The Ecovet fly spray works on the premise of being “fly repellent” vs other conventional fly sprays that use insecticides like pyrethrins.
It is an interesting concept.
If you look at the ingredients, (octal-, nona- and deca-noic acids) these are all organic acids with really strong and unpleasant smells.
I wouldn’t mind the smell if it wasn’t so strong. However, I think it works really well. I just do the belly, legs and topline.
When I bought it, the sales clerk warned me that it smelled bad. I was able to use it (and agreed that it smelled bad). My horses, though, moved away from me when they hadn’t done in the past. I guess it works for some people and not others. When I used it on my horses, I really didn’t get any better results than other fly sprays!
I’m a fan. I think it smells like melted crayons (the original scent) and I personally don’t find it any more offensive than most other barn smells, although it does make me cough if I’m not careful.
I try to apply it outside and not in the barn, per the instructions. I put it on chest, legs, bottom of belly, and wipe a little or do a tiny quarter spray between the ears and at the dock of the tail. It works better than any other fly spray I’ve ever used, and in conjunction with a Rambo fly sheet, my horse doesn’t come in with nasty oozing bites anymore.
I bought a gallon of the original scent when it went on sale at SmatPak, so I should be set for quite some time! I’ve seen it go on sale more than once, so keep an eye open.
one thing I didn’t mention is it works better on cloth than on the horse. I flyspray the bonnet I ride in, and it does a great job of keeping the flies out. Not so great when applied to the body of the horse. I think it works best when applied with pyrethrin roll-on flyspray, (CLAC) which is what I use - great coverage with the two combined, not so great when I use either alone.
Clac has pyrethrin??? Since when? 
It’s been awhile since I used it, but the claim to fame was the clove oil…
I always added pyrethrin to clac, though, and found that pretty effective (just $$!)
I use the Horse Fitform Clac Deo Lotion and I don’t see it in the ingredients: Lauryl Sulfate, Citronella Oil, Clove Oil, Thyme Oil, Cedar Oil, Geranium Oil, Olive Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Water, Hydroxymethyl, Cellulose, Water
Mine was just delivered, I’ll be starting it soon. I’ll let you know, I’m probably going to have to use something else too for the mosquitos, as we have them the size of helicopters here in the deep south. I presently use the Equiderma spray and like it pretty well but it still needs help, so maybe I will do both.
Just a side note, the Equiderma skin lotion is AMAZING and smells great!!!
I haven’t used it on my own horses (neither are particularly sensitive to the bugs and seem perfectly content after a spray/rubdown with the CLAC Deo-Lotion), but I have used the Eco-vet on others at the request of their owners. It seems to work really well on those nasty biting deer flies but does nothing for the gnats and smaller flies, except in the areas it has been sprayed. I can tolerate the smell but it is icky and I prefer to use the spray outside of the barn, even though it is well ventilated.
It works okay for me, and I don’t think the smell of a few spritzes is any stronger than soaking the whole horse in regular fly spray.
This is my second year using it and I totally recommend it. The EquiSpot product does a nice job too but during application it irritates two out of three of my horses.
Whoops, I’m mistaken - it doesn’t look like there’s pyrethrin in it… Hmm… I thought there was and wondering if I am thinking of something else. It’s a staple in my grooming kit now though because it works really well at keeping no-see-ums away during rides.
One of my geldings gets really antsy when I try to apply EquiSpot to him.
It’s really perplexing, but my SO brought up a good point: it might burn or tickle them.
This gelding is fine with flyspray, hosing off, all manner of things similar to applying EquiSpot. I have to think it’s the product, maybe it irritates or feels weird to him. The only other thing he’s a little funny about is Sore-No-More liniment… and that also causes tingling.
It smells like melted crayons to me.
Haha, try adding repel-x to it! Works even better 
One of my geldings gets really antsy when I try to apply EquiSpot to him.
It’s really perplexing, but my SO brought up a good point: it might burn or tickle them.
NONE of mine are happy about the spot ons (EquiSpot or Freedom 45) and one has to be twitched to get it on her at all–she gets pretty violent about it otherwise, and she’s not normally like that at ALL. Once applied, they all run and roll like crazy. I’m always surprised to hear of other horses that are okay with it, given how upset my crew is
That is what I read elsewhere, it burns a little bit.
NEVER EVER use Bronco Gold. One of my horses broke out in hives and it caused blisters that opened and oozed on my donkey’s legs.
I’m on the third summer of using it. I would say it smells bad, but I do not smell it. That’s because I take a deep breath, do one side, step away, get a breath of fresh air and head back in for the other side. 
I haven’t opened the latest gallon I bought a few weeks ago, so we shall see about the new scent… BUT 2 years ago they talked about the new and improved scent and that was clearly a bust. Still, if that is what disrupts the fly detection cycle, I’m down with it.
The only down side is that you can’t spray it on a wet horse and that’s what I have when I’m done riding, so I keep endure or pyranha on hand for that
Lol, that’s putting it mildly. To me it’s pretty bad and makes me cough up a storm! I got a free bottle of it from someone and just to use the stuff up, I spray outside of the barn and only on my horse’s legs. The bugs are probably gagging and coughing on the stuff too!
Maybe that’s how it actually works? :lol:
That’s what I’m thinking, they probably can’t stand the smell of the stuff either. Bug and people repellent! :lol:
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