Sunday, June 21, 2009

"No Flies On Me!" - Summer = Horseflies



Fly season is here, and John's new fly mask is the stylin' kind with eyeballs and spectacles painted on. I think it captures his personality pretty well, with that amused expression and raised eyebrow implying, "Oh, reaaalllly?"

Everyone handles horse fly season differently and according to their principles: some people buy the strongest chemical concoction available, and drench their equines all summer long. This requires careful thinking about risk. If a fly spray comes with instructions "Do Not Allow Contact With Skin", there's a fair likelihood it poses some danger to the horse as well.



Some people purchase fly sheets, which are great at preventing bites but do add a heat factor for the horse.

Still others make their own "natural" fly sprays, and that's the route I'm taking this summer. Here's the recipe I was given by the barn owner:



3 cups apple cider vinegar

3/4 cup Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil

1/3 cup Dawn dish soap

The Avon product has a fragrance that really bothers me though; I know some people love it but to me it is rank. The Dawn ('original fragrance') also is quite strong, and adding vinegar to these gives you quite the head-rush. It also produces a sticky horse, so that dust adheres to the coat. It's not a perfect solution, but it does seem to keep flies at bay pretty well. And not too expensive!



Happy Father's Day to everyone! Take a minute to thank a dad, your own or someone else's, for taking on a tough job with a very confusing and contradictory job description!!

13 comments:

. said...

OHHHH THAT IS SOOOO CUTE!!!!!! ^^

Flying Lily said...

Thanks Avie!! I hope he didn't immediately destroy it, which he tends to do...

Anonymous said...

I really can't stand the Avon smell - to me it reeks! I haven't really found a good fly spray solution - neither the natural nor the chemical sprays work all that well.

Flying Lily said...

Kate, I agree...it amazes me that it's a product marketed for human ladies to soak in! But some folks just love it.

allhorsestuff said...

It is amazingly STRONG smelling stuff..maybe that is why I havd a freind in Africa order it from my sales rep and sent it to her there..it was the only thing that worked on EVEN African bugs! It smells terrible!
Recently, I actually had a client ask me a crucial question that really had been bothering her....
"why do people "blind mask" horses in the fields?" HAHAHAH!!! I tild her without cracking up, "oh- those are see through masks for keeping flys out of horses eyes!"

Thanks for the recipie too!

Stephanie - Siouxzeegirl Designs said...

yeah ... that Avon stuff... not such a nice smell for me either!

I love the stylish fly mask! My boy never keeps them on, always destroyed in 1 day, so I just stopped using them.

Such a dilemma... use the harsh chemical stuff, make your own natural concoction... I go back and forth. Seems to me that changing it up seems to work best on the bugs by me.

restoration42 said...

Thanks for the recipe. I've been wanting one that used vinegar. Has anyone had luck with garlic? How is your knee doing?

Jocelyn said...

This year im doing the garlic thing, I use cheap bronco and ADD the Avon skin so soft to it. It doesnt smell fabulous, like an old lady !

Love his fly mask !

Unknown said...

Have you tried ATLAST! Fly Spray? It is 100% organic and cedar oil based. ATLAST! something that smells great, is safe AND works! go to www.atlastflyspray.com for more info or to find a store near you that carries it!

Once Upon an Equine said...

John looks groovy in his new fly mask.

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Krissy Lee said...

I adore that fly mask, and the photo! May we have permission to post it on Facebook?

Anonymous said...

This is adorable! Great recipe! I'm looking for a fly mask while my horse gets over an eye injury. I was wondering where you got this? It is absolutely adorable! I didn't see a link so i figured i would ask.