Fly Spray for Horses

[twentynine]

Tell me about fly spray for a horse.

I live in South La. we got gnats, skeeters, blackflies, horseflies, you name it we got it. So far they are not real bad, but in a few weeks, Cody is going to be in pure misery.

Is their some sort of fly spray that is long acting, you know, like spray it on Monday and it last until the next Monday? Are they possibly harmful to the horse. Does it burn, or otherwise uncomfortable to the horse?

Reason I am asking--- Last week gnats were terrible, Cody was covered, so while I didn't have any horsey type spray, I did have a can of Deep Woods Off, I figured I'd give him a small spray along his back where he could not get at the gnats with his tail. Knowing that Off contains DEET and not knowing the possible effect of DEET on a horse, I was going to give him just a very light mist on his back, and not cover him completely. Well I done what I normally do with Cody, I talked to him a little, showed him the can, let him get a sniff, soon as he got a sniff his ears went back, eyes went wide, he started tossing his head and blowing big puffs of wind. Not his usual reaction, so rather than spray the horse, I pointed the can away from him and kinda gave it a bit of a spppptttt. He went absolutely NUTS, beboppin, fore and aft, hunching his back, snorting, I swear if horses could curse, I would have been getting an ear full. I allowed him to calm down some and I figured he had been scared by something strange never seeing a spray can, so I waited a minute, got the can out again, he didn't even allow me to spray it this time, he tool off like his hair was on fire with his butt a catchin. I went put the can up, a little bit of Off just ain't worth him crashing about, hurting himself. The behavior was so unlike Cody, I don't know what to make of it.

I know I could go to the feed store and ask, but I always like to know just a little bit about a product from the start. Lots of time, I don't have anyone to ask at the feed store.

 

[Turkenlover]

Well, fly spray is always a frustrating issue. Here's what I use, and mind you, I have to rotate sprays usually, as nothing ever seems to work for an extended period. I have had the best luck with Pyranha Wipe N' Spray. The other spray that I have some luck with is Absorbine Super Shield in the red or black bottle.

The WORST and most useless spray I have ever used (and I have tried A LOT of them) is Bronco. You might as well spray water on your horse. I live in Colorado, which is not that humid, but we still get plenty of flies and mosquitos.

I would also definately recommend getting some Rescue fly traps for additional fly control. They are THE GREATEST invention EVER!!!! I would never live through a summer without them!!!! They are a bag that you fill with water and hang up. They fill with flies, and then you just throw them out. They are stinky, but I love them!

Oh, and my horse also wears a fly mask with ears, which I also recommend, or at least smear some vaseline with a few drops of Campo Phenique liquid in it inside your horse's ears so the bugs will drown in the goo.

Good luck against those pesky bugs!!

 

[seymore0626]

We buy Pyranha by the case, and it is in my opinion, the best. Lots of horses are freaked out by aerosol, pumps, any kind of spray. We use fly masks, but have also had success with cow tags attached to halter rings with zip ties. I also use lots of Golden Malarin fly bait in the feed room,and while it can be dangerous for cats and dogs, I've never had a problem, and we have lots of canines and felines running around. I like the trap and toss fly traps as well. A strategically placed fan is a great way to keep the flys away in a stall or loafing shed.

I've never had much luck with anything long lasting. Usually as soon as they sweat, it's ineffective.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

When I had my quarter horse, I used a product called Endure. It is an oil based spray...and does seem to last. I liked it...it is spendy...but, so is cheap stuff that doesn't really work. Try it. There is also a feed thru additive that I can't remember the name of. It had garlic in it along with food grade DE and grape seed extract... my horse had garlic breath...but not to much trouble with flies! I'll try and remember the name and post it here or pm you. i really thought it worked well. At that time I was boarding at a not so clean or nice place. I did my own horse care 2 sometimes 3 times a day...I didn't work full time then. Anyway, all the other horses at this farm had huge issues with flies...Rio, did not. I attribute that to the feed thru additive. It really worked!

 

[arabianequine]

Quote:
http://www.downunderhorsemanship.com/search.cfm?requesttimeout=500

I agree here is some from clint andersons web site.

I also use skin so soft from avon mix with water....here is another link for homemade remedies where people are using this a lot in there receipes.

http://www.moniteausaddleclub.com/flyspray_recipes.htm

Hope this helps!

 

[arabianequine]

well search fly spray and it will bring up Pyranha fly spray

 

[patandchickens]

I dunno, IME Bronco and other similar citronella-containing water-based sprays actually ARE excellent for two SPECIFIC circumstances: either 1) when the horse will be washed down repeatedly and thus you may as well use an inexpensive spray, or 2) when your main concern is mosquitos. Even though the water-based citronella sprays' action only lasts for some hours, it is also the only thing that seems to have ANY effect on the hordes of mosquitos that come out in the evening around here. I spray my horses at dusk, and it makes them more comfortable overnight. Because it is waterbased and 'basically harmless', I can spray them once or even twice a day without hurting them (or my wallet); whereas other sprays cannot safely be sprayed nearly that often.

If you want a long-lasting spray for protection against stable flies and greenheads and horseflies, I've had best luck with the Absorbine that comes in the red bottle (I think it is 'Supershield'?). It does not last as long as the black-bottle 'Ultrashield', but OTOH you can safely reapply it sooner and it does not cost as much. Of course your results may be different in different climates with different flies -- I am speaking only from experience in NC and various points in the NE.

If you are going to use Off or something like that, you gotta be REALLY REALLY careful, just use a very light mist and not too often -- it is not hard to burn a horse's skin with it if you get too close a squirt on him.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[alabamachick]

Hands down the best fly spray I've used. I live in South Alabama, and it works for ALL the biting buggies we have here!

 

[PintoPasoFino]

I second the Tri-Tech! It works, and it will last a couple days. It is more expensive, but again, it lasts so for me it is worth it. You could buy the gallon bottle and have it for the season.

The fly bags are good too.

 

[19hhbelgian]

Mosquito Halt... It stinks but seems to work pretty good. Another one is a fly spray with Marigold in it. I can't think of the name, but it comes in a black bottle and it has a picture of a marigold on it. Your only other option (other than some sort of bug spray) would be to get him a fly sheet with a belly band and neck cover.