As a horse owner, I know how exciting the summer can be, but also how irritating flies can be. The best fly sprays for horses are an absolute lifesaver in the summer months – they are highly effective and long-lasting, which negates the need for constant reapplication.
Flies aren’t just a general nuisance either, as for some horses their bites can lead to reactions, persistent itching and discomfort. With a wide range of flying insects across the country, from midges to horse flies, protecting your horse can present a challenge.
Fly repellent ingredients
In the UK there are a lot of restrictions about what can be called a fly repellent, what can be applied to your horse and how companies can talk about different products. This guide includes a full range of fly deterrents and summer sprays – those you can apply to your horse, as well as those that should be applied to his living area or your feed room.
Some products in this guide have been approved for use on animals in the US, while in the UK they are only approved for premise use around horses. Anyone choosing to use the spray in a manner that is not in line with the guidance on the bottle’s label, does so at their own risk.
Best fly sprays: H&H’s quick guide
Best overall fly spray: Leovet Power Phaser
Longest lasting and best for midges: Farnam Tri Tec 14
Best natural fly spray: Barrier Super Plus
Best for quiet spray: Equine America Forget Flies
Best fly sprays for horses and their premises
Leovet Power Phaser
Active ingredients: Cade oil/juiper, citriodora oil, geranium oil and pennyroyal oil
Sizes: 550ml, 2.5l
H&H Rating: 10/10, H&H Approved
Reasons to buy
- Long lasting results
- Super effective at keeping flies at bay
Reasons to avoid
- Strong smelling formula might not suit everyone
This blend of effective ingredients provides a long-lasting stay-off effect from all insects, even when your horse sweats. Correctly applied, this product can last up to seven hours. Also available as 75ml roll on.
Alex Robinson tested this fly spray and found it was really effective at deterring flies in hot weather. She also said Leovet Power Phaser was probably one of the best fly sprays she has ever used. It has a strong smell so it isn’t for everyone, but it really works.
Read H&H’s independent Leovet Power Phaser review.
Farnam Tri-Tec 14
Active ingredients: Cypermethrin and pyrethrins
Sizes: 600ml, 946ml, 3.8l
H&H Rating: 9/10, H&H Approved
Reasons to buy
- Powerful formula
Reasons to avoid
- Contains strong chemicals that are not licensed for use in the UK on horses
This spray is the leading insecticide in the US. It kills horse flies, mosquitoes, Scottish midges, mites, stable flies, crab flies, deer flies and ticks. The water-based formula has a pleasant scent and can stay in place for up to 14 days.
While it is widely used on horses in the US, in the UK it is only approved for premise use around horses. When testing this product, we found it was powerful and effective at repelling flies.
Read H&H’s independent Tri-Tec 14 review.
Barrier Super Plus Fly Repellent
Active ingredients: Eucalyptus citriodora oil
Sizes: 500ml, 1l, 5l
H&H Rating: 9/10, H&H Approved
Reasons to buy
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Good value
Reasons to avoid
- Bottle was less durable than others tested
Trusted by many horse owners, this fly repellent deters all flying insects and calms the effects of midge bites. It had a new bottle design last year, but is the same much-loved product inside. The pleasant-smelling formula contains a blend of concentrated herbal oils, volatile essential oils and pure avocado oil, which is a skin and coat conditioner. The trigger spray has a quiet, fine action, and the formula is also available in a refill bottle.
When testing this fly spray, Alex found it conditioned her horse’s coat a lot more than other fly sprays she tested. While some repellents can be effective, they can dry the coat out and make it tacky on the touch, but this spray would be ideal for using when going to competitions, as it boasted shine on the hair and conditioned the coat, all while repelling flies.
Read H&H’s independent full Barrier Super Plus fly spray review.
Equine America Forget Flies Silent Spray
Sizes: 750ml, 5l
Reasons to buy
- Silent spray applicator ideal for horses nervous of spray
- No harmful chemicals
Reasons to avoid
- Higher price tag than others
This fly spray is designed for nervous and sensitive horses who dislike the noise of a normal spray – it has a “significantly reduced hiss”. With the help of the latest technology, Forget Flies improves the repelling properties of garlic without the use of chemicals. It has a lemongrass aroma.
Absorbine Ultrashield Insecticide
Active ingredients: Permethrin and pyrethrin
Sizes: 946ml
H&H Rating: 10/10, H&H Approved
Reasons to buy
- Fan spray offers maximum coverage
- Formula sticks well to surfaces
Reasons to avoid
- Not licensed for use on horses in the UK
This spray provides what is described as an “instant knock-down” to nuisance insects, as well as a long-lasting protective “shield”. This new bottle provides an ergonomic grip, plus a vertical and horizontal fan spray option, for upside-down usage and hard-to-reach areas, which also makes sure you can use every last drop.
When Alex tested this fly spray, she said it came out in an even, thick mist — thanks to the fan-style sprayer — and coated surfaces well. She found the product lasted a long time (just under three months for one horse) and offered good value for money.
Read H&H’s independent Absorbine Ultrashield review.
NAF Off DEET Power Performance
Active ingredients:DEET
Sizes: 750ml, 2.5l, 5l
H&H Review: 9/10, H&H Approved
Reasons to buy
- Long-lasting
- Formula contains DEET
Reasons to avoid
- Bottle was less durable than others tested
This concentrated anti-fly and anti-insect repellent spray from NAF is designed for year-round protection from a wide range of pests. Contains 19.6% DEET.
Alex tested this fly spray and she found it to be a good all-rounder that is effective in many situations, from protecting from pests out hacking, to using just before a competition on a summer day or applying on exposed areas prior to turnout.
Read our full NAF Off DEET Power Performance spray review.
Carr & Day & Martin Flygard Extra Strength Insect Repellent Spray
Active ingredients: DEET
Sizes: 500ml, 1l
H&H Rating: 8/10
Reasons to buy
- Functional and effective spray that coats the body evenly
- Contains DEET
Reasons to avoid
- Effectiveness didn’t last as long as some of the others tested
This spray is described as an effective alternative to a natural-based repellent. The formula offers protection from midges and biting insects and contains the proven, researched active ingredient DEET at an optimum level of 20% for long-lasting protection.
When Alex tested this fly spray, she said the spray mechanism was brilliant; it was hard-wearing, robust and provided an even coating of liquid when sprayed onto the coat. It would survive being passed around on a working yard and would be fine to throw into the lorry without worry that it would leak or spill. We found it was good to use, too, especially on horses who were not keen on sprayers as it was easy to apply and the mist was delicate.
Read H&H’s independent full Carr & Day & Martin Flygard Extra Strength review.
Nettex Standard Fly Repellent
Active ingredients:DEET
Sizes: 250ml, 500ml, 2l
H&H Rating: 8/10
Reasons to buy
- Spray offers good coverage
- DEET based formula
Reasons to avoid
- Needed to be applied more frequently during peak times to keep flies at bay
This DEET-based formula has added moisturisers and conditioners and is ideal for everyday use. It repels flies, stable flies, and all biting insects.
This spray proved really effective against the midges and other annoying flies, when Jamie and Georgi Broom tested it, they found it proved effective against midges and other annoying flies however it was not so effective against the horseflies and it struggled to keep flies at bay during dusk when the flies were at their worse.
Read H&H’s independent full Nettex fly spray review.
Cavalor FlyLess
Active ingredients: Icaridine
Sizes: 500ml
H&H Review: 7/10
Reasons to buy
- Refreshing scent
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Reasons to avoid
- Didn’t repel all pests during the height of fly season
This gentle and non-sticky formula protects against horseflies, flies, mosquitoes, ticks and other insects. It contains icaridine, which forms a scented blanket on the skin, disrupting the mechanism that attracts insects to human and animal skin.
Alex tested this fly spray and found this bottle to be really robust with a great spray mechanism. It didn’t last as long as others she tested, but she thought it’s a great option to have on show day before you go in the ring. Read H&H’s full independent Cavalor FlyLess review.
Carr & Day & Martin Flygard Protector
Active ingredients: Cypermethrin
Sizes: 1l
Reasons to buy
- Helps eliminate flies in your horse box and stable
Reasons to avoid
- Read the product information before use to ensure you use biocides safely
This heavy duty stable spray is formulated for protecting your horse’s environment from irritating flying and biting insects. The water-based insecticide formula contains cypermethrin, which has a fast acting “knock-down” effect and should provide weeks of protection.
Lincoln Power Repel
Active ingredients: DEET plus PMD
Sizes: 500ml, 1l, 2.5l, 4l
Reasons to buy
- Pleasant Lemongrass oil fragrance
- Long-lasting formula
Reasons to avoid
- If you are looking for a more natural formula
This dual-action formula uses DEET and PMD to provide effective protection for up to 12 hours. It’s effective against flying insects, midges, gnats, and horseflies, and has a pleasant lemongrass oil fragrance.
Botanica Fly Spray
Sizes: 750ml
Reasons to buy
- Natural formula
- Long-lasting formula with refreshing aroma
Reasons to avoid
- If you are looking for a larger bottle this is only available in one size
This all-natural plant-based spray is formulated to be gentle on your horse’s skin and coat and can be used directly on your horse. Suitable for use during turnout, rides, or everyday care. It’s described as sweat resistant and a deterrent to all insects.
Shires Ezi-Groom Citronella Spray
Sizes: 500ml
Reasons to buy
- Blend of natural oils
Reasons to avoid
- Spray bottle is not as robust as others
This spray from Shires contains a natural blend of citronella, lavender oil, chrysanthemum oil and tea tree oil.
WildWash Equine Summer Spray
Sizes: 300ml, 1l, 5l
Reasons to buy
- Formulated with 100% pure essential oils
Reasons to avoid
- Spray doesn’t offer as much coverage as others
Made in England, this natural and pH balanced formula is made of pure essential oils. Horsetail, eucalyptus and nettle are combined to create an effective aroma, which will last up to 24 hours, for summer use.
Fouganza Fougafly
Active ingredients: Lemon eucalyptus
Sizes: 500ml
Reasons to buy
- Long-lasting effects
Reasons to avoid
- Strong odour may not be suitable
This spray keeps flying insects (horseflies, flies, gnats, and mosquitos) and ticks away from your horse and provides up to eight hours of protection.
How to keep flies off horses
Using a range of methods to protect your horse from flies is most effective. Preventing flies from landing in the first instance is the best solution for protecting your horse – in addition to the best fly spray for horses, you can use fly gels, lotions or washes as well as fly masks and fly rugs to arm your horse with the best possible defence.
Fly gels are particularly handy if your horse is not keen on being sprayed. It can be a case of trial and error to find out what works best for your horse, but once you’ve found a solution you can buy in bulk and save money in the long run. Some owners swear by their own home recipes for fly spray.
Some of the best fly deterrents contain synthetic active ingredients such as DEET or permethrin, some of which are insecticides, while other sprays contain natural ingredients known to deter a range of flying insects. Some formulas will need to be reapplied more often than others, so while some appear to be more expensive, they may last you a lot longer. It’s also wise to consider both the bottle and spray type – finding a gentle and quiet spray with good coverage can be the difference between a calm and stressful turnout routine.
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