The best ways to use fly spray on your horse!
Flies are irritating, can cause welts and allergic reactions, and are a general nuisance to horses. There are loads of ways to help your horse – including fly sprays.
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What about the sensitive areas around my horse’s face? That’s where the bugs like to hang out.
Fly control sprays, roll-ons, and lotions have a few things in common – there is a right way and wrong way to use them. Here’s how to make the most of your favorite fly control product:
- Use fly control products on a clean horse. If you must spritz a dirty or dusty horse, I’m totally okay with that, just know that you may need to re-apply after a grooming session.
Sometimes, wiping fly spray is better than spraying.
- Read the label and the instructions! Each formula is different, and each manufacturer will have the best practices on the label. Get your dollars worth and follow the labels for the best performance. If you are interested, this article can help you decipher some of the many ingredients you may find in a bottle of fly spray for horses.
This fly spray is made from fatty acids, and works by confusing some flies about where the horse is. Smells weird, but works really well.
- It may be best to tack up before you spray your horse’s body. Your tack could slip (bad) or the sweat/heat/fly spray/trapped under a saddle could cause a skin reaction (also bad). If you are worried about the fly spray on your saddle, just leave your saddle cover on as you spray.
- Fly sprays + horse faces don’t always equal harmony. Horses can be very protective of their ears, eyes, and noses (rightly so) and having your horse stand in crossties as you squirt them with fly spray can lead to an accident or head shyness. Instead, here are a few ideas to make this process practically invisible to your horse.
It’s never a good idea to spray your horse’s face directly. Instead, use a sponge, towel, or your hand.
- Know the best places to apply fly protection to your horse’s face: ears, down the blaze, and under the eyes. I don’t recommend using fly spray, fly gel, or fly roll-on above the eyes, and sweat can create a spray/sweat drip into his eyes.
- Use something besides the sprayer to apply fly spray. Spray a washcloth, a grooming mitt, a paper towel, your hand, etc and use that to wipe on your horse’s ears, down his face, and very carefully under his eyes. When I say under his eyes, I still mean far away from any sensitive areas, at least an inch or so away from the eye.
Roll-on fly protection is great for your horse’s sensitive areas.
- You could also spritz your soft face brush and apply fly protection as you groom.
- If you use a fly bonnet when you are riding, you can spritz the bonnet before you put it on to help with those annoying gnats that tend to form a “cloud”.
- Wash your hands after handling fly spray and before you handle any horse treats. Or treats for you.
- Don’t touch a cat after using a fly spray with permethrins or pyrethrins. Totally toxic and usually deadly.
For fly-busting products, you can pick up these to add to your arsenal. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, which are at no additional cost to you. I greatly appreciate your support! You can also visit my Amazon storefront here: PEG storefront.
This spot-on product kills and repels ticks and helps with mosquito control.
This style is great for riding!
Sweet itch is best battled by not letting those annoying midges bite your horse.
For horses with sweet itch and other insect allergies, more coverage is better.
LeMieux has more colors than the paint section of a hardware store. I promise they have one you like!
These fly masks are fantastic for protecting ears and eyes, and do great under halters and grazing muzzles to stop rubs and hairless patches.
Use code 15PROEQUINE for a sitewide discount on muzzles, halters, accessories, and slow feeders.
Thanks guys!
