There's a particular kind of June morning that every Scottish horse owner knows. You arrive at the yard to find low cloud, a few spots of drizzle, then a muggy, close warmth that has the midges rising off the grass in clouds. That's exactly the week we're having — unsettled, humid and showery, with temperatures nudging the high teens to low 20s across the country. It's lovely growing weather for the grazing, but for our horses it means one thing: fly season is in full swing. If you're searching for horse fly rugs in Scotland right now, you're far from alone — it's one of the busiest weeks of the year at all four McCaskie Country Stores.
Biting flies and midges aren't just an irritation. They can leave horses stamping, head-shaking and miserable, and for sweet-itch-prone ponies a bad midge season can mean weeks of broken skin and rubbed manes. The good news is that a little kit and a sensible routine go a long way.
This Week's Challenge: Muggy, Midge-Heavy Scotland
The weather we're seeing — warm, damp and still between showers — is the perfect storm for biting insects. Midges thrive in that humid, sheltered air, and they're at their worst around dawn and dusk, exactly when many horses are turned out. Add the standing water left by passing showers and you've got ideal breeding conditions in every gateway and ditch.
For horses out in the field, the relentless nibbling around the eyes, belly and tail line is exhausting. Stabled horses get some respite, but open doors and muggy nights still let the midges in. Whether your horse lives out or comes in, this is the week to get your fly defences sorted.
What We Recommend: Rugs, Sprays and a Bit of Summer Care
The single best barrier against biting insects is a good fly rug, and our pick for all-day turnout is the Shires Tempest Original Fly Combo Rug. Its light, airy knit-mesh weave keeps flies off without overheating your horse on warmer afternoons, and the combo neck gives proper coverage right up to the ears. When you're choosing a size, measure from the centre of the chest to the point of the buttock in inches — that's your rug size — and if your horse is between sizes, size up for comfort over a summer coat.
A physical barrier works best alongside a quality repellent. For long days at grass we'd point you to Carr & Day & Martin Flygard Extra Strength Repellent, a powerful DEET-based formula that holds up well through Scottish drizzle, or Leovet Phaser Fly Spray, which gives around seven hours of protection even when your horse sweats. A few tips from our team: apply to a clean, dry coat, never spray straight onto the face — decant a little onto a cloth and wipe gently around the eyes and ears — and reapply after heavy rain. If you're after a gentler option, ask in-store about citronella-based sprays for sensitive skin.
For horses spending more time stabled to escape the worst of the midges, a Little Likit treat hung from a holder is a simple way to keep them occupied and settled. And because warm, flush grass can upset the balance of a horse's diet, it's worth reviewing summer feeding too — our Red Mills range includes balancers and lower-calorie options ideal for good-doers on lush June pasture. Our equestrian shelves carry the full sweep of summer essentials, so if you're stocking up it's worth browsing the whole horse collection in one go.
Find It at McCaskie — In-Store or Online
You'll find fly rugs, sprays and summer horse care on the shelves at all four McCaskie Country Stores — Ayr, Kinross, Lanark and Stirling. If you're after equestrian supplies in Ayr or horse care in Stirling, our local teams know exactly what's working in this weather and can help you match a rug and repellent to your horse.
Not sure which product suits a sweet-itch pony or a horse with sensitive skin? Our AMTRA-qualified staff are on hand for genuine animal health advice — just ask. And if you can't get to a store this week, the full equestrian range is available to browse and order anytime at mccaskie.store, with everything delivered to your door.
Don't let the midges win this June. Pop into your nearest McCaskie Country Store in Ayr, Kinross, Lanark or Stirling — our team loves to help. Or browse and shop anytime at mccaskie.store.