and as the horse enters the shed the carpet pieces will scrape the flies off the horse's body.
The botfly is another insect that must be controlled. Botflies lay their eggs on the hairshafts on the horse's chest and forelegs, where they show up as small, yellowish dots. When the horse bites at the eggs, the biting action stimulates the larvae to hatch. They migrate from the horse's cheek and tongue into the stomach, where they attach themselves to the lining. At this stage they can cause gastritis or even perforations of the stomach. The best way to prevent botflies from causing these problems is to scrape the yellow eggs off the horse's coat with a botfly knife, and then to use a dewormer with ivermectin. The ivermectin will take care of the eggs attached to the stomach lining, which means they will be prevented from coming out in the horse's manure and starting the cycle all over again.
Mosquitoes are another bane to the horse owner's existence. Not only are these biting insects annoying, they pose a health threat. Mosquitoes are carriers of not only West Nile virus, but also sleeping sicknesses such as Eastern equine encephalitis, Western equine encephalitis, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis.
While there are vaccines to prevent horses from getting these diseases, barn managers should also manage their stables appropriately in order to give the vaccination program a good shot at success.
Mosquitoes breed in water, so the most important step to take is to eliminate stagnant water. This means water around the barn, stagnant ponds, old water buckets, and other receptacles that can hold water. Screens and repellents are also somewhat effective, and there are collars that can be worn on the horse's leg and neck that repel mosquitoes. It is also a good idea in mosquito-infested areas to limit the horse's turnout time at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
Birds
Not only is it distressing to find bird droppings on meticulously maintained tack and in the feed room, but birds pose a serious health threat by being one of the major carriers of West Nile virus. Therefore bird infestation is a major barn management concern. While manufacturers sell safe bird control products that don't incorporate poisons, traps, or firearms, ridding the barn of birds can sometimes be a tricky enterprise and may require the help of a knowledgeable bird control specialist who can help reduce the population.
The first step in reducing the bird population is to rid the facility of existing nests. After nests have been removed, there are a number of products on the market that will help to prevent birds from returning. Sonic transmitters emit a noise that sounds like bird predators and therefore frighten birds. Something to take into consideration is that while humans can't hear the noise, it can bother the horses and other four-legged friends. Roost inhibitors come in several different forms such as spikes, wires, and a semi-solid paste in a caulking tube that repels birds from trusses and rafters. Visual repellents such as simulated hawks and owls can also be effective, but the horse owner should be sure to move them now and then so the birds don't catch on.
To protect horses and humans from birds that might remain, it is important to keep tack and feed in a place where birds will not leave their droppings. Netting can be used to protect hay and bedding, as well as doorways, trusses, and rafters. Last, but very important, animal control should be called in the event a dead bird is found in the barn or on the property, so the bird can be tested for West Nile virus. The dead bird should never be handled by anyone other than an animal control officer.
Vermin
Vermin—mice and rats mostly—are popular barn residents. The telltale sign that these squatters are taking up space in the barn is gnawed holes at intersections where walls meet ceilings, floors, or other walls. Rats are more particular than mice about keeping their holes hidden, and their holes can often be found behind tack trunks or refrigerators.
The first step to controlling rodents is to starve them: eliminate the feed that attracts them by storing feed in sealed, unchewable containers. Unopened feed bags should be stacked off the floor on pallets in a rodent-proofed bin or screened area. Spills should be cleaned up immediately.
After the feed situation is taken care of, rodent barriers should be built or added. A layer of metal mesh, sometimes called "rat wire," should be added between the frame of the feed room and the wallboard to stop the rodents from chewing.
The barn owner should search for and seal up the holes. Particularly effective sealing items include steel wool or concrete mixed with crushed glass.
A good barn cat will keep existing vermin at bay.
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With an effective, two-pronged approach to pest control the barn manager can diminish the insect, bird, and vermin population while at the same time ensuring that those pests that remain do minimal damage. And that makes the barn and fields a more pleasant place for those guests who are invited.
