Best Fly Sprays for Horses: Essential Buying Guide

How to buy the best horse fly spray that fits your needs

Here are some important questions you need to know and ask yourself when buying fly spray for horses to ensure you get the best product that fits your needs and experience the best results. 

What are the ingredients of a good horse fly spray?

The ingredients are obviously what will make the fly spray effective. If you are concerned with chemicals or want a natural repellent, look for essential oils in the ingredients.  

A good horse fly spray contains active ingredients like pyrethrins or pyrethroids, permethrin, and citronella oil to repel or kill flies and other insects. Essential oils such as cedarwood and eucalyptus provide natural repellent properties. Synergists like piperonyl butoxide and N-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide enhance the effectiveness of insecticides. Oil-based carriers ensure longer-lasting protection while emulsifiers and surfactants aid in even distribution. Preservatives maintain product stability. Water serves as a primary ingredient. Always test for potential sensitivities and follow manufacturer instructions for safe use.

How often am I able to apply the fly spray?

If you’re not able to reapply often, go with an oil-based spray, as it will last longer. Most sprays advertise that they will last for up to 14 days, they must have tested horses in air-conditioned rooms with zero weather conditions to consider, because the spray will protect your horse closer to 2 or 3 days, so regular applications are vital. Water-based sprays make reapplication even more important, as it does not stay on the coat quite as well.  

How many horses can I treat?

If you’re treating more than a few horses, or if you’re applying regularly, you may prefer an aerosol fly spray, as you simply hold down and let it spray. Traditional spray bottles require constant spraying and often don’t get applied as evenly.

What are Sweat Resistant fly sprays?

Flies are generally found in greater numbers during the hotter summer months. Horses turned out in the field during those hot summer days are hot and sweaty, which is why it’s important to find a fly spray that is sweat-resistant like UltraShield EX or Endure Sweat-Resistant Fly Spray. These fly sprays are also weatherproof and will stay effective through summer rainfalls. Since your horse will be standing out in the sun, they’ve formulated this spray with multiple sunscreens and conditioners, including aloe and lanolin, to keep the coat healthy and happy.

How are Water-Based fly sprays different?

Water-based fly sprays can be less irritating and do not attract dust and dirt. A fly spray like Repel-35 Insect Control Spray is gentler with a non-irritating formula. It is also enriched with lanolin and aloe vera that can be very soothing to the skin.

What are Concentrates?

Going with a concentrate like Permectrin II 10% Emulsifiable Insecticide can be a great money saving choice if you have several horses. A concentrate provides you with more “bang for your buck” and you can mix your fly spray as you need it. Just be careful, when mixing your own fly spray, it is important to follow directions. Using less concentrate than what is called for in the directions will make your fly spray less effective. Using too much of the concentrate can be irritating to your horse.

What is a Spot-On Fly control?

Spot-on fly control is applied very similarly to how you use your dog or cat’s flea drops. Products like Equi-Spot are applied to several locations on your horse’s body & can remain effective for up to two weeks. This drastically cuts down on the amount of fly spray needed. And don’t worry, spot-ons come with detailed directions on exactly how much product to apply to each specific location.

What do All-Natural Fly Sprays have?

All-natural fly sprays are a non-toxic and a safe alternative to traditional fly sprays. All-natural fly sprays like Farrier’s Wife Stop the Stomp are made with natural oils that are known to repel insects. The nature of the natural oils used within these fly sprays require the need to be reapplied more often than traditional flies sprays, but you will have the peace of mind in knowing that you are exposing less chemicals to you & your horse.

Explore more effective fly spray for horses at Jeffers today.