By the height of summer, most horse owners don’t need to be told that flies and heat are uncomfortable — you can see it.
A horse that never quite settles.
A tail that seems to be in constant motion.
More pacing, stamping, or head shaking than usual.
It’s not dramatic, and it’s not an emergency. But it’s enough to make you pause and think about how your horse is coping day after day.
The Everyday Toll of Flies and Heat
Summer discomfort rarely shows up as one obvious problem. Instead, it builds quietly.
As temperatures rise, horses have to work harder to regulate their body temperature. At the same time, flies and biting insects become more active and persistent. Together, these pressures can create a steady background of irritation that makes it harder for horses to fully relax.
You might notice:
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less time spent standing quietly
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constant movement to avoid insects
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a general sense of mental fatigue
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reduced patience during handling
These behaviours aren’t signs of poor training or attitude. They’re often the result of a horse coping with ongoing environmental pressure.
Flies Target What Horses Can’t Easily Defend
Flies are drawn to areas with thinner skin and good blood supply, including the legs, belly, sheath or udder, and around the eyes. These are also the areas horses struggle most to protect themselves.
To avoid flies, horses may:
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stamp or shift weight repeatedly
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walk instead of resting
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swish their tail continuously
Over time, this constant movement reduces genuine rest. Even when a horse looks calm, they may not be fully relaxed if fly pressure is constant.
Heat Affects More Than Comfort
Heat doesn’t just make horses warm — it changes how their bodies function.
Horses rely heavily on sweating to cool themselves. In hot conditions, this leads to increased fluid and electrolyte loss, even when horses aren’t in active work. When cooling becomes more demanding, horses may feel flat, tight, or mentally dull rather than obviously fatigued.
Combined with fly irritation, heat can make horses:
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less willing to stand still
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more sensitive to touch
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harder to settle under saddle
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generally “not quite themselves”
These changes are subtle, but they matter.
Small Irritations Add Up
One of the most challenging aspects of summer discomfort is that it’s cumulative. Flies and heat don’t cause a single moment of stress — they create many small moments throughout the day.
Over weeks, this can lead to:
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reduced tolerance
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increased vigilance
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less effective rest
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quieter signs of stress rather than obvious behaviour issues
This is why summer discomfort often feels like a gradual wearing down rather than a clear problem.
Thoughtful Summer Support Makes a Difference
Supporting a horse through summer isn’t about eliminating every irritation. It’s about reducing the constant background pressure they’re dealing with.
Many owners focus on:
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minimising fly contact with sensitive areas
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allowing airflow while protecting from insects
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helping their horse conserve energy instead of constantly reacting
Lightweight summer rugs can provide full-body fly protection without trapping heat, while fly boots offer targeted relief for legs, one of the most difficult areas for horses to defend themselves.
When irritation is reduced, even slightly, many horses:
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settle more easily in the paddock
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rest more effectively
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feel calmer to handle
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show improved focus when ridden
The change is often quiet, but noticeable.
Supporting Your Horse Through Summer
Summer management isn’t about over-protecting or wrapping horses up unnecessarily. It’s about recognising when environmental conditions are wearing on them and making small, thoughtful adjustments.
Fly protection and breathable summer rugs are simply tools that help shape a more comfortable environment — one that allows horses to relax, recover, and cope better with the season.
You don’t need convincing that flies and heat are uncomfortable. You already see the signs.
What matters is knowing that this discomfort isn’t something horses should simply tolerate. With a few considered changes, it’s possible to ease the daily irritation that summer brings and help horses feel calmer, more settled, and more comfortable until the season shifts again.
Understanding how flies and heat affect comfort is one thing. Seeing how targeted protection supports horses through summer makes those choices clearer.
👉 Explore summer rugs and fly boots designed to support comfort in warm conditions
Sources & Further Reading
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University of Minnesota Extension – Horse Heat Stress
https://extension.umn.edu/horse-care-and-management/horse-heat-stress -
Søndergaard, E., et al. (2012). Effects of insect harassment on horse behaviour and physiology.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159112002215 -
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science – Behavioural responses of horses to fly pressure
https://www.journalofequinevet.com/article/S0737-0806(08)70026-7/fulltext -
Kentucky Equine Research – Heat Stress in Horses
https://ker.com/equinews/heat-stress-horses/ -
National Center for Biotechnology Information – Chronic stress and equine welfare
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5452220/ -
Animals (MDPI) – Effects of insect protective coverings on grazing animal behaviour
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1605