There’s probably nothing that irritates your horse more in the warmer months than swatting flies away constantly. Any equine owner knows that flies can be a massive pain for your trotting buddies. The cost of commercial fly-repellent products can quickly add up.
Luckily, there are several options that you can make right in the comfort of your own home. With minimal ingredients that are both natural and fresh, you can repel those pesky flies once and for all—letting your horse enjoy a lovely day grazing in the pasture without any discomfort.
Top 4 DIY Homemade Fly Spray Recipes
These homemade DIY fly sprays are from several different equine-loving websites. Many hands-on, experienced owners have developed their own unique sprays that are inexpensive and easy to make.
Below are the ingredients and measurements for each of these sprays. You can check out each one to determine which you think would work best with your horses.
You can even take a few of these ideas combining them to make your very own concoction. Many horse owners get creative and come up with all sorts of these recipes and test their effectiveness.
1. Homemade Fly Spray
Easy Homemade Horse Fly Spray
Equipment
- Bowl
- Fork or whisk
- Spray bottle
Materials
- 4 cups apple cider vinegar
- 20 drops rosemary essential oil
- 20 drops basil essential oil
- 20 drops peppermint essential oil
- 10 drops lemongrass essential oil
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons dish soap
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine all ingredients.
- Mix well with a fork or whisk.
- Pour your horse fly spray into a spray bottle.
- Spray on your horses as needed, avoiding sensitive areas.
Notes
2. Prairie Homestead Fly Spray Recipe
This next recipe will take mostly natural ingredients mixed with a little bit of dish soap. This concoction is extremely easy to make; you just have to make sure that you have all of the listed essential oils to begin.
This recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of oil which can be any you so choose. The recommendation would be olive oil, canola oil, or mineral oil. However, you can also use cold-pressed organic coconut oil as well.
The only problem with coconut oil is that it can thicken depending on temperature. You need to make sure that the recipe is thin enough to mist through a squirt bottle.
- 4 cups raw apple cider vinegar
- 20 drops rosemary essential oil
- 20 drops basil essential oil
- 20 drops peppermint essential oil
- 2 tablespoons liquid oil
- 1 tablespoon dish soap
Notes
Do not use this fly spray on pregnant horses. Only use therapeutic-grade essential oils. Essential oils are safe to use topically on most horses, but some horses may react to essential oils. Do a patch test test prior to using. If your horse is nursing, receiving other medication, or is unwell, speak to your veterinarian before using this formula.
3. Saddlebox 3-Ingredient Fly Spray
This incredibly simple DIY fly spray by saddle box is convenient and safe. If you worry about all of the extra chemicals or worry that you will use the wrong essential oils, look no further. This simple recipe only takes three ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, water, and Dawn dish soap.
Most people already have these items at home. Don’t worry about the effectiveness of this one, as many swear by its potency.
- 1 cup of water
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar
- 2 squirts of Dawn dish soap
4. Neem Oil Spray
This DIY fly spray combines nature’s insecticide neem oil with water and dish soap as a surfactant. Neem oil is a popular, stable product because of its safety and efficacy as a topical fly repellent. It might also help soothe irritated skin. As a natural plant-based product, it’s also great for the environment.
You will need:
- 2 tablespoons neem oil
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon Dawn dish soap
The Problem with Flies
Flies can cause considerable irritation for horses in the warmer months. Imagine just standing there minding your own business and having hundreds of flies crawling on you. It sounds miserable, right?
Not only are flies just pesky, but they can also bite your horse and irritate her skin. Some horses might be sensitive to the bites and suffer rashes or itching. No matter how they react, you need to make sure that you try to remove the problem as much as you can.
Irritant Disclaimer
Before you read about how to make these bug spray products, it is essential to understand that every ingredient has the potential to affect your horse negatively. Some horses will be more sensitive to other ingredients, so it’s necessary to look out for the signs.
If there is any visible skin irritation or unusual symptoms, discontinue use immediately. It will be important to learn exactly what the trigger was to avoid it in the future.
Fly Spray: Final Thoughts
Flies are annoying, and we all know that it’s true. For owners who prefer natural options, throwing together your own recipe can provide them with relief while keeping them safe.
If you decide to go off track a little bit with any of these recipes, make sure that you study each essential oil to make sure that you’re not going overboard with any of them. Some essential oils are toxic, especially in large quantities. Just make sure you’re mindful and keeping your horse’s best interest at heart.
See Also:
- Deer Fly vs Horse Fly: What’s the Difference? (With Pictures)
- DIY Horse Hay Feeders You Can Build Today (With Pictures)
Featured Image Credit: IRINA ORLOVA, Shutterstock
