N
The Global Insight

What can I spray on horse flies

Author

Mia Horton

Updated on April 10, 2026

of liquid dish soap. About 30 – 40 drops of any or a combination of these oils: Lemongrass, lavender, cedarwood, tea tree, eucalyptus, citronella, peppermint, basil, and rosemary. A suitable spray bottle.

What can I spray to get rid of horse flies?

To make a dish soap spray, take an empty spray bottle and add 4 tablespoons of dish soap, 2 cups of white vinegar to it, then add 1 cup of warm water, shake the mixture and your dish soap spray is ready. Spray it on horse flies and watch them dying instantly.

What is the most effective equine fly spray?

Farnam Tri-Tec 14 This spray from Farnam is the leading fly product in the US. It kills horse flies, mosquitoes, Scottish midges, mites, stable flies, crab flies, deer flies and ticks. The water-based formula has a nice scent and can stay in place for up to 14 days.

Is there a spray for horse flies?

Treat your lawn, landscape, and the perimeter of your home with Ortho® BugClear™ Insect Killer For Lawns & Landscapes Ready-To-Spray or Ortho® Bugclear™ Insect Killer For Lawns & Landscapes Concentrate to help control horse flies. The formula kills insects within minutes and provides 6 months of control.

How do I get rid of flies in my horse barn?

  1. Moisture Control. Flies love moisture and seek out wet areas to breed. …
  2. Biological Controls. …
  3. Traps. …
  4. Stable Management. …
  5. Fly Sprays. …
  6. Cover-Ups. …
  7. Spray systems. …
  8. Supplements.

How do you keep horse flies away from horses?

Fly sheets, cool, open-weave, light-weight, mesh blankets can be quite useful at keeping pestering flies off a horse’s body. Fly boots are also available to protect a horse’s legs. Bait and trap adult flies. Several types of simple insect traps can be useful for reducing the flying insect population.

What scent do horse flies hate?

Look for other ingredients in sprays — or make your own with natural oils — that are believed to be offensive to horse flies. These include peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, clove, rosemary, basil, tea tree, lemongrass, catnip and cedar.

How do you make homemade fly spray?

  1. 4 cups apple cider vinegar.
  2. 15 drops Lavender.
  3. 15 drops Peppermint.
  4. 15 drops Eucalyptus.
  5. 2 tablespoons Olive Oil (you can use another carrier oil)
  6. A splash of dish soap (I use Dawn)

Can you spray vinegar on horses?

Spray liberally on your horse. … It can help break down acid crystals, which can build up in joints and cause your horse stiffness and soreness. However, It is recommended to feed no more than one cup of apple cider vinegar daily. It should also be diluted with water at a 50/50 ratio.

Does tea tree oil keep horse flies away?

Essential Oils Add 5 to 10 drops of eucalyptus or tea tree oil to the basic spray recipe for an effective repellent that also keeps other flies away.

Article first time published on

Is fly spray bad for horses?

Fly spray is intended to “protect” your horse from flies, but does it pose health risks? Depending on the ingredients, it can be harmful to you and your horse with potential long term adverse side effects. Unsafe ingredients have the potential to enter the bloodstream via skin absorption and/or inhalation.

Can you spray Pine Sol on horses?

Pine-Sol Spray Pine-Sol irritates the horse’s skin and respiratory tract if sprayed directly on them. However, if you are looking to get rid of flies around the house, or even elsewhere in the stable, this Pine-Sol spray can still be useful.

Does vinegar repel horse flies?

Vinegar. The smell of vinegar repels horseflies. Apple Cider Vinegar is a natural product created from fermented apple juice. One of the ways a horse fly finds its victim is through smell, so an effective spray needs to mask the horses’ scent.

Does cinnamon repel horse flies?

Natural Repellents You can make natural insect repellents by using water; an emulsifier; and essential oils like citronella, eucalyptus, cedar wood, geranium or cinnamon oils, which have a strong natural smell that masks the mammal’s smell and thus keep horseflies away.

What are horse flies attracted to?

What Attracts Horse Flies? Female Horse flies detect humans and animals by colors, and movements, they are attracted to shiny objects, warmth, sweat, and exhaled carbon dioxide.

How do you make peppermint spray for flies?

Try mixing a few drops of peppermint oil with some hot water and place it in a spray bottle. A good ratio is 5 to 10 drops of essential oil per ounce of water. Use the mixture to spray down countertops, furniture, curtains and blinds and hard-to-reach areas of the home where insects are often present.

What is a substitute for fly spray?

Cinnamon – use cinnamon as an air freshner, as flies hate the smell! Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils – Not only will spraying these oils around the house create a beautiful aroma, but they will also deter those pesky flies too.

How often should you spray your horse with fly spray?

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.

How long does fly spray last on a horse?

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 in reality, the spray will protect your horse closer to 2 or 3 days, so regular applications are vital.

Does Pine Sol repel horse flies?

Flies seem to HATE pine-sol. To make the fly repelling spray, mix the original Pine-Sol with water, at a ratio of 50/50 and put it in a spray bottle. Use to wipe counters or spray on the porch and patio table and furniture to drive the flies away.

Does Listerine deter flies?

Listerine is not an effective repellent for flies and other insects because it contains less than one percent of eucalyptus oil, whereas typical insect repellents contain up to 75 percent of the ingredient, according to The New York Times.

Is Dawn dish soap safe for horses?

Dawn Dish Soap Dawn is another product that can assist in returning your horse’s markings to pearly white, but it also works wonders for your tack. If your saddle is really dirty, use a soft damp cloth and a dab of Dawn soap to work out the yuck. … Use some moist towelettes to give your horse a quick touch-up.