If you want to protect your horse from flies, getting the best horse fly spray might be a solution.
Flies are indeed terrible insects that carry equine infectious anemia (also known as swamp fever) to our horses. In addition, fly bites cause momentary pain and relentless itching for our hoofed fellow.
That’s why we have carefully selected here the top 5 best horse fly repellents as a guide for you easier in choosing.
Hope one of them will match your need.
Top 5 Best Horse Fly Spray 2023 Comparison Table
In-depth Top-rated 5 Fly Spray for Horse Reviews
1. Pyranha Wipe N Spray
Using the pyrethrins-based formula, the Pyranha Wipe N Spray is extremely friendly to your animal’s skin. You can apply directly to your horses worrying-free.
With just a few sprays and brushes, your horses will be protected from flies while remaining the glossy hair that many desire.
We’ve been using the product on our barn animals (not just horses). It’s come so far with an appreciated efficiency.
The flies got killed on contact, and the repellent stayed for almost 24 hours. Therefore, we believe this fly spray is perfect for daily basics during the fly season.
There are claims that the products can cause side effects like allergies. So, you should test on a small portion of the hair before applying it thoroughly.
But don’t worry too much because it is proven to be safe for most equines.
For maximum effect, apply 1 to 2 ounces of the solution on one horse. Using too much of it would be a waste.
If you really love this product, read my full review of Pyranha Wipe N Spray here!
PROS
- Friendly to sensitive skins
- Effective and long-lasting spray
- Protect and nourish the hair
- Relatively inexpensive compared to other brands
CONS
- The spray may not last as expected
- Greasy spray
2. Farnam Endure Sweat-Resistant Fly Repellents for Horses
For the rainy and humid days, the Farnam Endure is an ideal option for your whining companion.
The compound will stay active and keep working after being sprayed on the surface despite the unsupported environment.
Moreover, it’s one of a few fly sprays that come with a RepeLock conditioner that adheres to the hair shaft and stays up to 14 days of fly control.
That helps your horse to stay active even in wet conditions or when he sweats.
The product can protect your horse from insect bites of flies, gnats, mosquitos, and likewise.
From our experiences, this competent product has a long-lasting effect. It’s best horse fly spray, Better than that, it doesn’t come with any unpleasant smell.
PROS
- Extremely effective
- Long-lasting
- Friendly to horse skin
- Work well in wet condition
CONS
- Relatively expensive
3. Absorbine UltraShield EX Residual Insecticide and Repellent
Already impressed?
Wait until you meet the Absorbine UltraShield EX.
The product is a weatherproof and sweat-resistant spray that adds up to 17 days of fly control.
Not only dealing with flies, but the spray can also chase off mosquitos and ticks as an alternative. The plus point is it can repel mosquitoes that transmit the West Nile virus to animals.
Moreover, loading multiple sunscreens and coat conditioners in the formula, the Absorbine UltraShield EX is friendly on a wide variety of different skin types.
It also acts as an effective skin protection compound.
The spray works like a charm on horses. It can use on pets and other domestic animals. We made use of it on our Pitbull and helped him nap through his noon without any fly interfering.
PROS
- Effective against different types of insects
- Long-lasting protection
- Weatherproof and sweat-resistant
- Works on other animals
CONS
- Can cause allergic to certain individuals
4. Farnam Repel-X pe Emulsifiable Fly Spray for Horses
The Farnam Repel-X pe provides economical protection for your horses from biting and bloodsucking insects.
It contains Prallethrin and Piperony Butoxide, two effective and skin-friendly chemicals recommended for dealing with files.
Users can dilute the concentrated solution before use. For example, one quart of liquid can be mixed with water to create 8 quarts of fly spray.
That proportion should be enough to dispel flies and bluebottles.
Like most pet-friendly sprays, the product is one of the best horse fly sprays, and also works on farm animals.
PROS
- Effectively chase off flies
- Economical
- Works on different farm animals
CONS
- Must dilute the concentrate before use
- Mixing can cause a mess
5. Stat! Spray Pet Wound & Skin Care with Enhanced Hydrogel
If your animals got bitten, the Stat! Spray can save the day.
It enhances the healing rate and protects your animals from future wounds.
Containing the Aloe Vera compound, the product helps soothe itchy and hot spots while promoting hair growth.
Aloe Vera works great on reducing pain and preventing horses from ruining their beautiful mane.
It also keeps your gallop friend from feeling any discomfort.
The HydroStat! The spray provides effective bacterial and fungal repellent, thus giving your horse effective treatments for badly wounded areas.
Moreover, the eucalyptus help repels insects from continue hurting your animals.
Developed and clinically proven, the product is harmless to the skin. It contains no alcohol, steroid, or any stimulus that makes it 100% safe for your animals.
We highly recommend this product for your horse when dealing with itchy wounds.
PROS
- Skin-friendly and safe
- Great for wounded bites
- Effective bacterial and fungal repellent
CONS
- Not on the budget side
Why do flies keep disturbing my horse?
Cattle are always in favor of flies. That includes the horses.
Some molecules dwell on a horse’s hair that appears to be tasty to these despicable insects.
Thus, these bugs enjoy scavenging on the horse’s body to have their feast.
When they swarm over the horse’s face, they drink the fluid from the eyes. But, in the meantime, they also deposit bacteria onto the surface.
It is also a fly’s instinct that gets attracted to the dark color of the horse.
The job of chasing off these flying bugs manually seems to be hopeless.
That is when you need help from an industrial-grade product.
How do you choose a good fly spray for the horse?
Flies are always a challenge for horse breeders.
That is why we need horsefly spray to deal with them.
The information below is essential if you’re planning to purchase the best horse fly spray.
Categorization
Fly sprays come with different purposes that can be broken down into a few categories:
- Repellents: These products often contain chemicals or natural concentrate that create an awful smell to counter the approaching flies.
- Insecticides: If the fly problem persists, then we’re forced to use a more extreme method. Killing the flies is typically a performance on a wide strike.
- Conditioners: Since you also care for your horse’s mane, some horse fly sprays consist of a hair conditioner.
- Wound treatment: It is for healing bitten wounds.
Ingredients
What is in the bottle matters if your horse is allergic to some of the ingredients.
Is it natural or synthetic? Are there any allergens? And would it be effective when dealing with certain types of insects?
- Pyrethrins: This is an organic compound that comes from chrysanthemum flowers. It’s a common insecticide that kills off flies by affecting their nervous system.
- Pyrethroids: It is referred to as synthetic pyrethrins, also an insecticide. The compound has a longer effect than organic pyrethrins, thus making it more desirable. However, this one is toxic to fish and other aquatic inhabitants.
- Piperonyl Butoxide: This one acts as a stimulus for Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids, so we often see it in many products. But when standing alone, it has no chemical effect.
- Oil: Concentrate oils are often used to deal with mosquitoes and give the spray comfortable smell.
Applying horsefly spray
Remember to apply the solution in the directions, and don’t forget to wear gloves if you need to wipe the liquid.
Make sure your horse has a bath before applying the fly spray, and that you’ve tested the product on a small area of the animal.
Always set the nozzle of your sprayer to mist so the compound can be evenly distributed.
Moreover, give the horse more spray than you think he would need.
This is because most horse fly sprays nowadays can last for more than 24 hours.
Thus, it makes sense to give your horse more protection if you don’t have time for daily care.
Don’t spray directly on their faces. Instead, gently rub the chemical on it. We used a small piece of cloth to apply the solution to sensitive areas like the ears and near the eyes.
Also, keep the nozzle away from the eyes since it would be harmful to your horses. In most cases, you should leave this area untouched.
For the mane, we recommend using your horse brush for an equal spread.
You can go for conditioner products to give the hair its gloss and keep that beautiful mane shiny and healthy.
Lastly, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to maximize your outcome.
FAQs about Best Horse Fly Spray
1. Do pyrethrins actually kill the insect?
Not necessarily. In fact, the synergists in the formula paralyze the horse fly. However, after a while, the enzymatic action will detoxify pyrethrin, thus recovering the insect.
2. How often should I spray the horse?
One spray may protect your horse for 2 to 3 days. After that, your horse will need a regular spray schedule. But if you’re not able to re-apply with frequency, we recommend using an oil-based spray.
We only have to respray the horse after 5-6 days.
However, during peak season, you should do this daily to keep the flies from even getting near your equine.
3. How long can the spray stay on the horse?
Most sprays advertise to last 14 days, but in fact, only if your equine lives in an air-conditioned room with zero weather impact. Otherwise, high-quality spray can last up to 3 days.
4. Which type should I use? Pesticides or Repellent?
Repellents are considered to be eco-friendlier than the other ones. Pesticides can annihilate insects with chemicals but will leave pollution traced in the environment. So we lean on the clean side, and we advise people to do the same.
5. Can horse fly spray repel fleas?
Yes, most products can repel fleas on horses. But if you’re planning to use this on your dog or any other animals, it is necessary to test it on a small area first to avoid any unwanted accidents.
6. Can horse fly spray repels bots?
Technically speaking, the product is useful when dealing with flies and also their offspring. This is because the spray prevents the insect from laying eggs.
However, if your animals already have bots, you should remove them manually instead of relying on the product.
7. Will the spray promote hair regrowth?
A: It indeed encourages the hair to regrow without discoloration.
But the growing speed can vary in different animals. So there isn’t a definite amount of time.
You have to keep spraying the area to stop your pet from licking his wound until it gets healed and starts to grow fur.
>>> Check this: 3 Homemade Horse Fly Spray Recipes
Our best pick
Having a reliable horse fly spray should be one of your priorities when taking care of an equine.
Although the products in our list are all on the top, we want to vote for Repel-X as the best horse fly spray because of its effectiveness and reasonable pricing.
More than that, the label from Farnam offers a safe solution for barn use and is available in various gallon sizes.
Otherwise, the other choices are excellent alternatives if you can make use of them effectively.
Choosing the right product to dispel disturbing flies is a great way to show how much you care for your equine.
