My bad, the thread I got my information was a bit older. I went with diy after my commercial spray has proved useless this year.
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/horse-care/151079-pine-sol-as-fly-spray
I suspect that what folks want in a spray varies depending on region. Here at home its mostly flies and ticks.
Im in CA and in the high Sierras there are also mosquitos and other extremely nasty little bugs that want to eat your horse alive. The local bugs in Florida likely differs from the local bugs in Maine, etc. f
Here is an idea. Have a group of your local horsey friends each contribute x dollars to the âSuper Fun Scientific Bug Spray Experiment.â Ask them what products they would like to test and collect enough money to purchase enough spray so that everyone can receive an appropriate sample of each spray. People could also contribute any homemade sprays that they use. Give every participant an unmarked sample of each spray in a clean bottle- The sample preparer/distributer could use letters or numbers to identify sprays. When applying to horses theyâd need to use a clean spray bottle for each, but two might be all that are necessary.
Test two of the random sprays against each other. Perhaps by spraying half of horse with spray 1 and half with spray 2. Which one is better? Check at measured intervals for effectiveness, Perhaps ever 15 minutes for the first hour and then at 30 min or 1 hour intervals). Move on to the next test using the better spray with a different unmarked sample to determine the better of the next comparison (Rinse out previously used spray bottles so there is no residue from prior samples) In the case of a tie, if neither works, eliminate both from the experiment- if both work well continue them in subsequent comparison tests). I doubt any spray is effective for more than a day. Horse should be rinsed off prior to each test so heâs a blank slate for next test. Each participant keeps a log of the sprays compared and âwinnersâ Each participant should keep a log of the sprays compared, date of test, and effectiveness, or lack thereof of, for each spray. For example:
8/15 spray 1 vs spray 6. Spray 1 was completely ineffective. Spray 6 worked for 30 minutes and then was ineffective
8/17 spray 6 vs spray 10. Spray 6 worked for 30 minutes and then was ineffective. Spray 10 worked for 1 hour and then was ineffective.
Best for participants to not discuss their findings with each other until the tests are over so as to reduce any bias.
After everyone has tested everything, Ask participants which spray(s) were best.
Then provide the identities of the samples.
etc etc.
As with any science experiment, attempt to control for every variable (weather, time of day, etc) other than the test variable (bug spray)
I think this would be oodles of fun!!!.. But then I used to work in a research lab.
Now any science types or others thinking of ways to make this experiment better please contribute your wisdom!
In the interest of the environment. Save the initial rinse of your test spray bottle in a big bottle as you can likely use the residue combined with a home made ingredient such as listerine or another spray to use on your horse.
Here is an interesting article from the NYT just a couple of days ago. Apparently ticks and mosquitoes donât like the scent of grapefruit. Maybe adding some grapefruit essential oil to DIY fly spray might help?
I hate the smell of Skin so soft, so maybe it would be effective for social distancing?
Iâve also read that studies show that itâs useless for repelling insects.
I just wipe on 10% permectrin and then carry a small spray bottle of 100% DEET on my saddle for when the permectrin isnât enough. I refill the little DEET spray bottles with 10% permectrin, or with whatever fly spray I have in big bottles.
Youâll likely just get a bunch of BS.
There are good reasons that people go to the trouble to deal with fly masks, sheets, and wraps.
