Kim McElroy Training Stables, LLC

08/07/2026

After 55+ years of living with horses in several different climates & locations in the world, I have discovered a few things about dealing with flies! Unfortunately, there is no “magic spray” or silver bullet, but there is hope! Remember “flies” in general have a 15 - 45 day life cycle, so getting a handle on them takes a little time and diligence. If you have close neighbors who do not manage their flies well, your efforts will not be as successful.
Fly control falls into two categories:
1. Reduce fly population
2. Protect the horse from the rest of the flies
Ideally, we should prepare before fly season starts. First examine your stable area, loafing shed, paddocks, etc and improve the drainage and footing. Mow, trim, weed-eat vegetation and eliminate any possibility of standing water. Insects love moisture and filth! If you want to use fly traps, containers with attractant to catch flies, place them well away from the horses! Spray your structures with a concentrated knock down spray, the kind you can mix more strongly depending upon the application.
A month or so before fly season, start your horse on a fly control product designed to make him less attractive to flies. Beneficial ingredients are garlic, apple cider vinegar, brewers yeast, B vitamins. Other feed thru products contains chemicals to prevent the fly larvae from hatching in the manure, breaking the life cycle. Fly predators are beneficial insects that eat any fly larvae before they hatch. These are all the most beneficial if started before fly season!
Consider your manure disposal. Stalls, runs, loafing sheds should be cleaned at least daily, more often if you can. Put manure in covered receptacles or compost pile it as far away from the barn as possible. Consider fans in areas where horses hang out. The air movement makes flight more difficult for insects and disperses your horse’s scent, making him harder to find.
Most insect pests use odor to find your horse (or you!) so bathing with an enzymatic cleaner like e Z all is an important first step. A good bath will remove a lot of the smells attracting the flies. Next, most of us reach for a fly spray – here you have several options. Pyrethrins are natural compounds derived from chrysanthemum flowers, pretty effective but they break down quickly in sunlight and have little residual effect. Permethrins are the synthetic version; they last longer and are more stable. Essential oils are derived from plants; some help repel bugs others make it harder for the bugs to find the horse. Some excellent essential oils are citronella, peppermint, lavender, tea tree, thyme, cedarwood, lemon grass, eucalyptus, basil & geranium. My favorite recipe is 1 qt water in a spray bottle, 2 oz citronella oil and .5 – 1oz of any of the above-mentioned essential oils. Shake well before spraying. You can also add 1 oz of a concentrated 10% permethrin product to the mix if the flies are really bad. Spray horses in the morning, lasts all day for me.
Some other options are physical barrier protections; fly masks, bonnets, fly sheets, leg coverings made of mesh or a fine screening material can help keep flies off the horse. Be aware, a horse can destroy these on fencing, trees, bushes or with the help of pasture mates!
I hope some of this information is helpful! I will put some links to sources in the comments!

06/04/2026

Bag lunch! aka moral. These geriatrics get all their feed this way.

05/08/2026

YES! I use railroad ties to lead my horses over before mounted work. 20 trips does wonders.

A recent study from the University of Tennessee provided strong support for something trainers, movement specialists, and bodyworkers have observed for years:

Ground poles significantly increase activation of important postural and core muscles in horses.

What the Study Found

Walking over ground poles increased activity in:

• Longissimus dorsi — a major topline and spinal support muscle
• Abdominal muscles — critical for core stability and support of the spine

Even at the walk, poles require the horse to:

• Lift the limbs higher
• Stabilize the trunk more actively
• Organize posture and balance with greater precision
• Continuously adjust limb placement and timing

At the trot, researchers also found increased activation of the abdominal muscles.

Trotting over poles requires greater dynamic stabilization, and the increased limb elevation demands more coordinated control of the trunk, pelvis, and spine.

What This Means

These findings support the long-standing use of cavaletti and ground poles as a low-impact way to:

• Strengthen the topline
• Improve abdominal engagement
• Support spinal stability
• Enhance proprioception and coordination
• Encourage improved posture and self-carriage
• Develop better movement organization through the whole body

One of the most important aspects of pole work is that it influences both sides of the postural system:

• The dorsal chain — including the longissimus muscles along the back
• The ventral chain — including the abdominal support system

This balance is essential for efficient movement, force transfer, and development of a healthy, functional topline.

But pole work is not only muscular.

It is neurological.

Each pole creates a movement problem the horse must solve in real time.

The horse has to:

• Judge distance
• Adjust stride length
• Control timing
• Stabilize the trunk
• Organize the limbs in space
• Adapt moment-to-moment to changing demands

That process requires attention, coordination, body awareness, and ongoing nervous system regulation.

In many horses, poles appear to improve focus not simply because the horse is “behaving,” but because the nervous system is becoming more engaged and organized around the task.

Pole work may also influence neurological tone — the background level of muscular and nervous system readiness that affects posture, movement quality, stiffness, and coordination.

For some horses, this can help reduce excessive bracing and improve adaptability through the body.
For others, it can help improve postural engagement and overall organization.

Why It Matters

Regular pole work can benefit many types of horses:

• Young horses developing coordination and posture
• Performance horses improving strength, agility, movement quality, and limb awareness
• Horses rebuilding core control and stability after periods of weakness or reduced work
• Older horses maintaining mobility, coordination, and movement confidence

Importantly, many of these benefits occur even at the walk, making poles accessible to horses across a wide range of ages, disciplines, and fitness levels.

Rather than simply “making horses pick up their feet,” poles appear to challenge the nervous system, postural system, sensory system, and muscular system together — encouraging the horse to organize movement with greater control, awareness, and adaptability.

https://koperequine.com/step-by-step-the-benefits-of-walk-poles-for-horses/

04/14/2026

A couple of happy summer campers, enjoying their new pasture!