Product test: fly repellents

Take your pick from a range of fly repellent products tested by HHO

Despite the recent changeable weather, flies are still making life a misery for our equine friends. We tested a number ofgel and spray fly repellent products to find which products have the staying power to really protect your horse. Here are our results.

Tried this on areas which were being rubbed, such as the top of my horse’s tail, with good results although hair did turn from black to brown – a combination of the gel and the sun I expect. I found the size of the tub a little difficult to hold and apply at the same time. I dropped the tub on one occasion and the bottom split quite badly, forcing me to transfer the contents to a different pot.

The clear plastic top, which is designed to protect the sprayer, was easily broken and the label was loose which made it difficult to hold the bottle and spray using one hand. It has a very fine spray, which seemed to leave as much in the atmosphere as on my horse’s coat. Although it doesn’t leave a nasty residue it wasn’t particularly effective and my horse came in from the field with a number of fly bites.