04/20/2023
Understanding water-based vs. oil-based equine fly spray.
Oil-based fly sprays are usually made with ingredients that come from oil called petroleum distillates. The idea behind these products is that the repellent ingredients will not evaporate as quickly with an oil foundation. However, these oil ingredients may create other problems like-
Burning-Much like a tanning oil, they can amplify the sun’s rays.
Drying-They may make your horse’s coat shiny when applied, but can dry out the skin even resulting in cracking.
Residue-They leave a sticky and even smelly residue behind.
Water-based fly sprays are easier on most horse’s skin and won’t attract dirt or dust. You’ll want to make sure the water-based spray include synergists in the formula to keep them from breaking down in environmental conditions (sunlight, rain, sweat, etc,)
Read the small print. Active ingredients include insecticides, repellents and synergists. Insecticides are what kill the insects, repellents prevent insects from touching your horse. Some products both repel and kill.
Understand pyrethrins, pyrethroids and the role of synergists. The most common insecticides in equine fly sprays are pyrethrins and pyrethroids. Pyrethrins provide a very quick knockdown, killing the insects quickly. However, pyrethrins are broken down rapidly by sunlight, so synergists-usually Piperonyl butoxide and/or Butoxypolypropylene glycol-are often added to protect and extend the effectiveness of the formula.
Pyrethroids are synthetic forms of pyrethrins. The most common are permethrin, cypermethrin and resmethrin. Pyrethroids are not easily broken down by sunlight, so they can remain effective for several days.
It’s important to find a long lasting fly spray with a base that’s going to give you and your horse the best experience. While oil-based sprays may seem to be long lasting, they can leave an unpleasant oily residue. Water-based options can not only be long lasting, but also gentle on skin without the oily mess.
