• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I Heart Horses
  • Care
  • News
  • Fun
  • Heartwarming
  • Videos
  • Rescue
  • Horse Fun
  • Tips For Riders
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Care
  • News
  • Fun
  • Heartwarming
  • Videos
  • Rescue
  • Horse Fun
  • Tips For Riders
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Care
    • News
    • Fun
    • Heartwarming
    • Videos
    • Rescue
    • Horse Fun
    • Tips For Riders
    • Fun Facts
    • Stories
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » News

    Study Shows Giving Your Horse Zebra Stripes Will Help Deter Biting Flies

    Modified: Jul 22, 2020 by Amber King · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Biting flies come out in droves during the summer months, and the hungry pests pose a particular risk for horses. Horse flies, deer flies, and biting midges see our horses as a tempting buffet. They swarm their faces, backs, and bellies looking for a good place to feast. They leave behind painful bites, and sometimes those bites spread deadly diseases.

    Fly control is a priority for every horse owner, and it's also something we struggle with. There are ways to minimize flies at your barn, and some horse owners are turning to a more creative solution. A study shows that a zebra's stripes could be the key to protecting horses from biting flies.

    zebra stripes for biting flies

    Why Do Zebras Have Stripes?

    Scientists have multiple theories as to why zebras have stripes. Some say the black and white pattern helps keep the equids cool in scorching temperatures, and others credit the stripes with being good camouflage. The real reason could be a combination of several benefits, but there's not enough evidence to give us a definitive answer.

    A study published in PLOS One, however, shows zebra stripes could have evolved to protect the species from biting flies. It also suggests that same concept can be used to protect horses and other animals.

    The Experiment

    For the study, researchers observed three captive zebras and nine monochromatically colored horses in adjacent fields in Britain. Horseflies are an annual problem for the area, and researchers were looking for how the flies responded to the different groups of animals.

    zebra stripes

    From a distance, it looked like the flies were equally interested in both the zebras and the horses. Researchers could see swarms of flies around both groups.

    With a closer look, however, they discovered something interesting. The flies swarming the zebras seemed to get confused when they attempted to go in for a bite. Researchers observed that the flies failed to slow down and either missed the zebra altogether or bumped into the skin and fell away.

    During 5.3 hours of observation, the three zebras didn't receive a single fly bite. The flying pests buzzed by their ears and swarmed above their bodies, but they didn't get close enough to bite. 

    In the next field over, the uncovered horses weren't as lucky. Biting flies got to them 239 times in 11 hours of observation.

    zebra stripes

    To continue the study, researchers also covered horses in coats—one black, one white, and one with zebra stripes. In a 30-minute time frame, over 60 flies touched down on the horses with the solid black and solid white coats. At that same time, only five flies landed on the horses dressed in stripes. 

    From these observations, researchers theorize that a zebra's trademark stripes deter flies at a close range. They're still not sure why it happens, but their findings show zebra stripes could help horse owners protect their horses from biting flies.

    With this encouraging evidence, many horse owners have invested in zebra-striped fly sheets. The stripes are an added defense to protect horses from bites and prevent the spread of disease.

    Horse Courses by Elaine Heney

    • Listening to the Horse - The Documentary by Elaine Heney & Grey Pony Films
    • Shoulder In & Out Training for better balance, bend & topline development with your horse
    • Over 110+ Polework Exercises & Challenges to Download
    • Dancing at Liberty & Creating Connection with Your Horse (11 lessons) - Grey Pony Films
     

    h/t: Science Mag

    More News

    • 41 Genius Horse Care Hacks You've Never Thought Of
    • Director Ashley Avis Of Disney+'s New Black Beauty Film Talks With iHeartHorses
    • Understanding Horse Behavior
      Study Shows Horses Understand Our Intentions
    • Horse Blanket Benefits
      Do Blanketed Horses Eat Less? Study Says Yes

    Sharing is caring!

    11.1K shares
    • Share11.0K
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Search

    Recent Posts

    • 11 Horse Gadgets and Apps for Tech Lovers
    • 11 Surprising Christmas Ideas for Horse Lovers
    • 6 Of The Best Places to See Wild Horses in the US
    • 7 Top Podcasts for Horse Lovers (Trending Now)
    • 11 Symptoms of DSLD In Horses

    Categories

    Follow Us

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    iHeartHorses.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 · iHeartHorses Inc.

    11.1K shares
    • 11.0K

    Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy