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Homemade Horsefly Repellent

| Updated September 26, 2017

Things You'll Need

  • 2 cups white vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon eucalyptus oil

  • 1 cup water

  • Spray bottle

  • Funnel

  • Mixing bowl

  • Spoon

Horse fly repellent is used to keep all types of flies from landing on and biting the horse. Among these types of flies is the horsefly, a large fly that can grow up to 1 inch in length. The bite from a horsefly can pierce a horse’s skin and draw blood, leaving itchy wounds on the horse’s flesh. Buying a fly repellent to repel horseflies is a viable option; however, homemade fly repellent is just as effective without the chemicals. With just a few simple supplies you can make a homemade horsefly repellent in less than 10 minutes.

Mix the vinegar and water together in the mixing bowl using the spoon. Only a few seconds of stirring is needed to mix the two together completely.

Add the eucalyptus oil into the water and vinegar mixture and stir until the oil has been thoroughly mixed into the water.

Pour the mixture from the mixing bowl into the spray bottle using the funnel to avoid spills. Tightly secure the top of the spray bottle so that no mixture leaks out.

Shake the spray bottle to ensure the ingredients are thoroughly mixed and apply an even layer onto the horse.

Repeat this as necessary, shaking the spray bottle before each use to re-mix the ingredients. Application one to two times a day will typically suffice.

Tips

  • If flies continue to bite your horse, consider using a commercial fly repellent instead.