Most effective flyspray?

[HJdaydream]

I know, I know… there have been tons of fly spray threads- but after a quick search I haven’t seen one this year, and there are always new products coming to the market (specifically curious about the smartpak one). With the flies already attacking in Texas, I wanted to revive the debate.

What fly spray do you think works the best? My horse is stabled, but outside at least 8 hrs a day and very sensitive to flies. I am not too worried about the multi day claims, as he will get sprayed every day. It really just needs to last a solid 8 hrs and be extremely effective.

I currently use Pyrhanna aerosol spray, but I’m not sure it will last all day. Works great for a 45 minute ride, but that won’t cut it for turnout.

What is your favorite fly spray, and why?

[Nezzy]

i don’t know about the Smartpak one, i am hoping to get some reviews, myself. But the best i have found is Ultrashield in the black bottle. It also kills ticks, which is important here. that said, nothing works 100% of the time and i feel so bad for the horses. Sometimes i just use Deep Woods off if i think it is going to be a bad day for deer flies.

[stb]

For actual flies and mosquitos I have found Eco Vet to be very effective. Lasts 24 hours or so too. Comes in a small bottle but you only spray the legs, midline, and spot spray the croup and poll and withers, so the bottle lasts longer than you would think. I haven’t found it to work well on deer flies or horseflies. For that I use Endure or black Absorbine Ultrashield but neither lasts very long at all.

[candyappy]

My farrier brings one with him that smells awful and is probably some type of " oil based" spray. But by golly it works.

[btswass]

I’ve tried so many different fly sprays and think pyrhanna works best. My horse is so sensitive that he goes out in fly sheet flay mask and fly boots and gets sprayed anywhere that is exposed. Though I’m sure that its too hot to do that in texas. I wonder if maybe a combination of fly sprays would be most effective?

[HJdaydream]

@btswass

I’ve tried so many different fly sprays and think pyrhanna works best. My horse is so sensitive that he goes out in fly sheet flay mask and fly boots and gets sprayed anywhere that is exposed. Though I’m sure that its too hot to do that in texas. I wonder if maybe a combination of fly sprays would be most effective?

I actually do turn him out in a fly sheet and mask. He is a dark bay with a white fly sheet, so I figure it actually helps reflect the sun. Definitely hot, but the flies REALLY bug him.

do you use the pyrhanna aerosol or the spray? A combo is a good idea. Maybe pyrhanna and endure or some similar combo…

[newhorsemommy]

I like Endure because it seems to be the most effective of the water-based sprays. I hate the oil-based sprays because they just attract so much dirt. But the Endure still has to be applied every day. Another bonus is that neither horse is bothered by it. Pyranha gave my mare huge hives.

[tazycat]

Oil based sprays mixed with some diesel. Water based sprays are a waste of money. Only one that even works half way decent is endure. The rest are worthless.

Deepwoods off also works ,use that when trail riding…keeps ticks off horses.

[VTMorgan06]

I can’t stand pyrhanha! Like I had to hold my breath and run out of the stall because the chemicals were choking me. I’ve had pretty good luck with the Espree Aloe Herbal spray. (https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=2363e088-c540-479f-b418-a488be775614) It’s oil based so it stays on all day, and it has sunscreen and coat conditioners. I don’t think there is a product on the market that is going to provide all day protection against bugs, but many dry out the skin and are terrible for us to breathe and sometimes cause skin problems for the horse. At least this one isn’t doing any harm! Plus when I can buy a gallon of concentrate and spend $66 (plus a bit more for shipping) for an entire season of fly spray, I’m happy.

[HJdaydream]

@VTMorgan06

I can’t stand pyrhanha! Like I had to hold my breath and run out of the stall because the chemicals were choking me. I’ve had pretty good luck with the Espree Aloe Herbal spray. (https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=2363e088-c540-479f-b418-a488be775614) It’s oil based so it stays on all day, and it has sunscreen and coat conditioners. I don’t think there is a product on the market that is going to provide all day protection against bugs, but many dry out the skin and are terrible for us to breathe and sometimes cause skin problems for the horse. At least this one isn’t doing any harm! Plus when I can buy a gallon of concentrate and spend $66 (plus a bit more for shipping) for an entire season of fly spray, I’m happy.

Omg, blast from the past! My horse from high scool used to be on the Espree fly spray label- I totally forgot about them!

proof: https://www.espree.com/webpix/Fly%20Spray%20RTU%20Large.jpg

And no, that is not me lol.

Glad to hear you like their product! Originally, I wasn’t super impressed with it, but maybe they have tweaked the recipie since way back then. I may need to check it out!

[MyKindaFlower]

I like to use a combination approach. To keep house and stable flies down I use Spalding fly predators and will hang a fly trap in the manure pile and pick up manure in the paddocks daily. I have a biting fly trap near the paddocks in a sunny place to trap deer and horse flies - you can make one with instructions on youtube or purchase one through SmartPak or bitingflies.com. I haven’t had a lot of luck with feed through garlic to control flies but it really seems to work for ticks in my area! I live in CT and we have issues with Lyme Disease but I’ve not had one horse come down with Lyme since I started feeding Springtime Garlic. Occasionally I’ll find a tick crawling on my horses but I very rarely find on already latched on and it’s been years since I found one that was swollen with blood already. The most effective thing I’ve found for those swarms of little biting gnats is a smear of something like Burts Bees All Purpose Ointment (or Vaseline or Swat if you prefer) on bellies and the inside edges of ears.

As far as fly spray goes, my favorite to date has been EcoVet hands down! I have a horse that is allergic to those little biting gnat things (I think they are called black flies) and he is especially sensitive near his eyes. A single bite near his eye will cause horrible swelling that looks like he has a black eye. He used to have to live in a fly mask most of the Spring and Fall but he hardly wore it last year once I started using EcoVet. I apply as STB does but I do rub a little bit around the sensitive guy’s eyes as well. Hate the smell but really like the product! I apply that fresh every morning and then use a bottle of 3 parts water to 1 part concentrate of CLAC every evening because that seems to work really well for mosquitoes and is a bit cheaper than the EcoVet.

For rainy days, I keep my trusty bottle of Ultrashield EX around since that is supposed to be weather proof. For the upcoming bug season this year I also bought a bottle of the red (seems to kill everything but doesn’t last long in my experience) and the blue (haven’t tried at all before) formulas as back up to my normal plan.

Best of luck, OP! Hope you find something that works well for you and your horse.

[egrubbs]

I have to use the equi spot every two weeks and I also use the clac deo lotion concentrate and make it up. My horse is allergic to ultrashield, endure and some others…this has literally been the only combo that moderately works. He’s also out 24/7 and becomes a hot mess, so a fly sheet is a no go because he’d probably have a meltdown sweating in any form of “clothing!”

[MysticOakRanch]

There is NO fly spray that lasts all day. I’ve tried just about all of them, and if they last long enough to get through a ride, you are doing well. Some of the cheap ones are useless, such as Bronco - I think the flies drink it and keep on biting. Endure and Pyrannah are the only ones I’ve found that work for more then 15 minutes. A fly mask and fly sheet are great, but I’m in a super hot climate, and the horse’s just sweat and sweat under the sheets. Even the fly masks leave sweat lines, but I keep those on.

The one product that HELPS with long term fly avoidance is War Paint - it is good for several days, and keeps the flies to a minimum, but makes the horses look dirty where you apply it. In a stable or shelter setting, you can either put in misters or auto-spray systems (there is a little battery operated one that runs about $50), and that helps a lot too.

[btswass]

@HJdaydream

I actually do turn him out in a fly sheet and mask. He is a dark bay with a white fly sheet, so I figure it actually helps reflect the sun. Definitely hot, but the flies REALLY bug him.

do you use the pyrhanna aerosol or the spray? A combo is a good idea. Maybe pyrhanna and endure or some similar combo…

I use the spray. Though for whatever reason if you get the gallon jug and use it in a regular spray bottle it clogs it up and doesn’t spray well.

[stb]

I actually have found the Eco Vet to be effective for 24 hours.

[trubandloki]

Can I add a question to this active thread, along the same lines. What do you like best for those darn gnats? I used to use Gnatural or Gnataway or whatever it was called in its various renaming along the way. I can not find it anymore. Nothing I have bought since has worked as well. One thing I liked about that product is it is a cream, not an oily product. I could slather it on bellies and not have a melted mess running down the legs.

For fly spray I use Eco Vet, Pyrannah in the aerosol can or deep woods off.

[dps]

I started using Dumor’s fly spray at TSC, $18.00 for a gallon and it works just as well as the $70 a gallon versions

[TankDiveGirl]

I really like EcoVet and in my area of Texas it WORKS. The only thing that sucks is you can’t put it on a wet horse, so for after riding i use Ultra Shield Black (which only sortof works anymore) or Pyrhana, which I hate. This year I’m going to try the Lavender Dream and OutSmart.

I, too, have one that is REALLY bothered by flies. His skin is not super sensitive, but he goes out in a sheet and mask, and we’ll be ordering leg guards too for this summer. He does live out 24/7, so I have to make sure I get to the barn every day to check him, but it does help some.

[HJdaydream]

You guys are awesome! So excited by all the replies, and learning a lot. I think you have sold me on trying the Ecovet!!

If anyone tries the SmartPak fly spray- let me know how it works!

[Write_amp_Ride]

Durvet has a new fly spray called Power that uses the same key ingredients as Pyranha but with a nicer citronella scent. It says it won’t attract dust and it’s safe for dogs, too. This is the one I’m curious to try once we start to get flies here.

http://marystack.com/durvet-power-fly-spray-wipe-new/