whats a good fly repellant..?

[oliviacharley]

Flies seem to be out in force as well as midges...I have some flies who seem to be having a great time biting my horse and making him soar and fed up!!
No matter how much cream or gel I apply they are still about...he is rugged up to the eyes balls with masks, fly sheets - you name it...
whats a good remedy mix that people either make for their horses or use..?

 

[Magicmillbrook]

I use 1 litre of cold tea (I use camomile tea as my mare is a skewbald)
5ml citronella
Squirt baby shampoo or similar mild soap
1 tablespoon of vinegar
10 - 20 drops of fly repellant essential oils

These can be lavender, tea tree, lemongrass, eucalyptus and cedarwood

A lot of peple swear by using Avon skin so soft as a base/partial base for their fly sprays too.

Whatever you use, do a skin test first and make sure you give it a good shake to mix the oils up before you use it.

 

[flohelf]

Garlic ! Really works if you mix it into feed all year long. Flies, midges, all insects will hate the taste and smell of your lovely gent's skin and blood

We have these HUGE horseflies here and, I swear when they're out and near my old boy preparing for landing on his back, they suddenly fly away (on to bite the other horses

), I just love it and know that garlic has done its job as I can compare with the times when I wasn't feeding garlic and they would eat poor boy alive

 

[oliviacharley]

thanks guys for the great replies.....
Ive added garlic to their feed tonight ;0)