I have a microfiber mitt that I’ve used to help distribute the fly spray that I’ve sprayed on my horse. I suppose it’s a good system, but, I do wonder if a lot of the fly spray ends up stuck to the mitt or absorbed by it, instead of being moved around my horse’s body. lol, details details.
So, I was wondering if anyone uses this same method or has a suggestion for an item that does a good or better job of this.
I spray the fly spray directly on the mitt, and then spread it around the horses body. Yes, some of the fly spray remains on the mitt, but less than is dispersed into the air if I try to spray directly on the horse. And it stays on the mitt for the next application.
I just spray on the horse since I’m too lazy to use a mitt, but I could see how you might lose less to the mitt than to the air, especially on a windy day. And it would certainly cut down on how much ends up on your tack (saddle especially, which I am also too lazy to clean often).
I feel like most fly spray directions say to use a mitt.
A long time ago fly “spray “ came in a can and you had to buy the mitt separately, the brand was called Wipe… they still make it, but not the mitt. Always kept mine in a plastic bag to save every last drop.
Now I wipe faces but usually just spray the rest.
I love Wipe. It’s the only thing that lasts more than a couple of hours in midsummer here. I use an old washcloth and keep it in a ziploc bag between uses.
Sometimes in the evening I go out in paddock for a quick rub down and they start jockeying for positions closest to the green bottle as soon as they see it. Lol
I’ve given up on fly spray altogether. Doesn’t seem to do much after 5 minutes (if at all), and I seem to breathe more in than actually gets on the horse. 
Same.
I use a Dollar Tree sponge to wipe spray on faces, around eyes & ears.
Usually they have a pour on that you apply with a mitt or cloth. Spray is just that a fine mist that covers the hair, so why would you wipe it after spraying?
I find the oil based sprays to actually work and they are more expensive. The water based is cheaper but basically it does not work when I have tried it.
I always use a dollar store dusting mitt. I spray the mitt, then wipe it allover the horse.
The mitt does accumulate spray, better on the mitt than in the air. Spraying doesn’t cover as consistently as using the mitt. If I keep the mitt damp with fly spray, I know what parts I’ve covered.
FWIW, I’m pretty lazy and would spray if I could get away with it, but I’m also incredibly cheap, woops I mean frugal, and I’m sure I use less spray with the mitt.
I use a mitt, and I use an oil based fly spray that is “supposed to last up to two weeks”, well I don’t know about that but it seems to last for at least 2 hours, better than any of the water based fly sprays I used.)
When my riding teacher grabs my fly spray and sprays it all over the horse, I wince.
I got the horses I ride an Amigo Fly Rider sheet and when it is on my riding teacher sprays a lot less of the horse. Also I need to put a lot less of the fly spray with my mitt, just the legs, belly and breast, plus a little bit of the neck and around the eyes, so this fly sheet has ended up saving me some money plus the horses are happier wearing it (they act like it provides some shade in the hot sun).
The thing is, the reason why I like to wipe EVERYWHERE (not just the areas like the head where you can’t spray) is I think it helps get the fly spray “into” the hair and more situated throughout the horse (for lack of better explanation), as opposed to spraying and having the spray just sit on the top of the hair. In my mind it makes the horse more protected for a longer period of time… ok, maybe like only an hour more 
but every bit helps, eh 
Yes, Pyrhana wipe & spray to be exact! (not the water based one!)
I even use the Pyrhana big guns when things are really bad… the actual insecticide in the aerosol can. 
I cut up an old fleece girth cover into “mitts” to wipe on fly spray. It doesn’t absorb liquid so it gets on the horse instead of soaking into mitt. Easy to rinse out when it gets dirty, quick to dry.
I have a gray mare, oil based products attract dirt like crazy making it even harder to keep clean.
I use a sponge dishwashing wand (the kind where the handle is a reservoir) for Ecovet.
Ecovet is a little different in that you only have to apply it in a few places rather than covering the horse like traditional fly spray, so not sure if it would work as well with those.
The Ecovet was pretty effective but I found that that the spray would send me into a coughing fit and the horses didn’t seem to like it either. Using the wand to apply takes that problem away.
I store it in an old Tupperware container to keep it from drying out.
I love Ecovet…but it sure does smell terrible. It’s also quite expensive, so I only use it when I’m fox hunting. There have been many hunts when every other horse was suffering from deer flies and black flies and mine was bug-free. 
I use a 4"x8" (folded in half) piece of “Wiz cloth” from the dollar store and Wipe. I keep the cloth in a plastic sandwich bag between uses. “Wiz cloth” is supposed to be a super absorbent material and is with the automotive and hardware stuff.
With two horses I’d go through a spray bottle in two weeks. Since the bottle of Wipe lasts most of the season it’s much cheaper. I find it more effective as well. I have a small bottle of Wipe that I refill from the big one because I always manage to knock it over a few times each year and I lose less out of the small bottle.
I use a sheepskin mit I got for wiping on that final shine, which I now primarily use to rub on flyspray while grooming.
Now, if I’m not grooming the horse but need to flyspray (lesson horse is being bothered by bugs, etc.) I’ll just spray it directly. I’ll spray it into my hands and wipe it on their face though.
I use a Tiger’s Tongue because it’s squishy enough to shape/bend around legs, etc and distribute the fly spray. Years ago, I irritated my first horse’s chest by spraying too much fly spray in one spot and not spreading it around over the hair.
I use “The Mitt” that Absorbine had available. I bought it quite a few years ago and it worked great. Soft fabric on the outside and a waterproof interior to protect your skin from the fly spray. It didn’t soak up a lot of liquid so not much was wasted. I need a new one but I don’t think they sell it anymore?
Pippigirl, I think it’s called the “Miss Mitt” now! Try googling!
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