The temperatures are rising, the weather is getting better and the flowers are starting to bloom. Sounds great, doesnt it? But wait, sun’s out and so are the insects: Flies, mosquitoes and horseflies make life difficult for us and our horses. Fly spray helps, but it also contains a lot of chemicals. Find out how you can easily make your own fly spray!
Basic fly spray recipe:
- Water
- Table vinegar
- A spray bottle
Mix water and vinegar in equal parts and pour it into the spray bottle. It is important that you do not use fruit vinegar, as this attracts bees and wasps. Shake the mixture well before use and then spray generously. Avoid the head and private parts. It is best to test it on a small area of your horse beforehand. Just like us, horses can get allergies or skin irritations from some liquids. However, most horses do very well with this fly spray!
I recommend applying organic coconut oil or black cumin oil with a sponge for the sensitive area under the belly. It is also better to test this on a small area first. To protect the horse’s eyes or head from pesky insects, you can best use a fly mask.
“Premium fly spray”
For the premium version, you need:
- Basis: black or chamomile tea, organic apple cider vinegar, water (one third each)
- 5-6 dried cloves or some clove oil
- 2 cloves of garlic (crushed)
- 4 ml tea tree oil
- 5 ml lavender oil
- 10 ml neem oil
Allow everything to infuse overnight in a larger bottle or closed container. Just as with the simple version, you can spray your horse generously, but again, avoid the private parts and the head.
Black cumin oil/coconut oil against deer louse flies
Black cumin oil is very versatile; you can use it as protection against bugs on the sensitive parts of the horse’s body, e.g., on the genital areas. It also helps against deer louse flies. These pests are not easily deterred. They are not even easy to kill. The only thing that impresses them a little is black cumin oil or coconut oil. This prevents them from attaching themselves to the horse’s coat.
Our tip: Put a few drops of black cumin or coconut oil on a sponge and rub it over the respective areas or, if necessary, the whole body of the horse. Be careful not to overdo it, otherwise, the coat will become greasy quickly and it gets hard to brush off the dirt!
Coconut oil is also a true all-rounder. It is a good treatment for the hooves, makes the mane and coat softer and easier to comb, has an antibacterial and caring effect on summer eczema and relieves itching.
