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Fee
Platinum Member
2601 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Apr 2011 : 1:03:17 PM
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Does anyone have a recipe for a homemade fly/midge repellent that works and is as natural as possible?
I'm really going to make the effort this year in a bid to cut back and the prices of daily horse things are a joke.
Thanks in advance
Fee
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2011 : 1:09:28 PM
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I agree anything to do with horses is so expensive, I tend to use lots of human stuff for them if I can, I used to make one up of cider vinegar, lavender and tea tree and water with a bit of fairy liquid to mix it and a few garlic granules,it smelt choice I must say and just tipped it in a empty bottle never measured any of it, you don't need much of the essential oils though, seemed no worse that a shop bought one.
Arabi is allergic to most shop ones they burn his skin and then it flakes off poor pony |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2011 : 1:58:05 PM
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Hi
I tried so many things with the sweetitch boy, and its funny but dabbing on lavendar oil seemed to really work. Perhaps you could get a burgler outfit and go round gardens steeling bits of lavendar and crushing it, and then make a liquid or something.
Spose you could just dig up the whole bush and be off with it, or get Inky to do it, seems like the secret mission type to me, in fact, based on your videos, she could even be taught to apply her own, and put it back in the tack room after.
See money and time :) |
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Fee
Platinum Member
2601 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2011 : 2:15:14 PM
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Thanks but don't think I could handle all that lavender, I'm not a fan 
I am however imagining Inky in camouflage sneaking around stealing lavender, she'd love that, though she'd prob sneak as good as a baby elephant!
I have a little hand held portable radio. One of those you've had for years and it just keeps working even through getting dropped numerous times on the concrete. Inky killed it yesterday. She put the whole thing in her mouth then spat it out! She's a 
Fee
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moatside
Platinum Member
England
3224 Posts |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
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Slave 2 Magic
Gold Member
England
1023 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2011 : 3:27:58 PM
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The one I've made up for this year is
Avon SSS
Lavender oil
Tee Tree oil
Apple cider vinegar
Dettol
Cold tea
A squirt of washing up liquid to mix |
West Yorkshire
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Cate
Platinum Member
Scotland
1785 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2011 : 5:51:06 PM
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When I bought my stallion he had severe sweet itch. I've had him over 3 years and it's been an absolute nightmare. But last November I started using Thunderbrook Equestrian base mix and gradually noticed a huge difference in his mane and tail amongst other things. My point is that normally I am plastering him with all sorts, and feeding him all sorts of recommended things, but this year I can even put him out in the evening. Normally as the year progresses from March he is going crazy but not this year. I am using a natural spray, but can't name it on here, just in case it's a fluke with the base mix.
Just cannot believe the difference. |
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Edited by - Cate on 15 Apr 2011 5:52:22 PM |
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
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Nacelle
Junior Member
30 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2011 : 12:14:13 AM
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I found a new bottle of fly spray up the attic when i was looking for something else! I have no idea how it even got up there.
I tried pretty much everything last year as D was really itchy all summer. I did find apple cider vinegar was good for keeping the flys away but i did have to strain it and use a spray bottle with a filter on it as the bits of apple ferment in it and clog up the spray!
I did hear good things about Avon skin so soft. When her summer coat comes through i think i will give that a try this year diluted with water a bit. Im not sure about mixing it with the apple cider.
Im hoping since we moved the cause of the itchy hasnt come with us! |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2011 : 05:02:29 AM
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| Derek K (Liverpool) has a concoction that he recommends, will find it and send to you... |
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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2011 : 09:03:06 AM
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Debs, i'd be interested too if you have it.
I have one that's really sensitive too. Avon sss, neem oil, any other types of fly spray i've tried all mke hergo lumpy and then flake of huge chunks of skin, horrible.
I've bought her a Kool coat, because it sems lighter than the other fly sheets.
I don't think there is a universal fly repellant (unless you're happy to cover them in deet, which i for one am not!). I think it's trial and error depending on the individual horse and type of flies you get where you are.
Combinations of cider vinegar, neem, lavndar, eukalyptus, teatree, citronella etc all seem to have varying degrees of effectiveness...neem being one of the best i reckon.
Ros |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2011 : 09:11:31 AM
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Here we go... not tried it yet 
That depends what sort of repellent you want - do you mean whole body or is it wound related? Either way in fact it's quite easy if you have kerosene available! You don't want Chelsea (posh) kerosene - you want esso-blue or pink paraffin or heating oil!
This can be r wiped onto a horse using a hand glove and the turned bottle to allow a very molecular layer of the kerosene to cover the main areas. You can alternatively place one teaspoonful of kerosene into a 5 litre garden / greenhouse sprayer. The sprayer is then filled to the mark with water and shaken vigorously during spraying over the horse., At the same time the grooming glove is used to spread the droplets. Don't run the sprayer down to zero since then the kerosene becomes stronger. Of course the horse has a slight smell of kerosene but there is NO danger of an explosion or a fire!!! It won't HELP if the horse is caught in stable fire but otherwise its risk free. This can have a residual effect for some weeks in most circumstances but if the horse is ontunually wet / soaked or is heavily groomed then it might need to be done again sooner. It seems to work better in some horses than others. A bit of a smell of kerosene on the rugs is a good thing actuaally!
he second measure is placing a teaspoonful of kerosene in a tub of vaseline and this is then stirred up - it will turn white. This is a good fly repellent for wounds and so on. kerosene is very bland!
In addition to this I usually advise the use of cattle ear tags plaited into the forelock poll / mane and withers mane and two into the base of the tail. they also help!
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Edited by - debs on 16 Apr 2011 09:12:23 AM |
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Cate
Platinum Member
Scotland
1785 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2011 : 12:15:41 PM
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Well, I certainly wouldn't put Kerosene on any of my horses!!
Key Points
Kinetics and metabolism
• As kerosene is a mixture of chemicals, there is no definitive ADME (absorption,
distribution, metabolism and excretion) data
• Limited data from metabolism studies suggest that kerosene is removed from
circulation by the liver and lungs
Health effects of acute exposure
• The major route of exposure is by inhalation of liquid (aspiration)
• Kerosene vapours may be mildly irritating to the respiratory system and spray
applications of kerosene may provoke signs of pulmonary irritation such as coughing
and dyspnoea
• Acute dermal exposure may result in local irritation, but it is not considered to be a
skin sensitiser
• Acute exposure to kerosene may result in CNS effects including irritability,
restlessness, ataxia, drowsiness, convulsions, coma and death
Health effects of chronic exposure
• The most common health effect associated with chronic kerosene exposure is
dermatitis, usually associated with inappropriate use of personal protective equipment
• Chronic exposure may also cause non-specific CNS effects such as nervousness,
loss of appetite and nausea
• Kerosene does not have a measurable effect on human reproduction or development
• IARC concluded that there was inadequate evidence to classify kerosene as a human
carcinogen
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2011 : 3:17:58 PM
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| Blimey, shocking!.... ok to spray on rugs do you thin k? |
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Cate
Platinum Member
Scotland
1785 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2011 : 3:37:29 PM
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| Personally, Debs, I wouldn't put it an inch near my horses nor myself, but that's me. I always go for as natural as possible for myself and my animals. |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2011 : 10:26:20 PM
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Oh god..... So paranoid about these blinking sarcoids! Ali has had the treatment, all scabs have dropped off, just waiting for vet to sign him off next week and what do I notice, a little grey nodule on his thigh....urgh. Just when I thought he was over them!!!!!!!!!
What to do....... |
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Topic |
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Homemade Fly Repellent
Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)