“Natural” Fly Sprays?

As Spring slides into summer, the flies have arrived and so begins our annual foray into finding the best and safest fly spray.

We’ve always been concerned about the toxicity of pyrethrins, the insecticidal ingredient in many fly sprays. But, at the same time, effectiveness is absolutely critical when it comes to protection, particularly given the concerns of serious fly-borne disease, such as Pigeon Fever.

What is “Natural?”

Some of the confusion about fly spray ingredients lies in the words “natural” and “organic.” Pyrethrins, you see, are natural, organic compounds, harvested from the seed case of the perennial plant pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium). Though they are natural and sound innocuous, they can be dangerous. An overdose can cause very severe reactions in humans and pets and pyrethrins are known toxins to fish, birds, and bees.

We asked a veterinarian friend her opinion on the pyrethrin-based insecticide vs. herbal repellent issue and her answer was this: whatever you use, it has to work. Herbal repellents will likely need frequent and very thorough application, which is not always an option for some horse owners.

What Works?

What works for us here in Oregon may not work for others elsewhere, but here’s a rundown of our own personal experience and research on pyrethrin-based sprays and alternatives.

Early season – This year, we’re tackling the early season with EquiLite’s Ricochet Horse Spray (not labeled as a repellent). The repellent ingredients in this spray are citronella and neem oil. With daily application, Ricochet has been effective for both coat conditioning and keeping flies at bay. Like the other Equilite products we love, Ricochet seems to do the job it purports to do using high quality ingredients.

Heavy season – We’ve used EquiSect Fly Repellent, which contains an active pyrethrum approved for use in Certified Organic Farming, with positive results during the heavy fly season. In addition to this trademarked “PyGanic,” EquiSect also contains citronella, clove, and thyme oils.

In boarding situations where we haven’t been able to get to the barn daily, Tri Tech 14, a pyrethrin based spray, has delivered on its claim of multi-day protection.

Another repellent we’ve heard great things about is Deo Lotion, a German product available in concentrate, gel, or roll-on. The active ingredients are citronella, clove, thyme, cedar, and geranium oils. We’re planning to try Deo as part of our mid-season battle and see how far it carries us into the height of the war on flies.

Do you have a favorite fly spray you’d like to share with our readers? Leave a comment and let us know what has worked (or hasn’t) for you.