If you’re looking for a post on fly spray that works, this isn’t it – if you couldn’t tell by the title. If you’re looking for a post on fly sprays that do not live up to their advertised expectations, you are in the right place!
I have yet to find a fly spray that lives up to its advertising claims. I’ve used the so-called ‘natural’ fly sprays and the so-called ‘harsh’ fly sprays, and to be 100% honest, I have noticed NO difference whatsoever.
Here are the 3 fly sprays I have used the past three summers:
Tri Tec 14, “lasts” for 14 days.
Bronco “e” Fly Spray – This was recommended to me as a less harsh fly spray that still worked.
Absorbine Ultra Shield EX – This summer’s fly spray choice.
Tri Tec 14: I chose Tri Tec 14 because it was advertised as lasting up to 14 days. I should’ve known to be skeptical of the claims, but since I had been using barn-provided fly spray for years, I fell for it. This does NOT last 14 days. I switched over to something new the next summer.
Bronco “e”: One of my horses had developed hives last summer, so I was told to try switching my fly spray since we couldn’t identify what was giving him hives. A friend’s horse had a similar issue, and she told me she switched to this fly spray because it was gentler than the others and had a more pleasant smell, and her horse’s hives disappeared. I tried it, and while my horse’s hives disappeared, the flies did not. This fly spray does smell a bit better than the others, but I would take nasty smell over poor efficacy any day. By the way, my horse developed hives this year before we started using fly spray, so I don’t think the hives were fly-related. I also have been using a different fly spray since the bugs came out in full force, and he has yet to develop any hives, even though the new spray is definitely way harsher than Bronco “e”.
Absorbine Ultra Shield EX: I first heard about this spray from a brochure I got with one of my SmartPak orders. The Ultra Shield line has four different sprays based on different riders’ needs. I chose to try the EX because it seemed like the ultimate in bug protection. Its advertising claims include: remaining active for 17 days; sweat-proof formula; weather-resistent formula; and kills and repels up to 70 species of insect. I haven’t really noticed a difference between this and any of the other sprays I’ve used. I put this on my horse before I ride, and it doesn’t even last an hour. I once even tried spraying him down twice with it – still didn’t last the hour. Normally I would understand because my horse has been sweating, but this is supposed to be sweat-proof. It definitely does not last 17 days as advertised. I read the reviews on this product on SmartPak, and some people have touted this as being the best fly spray they have ever used, but I just haven’t seen those results.
Maybe I am being a little picky, but if a product is advertised as working for a certain amount of time or being able to resist sweat or weather, I kind of expect it to conform to those claims. Overall, I’ve found that most of the fly sprays are not as effective as they claim to be, so buy whatever you want or whatever you think smells good!
Have you had this same experience with fly spray, or have you found something that works? Let me know in the comments below!
the legal equestrian 