Horses are Majestic creatures that deserve the best of everything. They deserve the best feed, the best stables and the best care. And when it comes to caring for your horse, nothing is quite as important as the right conditioner, shampoo and fly repellant. Like horseshoes and periodic brushing, fly repellents are important for the proper care of your prized steed. Fly repellants keep them clean, comfortable, and devoid of diseases. A great fly repellent could potentially save you thousands and lengthen the lifespan of your favorite horse. It is an investment in itself and every horse owner should look into getting one. This guide was written to help with that. We will go over what to look for in a great repellent and help you pick out the best fly repellent for horses.
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Contents
- 1 Guide
- 2 The Best 12 Fly Repellants For Horses
- 2.1 PYRANHA Wipe N Spray
- 2.2 Absorbine UltraShield EX
- 2.3 Farnam Endure Sweat
- 2.4 EcoSMART Organic
- 2.5 Farnam Bronco e Equine
- 2.6 PYRANHA Zero-Bite Natural
- 2.7 Espree Aloe Herbal
- 2.8 Farnam Repel-X pe Emulsifiable
- 2.9 Miracle Coat Horse Shampoo and Conditioners
- 2.10 Absorbine UltraShield Green
- 2.11 Durvet Turn Out Insecticide and Repellent
- 2.12 EQyss Premier Equine Spray Marigold Scent
- 2.13 Our Thoughts
Guide
Any responsible horse owner and equestrian knows how dangerous flies, fleas and gnats can be to a horse’s health. Some of them carry life-threatening diseases that could affect the horse and rider.
There is always a noticeable dip in performance when a horse is in pain. That is why you must make your horse feel safe and comfortable. This means choosing products that contain the right ingredients and delivery system.
With these specifications in mind, these are some of the features to look out for when selecting a fly repellent for your horse.
The Right Ingredients
Any great fly repellent worth its mettle has to come with the right ingredients. It doesn’t matter whether the product you go with is natural or not. There are chemicals or ingredients that constitute the base expectation for both kinds of products. For the chemical fly repellent, you should look out for chemicals like Pyrethrin, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronella, DEET, PMD, and Permethrin. If the product you end up with isn’t with these ingredients, then you should do some research and read reviews before you commit to it. For natural products, you should look out for ingredients like Geranio, Clove oil, Peppermint oil, and Thyme oil.
It’s important that you know what is in the product you decide to settle with because of the side effects it can have on the other animals in your barn, not just your horse; most fly repellents aren’t made for just horses. The ingredients inside also tell you a little bit about how long the product lasts for before you need another application, as well as how effective it is. The ingredients can also tell you how many insects the product repels and the kind of scent it gives off.
The Delivery Method or System
When applying a fly repellent, it is mandatory that you apply the product evenly across the body of your horse; otherwise, it won’t be as effective as it should be. Ideally, you want to choose a delivery system that will spread the repellent evenly across the horse’s body. That means you want to go with products that come in sprays, liquids, soaps or shampoos. They have the best delivery systems and are the easiest to control.
Now that you have a pretty good understanding of what to look out for when choosing a repellant, let’s look at our top 12 picks. They are the best fly repellents for horses on the market.
The Best 12 Fly Repellants For Horses
PYRANHA Wipe N Spray
The Pyranha Wipe N Spray is at the top of our list because of how versatile and potent it is. This product is effective against flies, mosquitoes, gnats, fleas, and ticks. On top of that, it is one of the few products that eliminates flies immediately on contact.
The Wipe N Spray has a lovely Citronella scent and has chemicals like Butoxypolypropylene Glycol, Pyethrins and Piperonyl Butoxide as its active ingredients. It also water-resistant, contains lanolin and works well on other animals like poultry. It is, however, not recommended for donkeys.
The product is guaranteed to work for at least ten to fourteen days after each application. It also comes a plastic container. It’s recommended that you spray it and then brush it into the coat of your horse; it is more effective that way.
Absorbine UltraShield EX
The Absorbine Ultrashield EX brand Horse fly spray is one of the most potent fly repellents on the market. It was designed to combat over 70+ species of insect for an extended period. The product is known to last up to 17 days per use, and it’s so concentrated that you need only about a 2 Oz per use. It can be used on the bodies of dogs, horses, mules, donkeys, as well as around their living quarters.
With ingredients like permethrin, Pyrethrins, Piperonyl Butoxide, Citronella, Aloe Vera, and Lanolin, it not only combat insects and provides a lovely sheen, it also smells nice and agrees with most animals.
It comes in a lovely spray bottle that provides a continuous noiseless stream. Even though it’s potent when applied, wiping it down can increase its efficacy. Although the product is weatherproof and water-based, it is recommended that you reapply it after heavy contact with water.
Farnam Endure Sweat
This multi-purpose fly repellent does more than keep your horses safe from flies. It doubles as an insecticide and works well with animals and their habitats. This product provides relief from flies, ticks mosquitoes, gnats, and even lice. It is definitely one of the best fly repellents for horses. Even though it protects for up to 14 days after a single-use, it’s better to reapply it after every seven days.
The most impressive feature of this product is the Repelock conditioner that has the ability to attach itself to your animal’s hair shaft and stay there for an extended period. The product is made from ingredients like Cypermethrin, Pyrethrins, and Piperonyl Butoxide Technical.
It comes in several forms, including a spray, a liquid container, and a roll-on. The spray is particularly impressive because it produces a continuous stream and can be applied upside down. It comes with a leak proof-bottle, it is waterproof, and it protects the horse from UV rays.
EcoSMART Organic
This all-natural horse fly repellent was produced with the pets, horses and children in mind. It is a family-friendly blend of natural oils that not only smells nice but is also as effective as the standard fly repellents. It is made from a patented blend of clove oil, thyme oil, cinnamon oil, lemongrass oil, and peppermint oil. The product might not last as long as it’s non-natural competition but is more than capable of providing a few days of relief for the affected animal. It combats gnats, mosquitoes and flies, instantly taking them down.
It comes in a 24 Oz bottle that is to be thoroughly shaken before use. Its bottle is also an easy to use spray container, and the liquid should be lightly distributed by brushing after application. It is an oil-based product that can be used on both animals and their habitats. It cannot be described as weather-proof, but it will provide some degree of protection after contact with water.
Farnam Bronco e Equine
This gallon-sized product kills flies, gnats, ticks, fleas, chiggers and lice on contact and keeps the ones that survive away for the rest of the day. It works well with horses, foals, ponies, as well as on barns and stables. It contains Prallethrin, permethrin, Piperonyl Butoxide and Citronella.
The product provides about a day’s worth of relief and protection. It is most effective when applied with a spray bottle and gently brushed in afterwards. It’s water-based and provides a little bit of protection on rainy days. It is not suited for animals aside from the ones approved by the manufacturers, so be sure to read the instructions.
PYRANHA Zero-Bite Natural
This product is a natural insect repellent that was manufactured using only natural ingredients. It is much safer than the Wipe N Spray and can be used for horses and pets alike. It is sold in a one-gallon container and is made from natural ingredients like Geranio, Clove oil, and peppermint oil—it is an all-natural product and one of the best fly repellent for horses.
The product smells pleasant; so much so that the smell is one of the most compelling features about it. However, its performance is a little lacklustre. It’s not as effective as the traditional chemical-heavy Wipe N Spray because it relies on non-aggressive natural products, unlike most insect repellents.
It works well against horse flies, gnats, ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, and about every other insect out there. It is oil-based and water-based, and it leaves a light soapy residue that can be brushed in with a little wiping. It’s good for about a day and a few hours.
Espree Aloe Herbal
This natural blend of essential oils provides long-lasting protection from flies, gnats, fleas, and mosquitoes. It is a multipurpose product that protects your horses, pets, and even your home. This unique insecticide is made from a blend of citronella oil, Cedarwood oil, Eucalyptus oil, aloe and mineral oil.
This product also doubles as sunscreen and a coat conditioner for your horses and is completely safe around both children and animals. It comes in a 5:1 concentrate or a ready to use formula. The best way to use this product is to use a spray bottle and distribute the solution with a clean brush or cloth. It is water-resistant and provides long-lasting protection.
Farnam Repel-X pe Emulsifiable
This product offers complete protection from flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and fleas at a modest price. This powerful mix kills insects on contact and comes in large 16 Oz and 32 Oz varieties. It is made of Prallethrin and Piperonyl Butoxide and lasts about 3-4 days after every application.
It comes in concentrates, so it should be mixed with the target insect in mind. The 1:7 mix for insects like house flies, gnats, mosquitoes and the 1:4 dilution for normal ticks, deer ticks and stable flies. This product is recommended for horses and ponies and their stables and barns. It should be applied in a spray bottle and evenly distributed with the use of a clean cloth or brush. Take care when applying it because it can be harmful if it gets in the horse’s mouth or eyes.
Miracle Coat Horse Shampoo and Conditioners
This amazing product is a little different from your traditional fly spray. It also functions as a potent conditioner and shampoo. It is an all-natural product that keeps flies, mosquitoes and gnats away. This product has amazing cleaning properties and excels with white horses and ponies. It is made from a blend of Clove oil, Citronella oil, and Lemongrass oil.
This repellent is water-based, child safe and fast-acting. It comes in a 12 oz spray bottle and is ready for immediate use. It should be brushed after application to remove dirt and give your horse’s coat a shine. It’s a well-rounded product and could be the best fly repellent for horses on the market.
Absorbine UltraShield Green
This can be best described as the green alternative to the most effective fly repellent for horses. This product utilizes all-natural ingredients and offers maximum protection for your horses and dogs. It is made from essential oils and wards off gnats, mosquitoes, flies and even fleas. It contains geraniol, Thyme oil, lemongrass oil, cedar oil, clove oil, citronella oil, Rosemary oil. It’s water-based and family-friendly.
You can expect to get about 8 hours of absolute protection against gnat and flies with this product. It comes in a 32 oz spray bottle. It also acts as a conditioner and gives your horse’s coat a nice shine after an application and a good brush. The best feature of this product is the scent it produces. It is pleasant for both the horse and the rider.
Durvet Turn Out Insecticide and Repellent
This potent water-proof insecticide and horse repellent begins action immediately it is applied. It is best suited to handle flea and lice infestations. It also provides relief from up to 12 species of flies, gnats, and mosquitoes. It’s made from a fast-acting mix of chemicals and can be used on horses, dogs and their living spaces.
It provides up to 14 days of protection after every application. The product is sweat, dust and water-resistant and it provides relief from infection in about 2-3 days. It comes in a spray bottle which contains about 32 Oz of liquid. You can spray it on all parts of the animal except the face.
EQyss Premier Equine Spray Marigold Scent
This is a non-chemical fly spray that repels flies, fleas, gnats and mosquitoes. The product is Eco-friendly and is safe to use on mammals, dogs, cats, reptiles and even birds. The product is not only a fly repellent, it is also a coat refresher, shampoo and moisturizer. The repellent is dust, water, and sweat resistant. It is non-alcoholic, water-soluble and contains no silicon.
It comes in a one-gallon and a 32 Oz option and is most effective when it’s sprayed on the animal and gently brushed. It’s last on this list because it is not as potent as chemical repellents, but, it will provide at least an entire day of protection if applied correctly.
Our Thoughts
Not all the products on this guide are winners, but they will definitely get the job done. They all offer almost instantaneous relief from flies and last a fair amount of time. Also, they all keep your horse and pet safe and comfortable and are worth every cent. However, the best care comes from the items on top of the list. If you need more guidance on what to choose, you can take a second look at the “guide” section. With the guidelines already established, I’m sure you’ll be able to pick the best fly repellent for horses.