How to make home made fly spray recipes for horses: Horse & Hound

Sometimes it's our own secret recipes that work the best as we try to battle the summer flies — take a look at the suggestions below for inspiration

NOTE: Horse & Hound has not tested any of the following fly spray recipes and strongly recommends that you do a small patch test on your horse with any homemade fly spray. Readers use these recipes at their own risk. Horse & Hound cannot be held responsible for any allergic or other reactions that result from using these recipes.

Alison Elverson from Nottingham suggests:

300ml citronella (available from most pharmacies)
25ml lavender oil (also available from most pharmacies)
4tbsp vinegar
6tbsp Dettol
2 cups of cold strong tea
Pour into a 2 litre plastic pop bottle and top up with water, then decant what you need into a spray bottle when needed

Adrienne Stewart from East Sussex suggests:

15ml citronella
2tbsp methylated spirit
1tbsp washing up liquid
4tbsp vinegar
1/2 pint strong tea
Mix together and make up to 2 litres with tap water

Beth Barnett from Hereford suggests:

3tbsp citronella
4tbsp methylated spirit
2tbsp washing up liquid
8tbsp malt vinegar
2 mugs of strong tea
2 litres of water (approx)

Theresa Fryer, by email, suggests:

250 ml of Avon Skin So Soft and Fresh bath oil (can be halved if midges are not bad, or your horse does not react to midges)
5 caps of Dettol
1 teaspoon each of lavender, tea tree, citronella, cedar wood and eucalyptus
Top up to one litre with either water or cold tea
Spray twice a day and keep shaking regularly to keep the oils mixed

Becky Harris from Cornwall suggests: