6 Best Feed Through Fly Control For Pregnant Mares Without Harsh Additives
Explore 6 gentle feed-through fly control options for pregnant mares. These supplements work by safely disrupting the fly life cycle without harsh additives.
The air gets thick and the buzzing starts right around the time your broodmare needs peace and quiet the most. You want to protect her from the stress and disease-carrying nuisance of flies, but dousing a pregnant animal in chemical sprays feels wrong. The good news is, you have options that work from the inside out, supporting her system without introducing harsh, questionable ingredients.
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Why Gentle Fly Control Matters for Broodmares
A pregnant mare is doing the incredible work of building a new life, and her system is more sensitive than ever. Everything she ingests can potentially cross the placental barrier, making the "what ifs" of harsh additives a risk many of us aren’t willing to take. We’re not just protecting one horse; we’re safeguarding two.
The stress from constant fly harassment is more than just an annoyance. The stomping, tail-swishing, and restless pacing burn precious calories that should be going toward foal development and maintaining her own condition. This constant agitation can also lead to pasture injuries or stress-induced health issues.
Gentle, feed-through fly control shifts the focus from a topical attack to internal support. The goal is to make the mare less appealing to flies in the first place, often by altering her scent through natural ingredients excreted in her sweat and skin oils. This approach supports her body’s systems rather than just layering on a temporary, external fix.
Springtime Bug Off Garlic: A Simple Solution
Garlic is one of the oldest and most straightforward feed-through fly control methods. The principle is simple: the sulfur compounds in garlic are metabolized and released through the skin, creating a natural odor that biting insects find repulsive. Springtime’s product is essentially just that—a pure, granulated garlic that’s easy to add to feed.
This is a great starting point if you’re new to feed-throughs. It’s cost-effective and avoids a complex cocktail of ingredients. You know exactly what you’re feeding, which is a huge plus when dealing with a pregnant mare.
However, simplicity has its tradeoffs. Some horses are notoriously picky about the strong taste and smell of garlic, and you may need to introduce it slowly. While many owners swear by it, its effectiveness can vary from horse to horse, likely due to individual body chemistry. It’s a solid, no-frills option, but not a guaranteed slam dunk for every situation.
Hilton Herbs Bye Bye Fly: An Herbal Approach
If you prefer a multi-faceted strategy, an herbal blend like Hilton Herbs Bye Bye Fly is a compelling choice. This isn’t just a single-ingredient solution; it’s a thoughtfully combined mix of herbs designed to work together. You’ll typically find garlic, but it’s supported by other ingredients like brewers yeast, nettle, and seaweed.
The philosophy here is holistic. Brewers yeast supports a healthy gut and provides B vitamins, which can also help deter pests. Nettle and seaweed are rich in minerals that promote healthy skin and a gleaming coat, creating a less inviting environment for insects to land and bite. It’s less about one "magic" ingredient and more about supporting the horse’s overall system to be more resilient.
This approach is often more palatable for horses that turn their nose up at straight garlic. The main consideration is cost, as complex herbal blends are more expensive than single ingredients. But for a broodmare, the added nutritional support for skin and gut health can be a worthwhile investment beyond just fly control.
HorseTech Buggzo!: Garlic and Diatomaceous Earth
HorseTech’s Buggzo! takes a two-pronged approach by combining garlic with food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE). The garlic works systemically to make the mare herself less attractive to flies. The DE, meanwhile, is aimed at breaking the fly life cycle right in the manure pile.
Let’s be clear about how DE works in a feed-through. It is inert and passes through the horse’s digestive system unchanged. Its purpose is to end up in the manure, where its microscopic, sharp edges can dehydrate and kill fly larvae as they hatch. This helps reduce the overall fly population on your property.
This is a smart strategy, but it requires realistic expectations. It won’t eliminate the need for manure management. You still need to be diligent about cleaning stalls and dragging pastures. Think of it as an assistant, making your manure pile a less effective fly nursery, not a replacement for good old-fashioned farm hygiene.
SmartBug-Off Ultra: A Palatable Pellet Option
For the picky eater or the busy farm owner, a pelleted supplement is a game-changer. SmartBug-Off Ultra is a popular choice because it bundles several effective ingredients into a highly palatable pellet that most horses eat without a fuss. No more top-dressing powders that get sifted out and left in the bottom of the feed tub.
This formula typically includes garlic, brewers yeast, and apple cider vinegar, all known for their pest-deterring properties. Crucially, it also contains omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed, which are fantastic for reducing inflammation and supporting healthy skin. For a mare whose skin might be stretched and sensitive, this is a significant benefit.
The convenience and comprehensive nature of a product like this are its biggest selling points. It’s an "all-in-one" solution that addresses fly control and supports skin, coat, and hoof health simultaneously. While it’s one of the more premium-priced options, the ease of use and broad-spectrum benefits make it a strong contender for broodmare care.
AniMed Bug-Lyte: Thiamine and Yeast Benefits
If your horse dislikes garlic or you’re simply not seeing results with it, looking at a different active ingredient is a logical next step. AniMed Bug-Lyte focuses on Thiamine (Vitamin B1) and brewers yeast as its primary defense. The theory is that supplementing with B vitamins can alter a horse’s body odor in a way that is undetectable to us but unpleasant to insects.
Brewers yeast is a fantastic natural source of B vitamins and also promotes healthy digestion. A stable gut microbiome is the foundation of a healthy horse, and a healthy horse is often a less-stressed, less-pest-attractive horse. This formula often includes electrolytes as well, which is a practical bonus for keeping a mare well-hydrated in the heat.
This product is an excellent alternative for those seeking a garlic-free option. It’s a way to tackle the problem from a different angle, focusing on metabolic and digestive health as a pathway to fly resistance. It’s a good reminder that there’s more than one way to achieve a goal on the farm.
Source Focus HF: Gut Health and Fly Defense
Sometimes the best defense is a strong foundation. Source Focus HF operates on the principle that ultimate health, including resistance to pests, starts in the gut. This supplement isn’t marketed primarily as a fly-repellent but as a broad-spectrum micronutrient supplement derived from seaweed.
The goal is to provide a wide array of trace minerals and nutrients that might be missing from typical forage or feeds. By optimizing digestion and nutrient absorption, you support every system in the horse’s body, including the immune system and skin health. A mare with a robust system and resilient skin is simply a less appealing target for flies.
This is a long-game strategy. You may not see the dramatic, immediate results that a potent garlic supplement might promise. Instead, you’re investing in the mare’s core health, with reduced fly burden being one of several positive outcomes. For a broodmare, whose nutritional needs are already high, this foundational support can be invaluable.
Integrating Feed-Throughs with Farm Management
Let’s be perfectly clear: no feed-through supplement is a magic wand. You cannot feed your way out of a fly problem if your farm management isn’t up to par. These supplements are a single, powerful layer in a comprehensive defense strategy, not a standalone solution.
A successful fly control program is an integrated system. It means combining your chosen feed-through with diligent, practical farm hygiene. This is non-negotiable.
- Manure Management: Muck out stalls daily and regularly remove manure from paddocks and sacrifice areas. Composting manure properly generates heat that kills fly larvae.
- Physical Barriers: Use fly sheets, masks, and leg wraps, especially during peak fly hours at dawn and dusk. A physical barrier is still the most effective immediate protection.
- Traps and Predators: Strategically place fly traps away from the barn to lure flies away. Consider using fly predators—tiny, non-stinging wasps that prey on fly larvae in manure.
- Eliminate Breeding Grounds: Get rid of standing water where mosquitoes breed and ensure your muck pile is far from the barn.
Think of it like this: the feed-through makes your mare the least appealing "restaurant" in the area, while good management closes down all the other "restaurants" on your property. When you combine these strategies, you create an environment where flies simply can’t thrive.
Ultimately, choosing the right feed-through for your pregnant mare is about matching a gentle, effective formula to her individual needs and your farm’s reality. It’s one piece of a larger puzzle, complementing the diligent manure management and physical protections that create a truly peaceful, low-stress environment for your mare and her future foal.
