At horserugs.me.uk we do not concentrate solely on advice on which horse rug to buy. We take a holistic approach to horse care, and as we’ve been receiving a lot of emails about insect bites and what can be done about them, we’ve decided to take a wider look at equestrian products on the market. There is much more you can do than simply buy a horse fly rug or horse fly sheet for your horse. Regular readers will recall our article on how you can also change your horse’s diet and routine to limit the impact of insect bites on your horse.
We have also touched upon the use of fly repellents and sprays to help combat those insects that bother our horses. There are numerous companies out there that have products designed for use within the stable. A good branded product should eradicate flies and insects for almost one and a half months and will cover approximately one hundred square metres of stable.
Ensure that any product you use can be used on both porous and non-porous surfaces as well as soft furnishings. As ever with any product of this sort we remind you to carefully read the product’s label for instructions of how to use safely, for instance ensuring that the area you’re spraying is well ventilated and does not come into contact with your skin. You should also check to see how long you should wait before bringing your horse back into the stables or other area that has been sprayed.
There are many different brands of fly repellent and types of product including sprays, gels and wipes.
For anyone who would prefer a product without chemicals, addictives or artificial colours, they may like to try Absorbine Supershield Green Fly Repellent. Containing only natural products such as citronella, witch hazel and tea tree oil, it helps relieve minor skin irritations and insect bites.
Other spray products include the Absorbine Ultrashield which has been the best selling equestrian fly control spray in the United States for more than fifteen years and has now been approved by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) for use within in the UK and in premises; perfect for those running a commercial stables.
Gels on the market include the Barrier Superplus Fly Repellent Gel. The horse insect repellent gel is made entirely from natural products and is the gel version of Barrier Animal Healthcare’s best selling fly repellent, the Barrier Super Plus Fly Repellent. The fly repellent gel can be applied to all areas of the horse, even those which are already sore. The fly repellent gel contains avocado, which being rich in vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin D, will soothe irritable skin, providing deep conditioning to and nourishing your horse’s skin. Like many other products on the market it is HSE approved, but also importantly for those who like to compete, contains no prohibited substance under current Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) or Horse Racing Authority (HRA) / Jockey Club rules. Gels are best used in hard to reach places around the head and belly, though do use sparingly particularly in bright sunshine and ensure that the gel is fully absorbed into your horses’ skin.
If you’re out for the day on a long ride you cannot get any more convenient than the single use horse insect repellent wipes. The wipes are individually packaged, easy to stow away in a pocket and provide top-up protection to your horse. We recommend the Carr & Day & Martin hose insect repellent wipes which are citronella free, contain margosa extract, tea tree oil and d-limonene and come in packets of fifteen.
If you have feedback on these products or any others that you recommend please do not hesitate to write to us.
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