Posted by Jennifer Serot, Fri, Jun 9, 2017
My old horsefly repellent regimen consisted of spraying my horse’s legs (one mist per leg), a mist on each side of their neck, a mist on each side of their midsection and a mist on their rump. Done! But, oftentimes flies reappeared sooner than I liked.
When I began working at Manna Pro®, I soon learned that I had been applying equine fly spray incorrectly to my horses for the past 20 years. How embarrassing! Here are a few tips I’ve learned for getting the most out of your fly spray.
Preparation
It is super important that your horse isn’t caked in dust or shavings. Even some of those loose hairs that haven’t shed out from the winter can keep the spray from working effectively. Curry and brush your horse to get them as clean as possible. The spray needs a clean surface to stick.
Application
I use Pro-Force® Fly Spray, which is a great everyday spray. I like it because it doesn’t smell like typical fly spray (it actually smells floral) and repels a broad range of biting pests including stable flies, mosquitoes, and midges.
Here are the steps that I have found most useful:
- Set the nozzle to Mist from the Off position
- Spray more than you think!
ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE, INCLUDING ME, IS TO SPRAY TOO LITTLE!
- The recommended amount of fly spray is 1–2 oz per horse per day, depending on the spray you are using. What does 1 to 2 oz mean?
- To give you an idea, 2 oz would be close to four tablespoons. Obviously, it would be very difficult to measure this while you are misting your horse. But, a good way to judge is to keep in mind that your horse should be damp from the spray.
- Starting at the neck and moving along the horse’s body, spray the mist until the hair is damp. It should not be soaking wet, just damp to the touch.
- Sometimes I use Opti-Force® Fly Spray if I plan to go riding when it is really humid or go on a trail ride, because it is sweat resistant. What you may notice about Opti-Force is that it is much thicker than a typical fly spray. Don’t be alarmed—the reason for this is because it will actually stick to the coat much better. You can literally see where you spray it.
- Spray the legs last, as some of the spray will naturally fall and settle to the ground
- Avoid the horse’s face and genital region
Brush it in
That’s right—you need to brush the fly spray into the coat. Choose a medium-bristled brush and brush over all of the areas to which you applied the spray. You can also do this with a cloth if you do not want to use a brush or don’t have access to one. For Mark Rafacz, Manna Pro Pro-Rider and champion reiner (pictured below), brushing in the fly spray is crucial—especially in Florida, where Mark’s training facility is located. Brushing in the Pro-Force will maximize the effectiveness of the spray in hot conditions. 4. Face. For face application, spray a clean, dry cloth with the fly spray. Avoiding the eye area, wipe the spray gently onto the horse’s face. Don’t wipe the spray directly above the eyes, because if they sweat it may drip into their eye. 5. Spray in prime times! Be sure to spray your horse before they go outside in the morning and then again in the evening, as these are prime feeding times for bloodthirsty insects. If you are planning to ride, be sure to place your tack (saddle, boots/wraps, etc.) onto the horse before you spray.
Baths
If you have to rinse your horse off or give them a bath, you will need to reapply the spray. Wait until your horse is dry before doing so. Fly spray is meant to sit on top of the hair, not seep into the skin. If your horse is soaking wet, the spray could work its way into the skin and may irritate them.
Test it out!
Before trying any new spray on a horse, be sure to test it on one small area of the horse and wait 24 hours to see if there is a reaction.
So, there is a method to this fly spray madness. Good luck out there!
