You get what you pay for. The more expensive repellents generally have higher concentrations of ingredients in and therefore are more effective and last longer. PMD is a natural chemical from lemon eucalyptus leaves. PMD has had a lot of research into the effectiveness and many organisations deem it to be as effective as synthetic compounds such as DEET when used in high enough concentrations. Often the concentrations in commercial fly repellents are not enough to have long lasting repellent activity. It does smell lovely though! Fly Away® Fly & Insect Repellent Roll-On – “Contains a powerful and effective, natural, herbal formula suitable for horses sensitive to citronella. Suitable for all exposed areas of coat, repelling all flying and biting insects, and improving coat condition and shine. Invisible upon application and does not stain. HSE approved as safe and effective. Contains no listed FEI banned substances. Safe for you, your horse, and the environment.”

Know your ingredients. This is essential to get the right choice for your horse (see below). Insecticides kill the insects, repellents only repel them. There are many other natural ingredients that can be used for DIY fly sprays and they include: tea tree oil, garlic, cider vinegar, neem oil, aloe vera, lemon juice any many more. Leovet Power Phaser is a new generation of fly repellent that combines natural ingredients and active substances with modern long duration technology. It provides up to 7 hours of protection for your horse, even if they sweat. FeaturesLook at the percentages. The only way to compare two different brands of fly repellent is to look at which one has the higher % of ingredients.

Natural ingredients: Leovet Power Phaser contains natural ingredients, such as citronella and eucalyptus, which are known for their insect repellent properties. It also contains the following plant ingredients: Geranium Oil: Extracted from the Pelargonium graveolens (rose geranium) shrub by means of steam distillation and is a insect repellent. Natural is not always better. Don't assume that natural fly repellents are as effective as synthetic ones, plus they are only repellents so will never be as effective as an insecticide.Keep out of direct sunlight to prolong the lasting effects. Keep out of reach of small children as the substance in this fly spray is very strong. I can't remember an Easter as nice as the one we're currently having but the flies have come out with a vengeance! Poor Charlie gets mithered by flies particularly around his head and eyes which means each year I go through the same process of trying to find a fly spray that actually works! One trip to the saddler's and it is very overwhelming the number of options for fly control. I thought it would be useful to give my top tips when choosing a fly repellent and explain some of the most common ingredients so you can have a bit more knowledge when choosing the best for your horses. Ethyl Butacetylaminopropionate or IR3535® is a synthetic fly repellent chemical. It provides long lasting repellent activity against flies and Power Phaser claims to be effective even when horses sweat so may be a good choice for during competitions, long rides or strenuous exercise.

Dermoline® Sweet Itch Lotion – “Proven as an effective aid in the prevention of sweet itch in horses and to help relieve an existing condition. Legal Category: AVM-GSL.”A new generation in fly protection", Leovet Power Phaser Fly Spray is a new fly repellent for horses that defends against all biting and non-biting flying insects. It continues to work even when your horse perspires with only a minimal loss in effectiveness, making it one of the best fly sprays for horses in the UK. Guaranteed to be long-lasting and a truly effective fly repellent. Although it is important to repel flies to keep our horses comfortable, the irritation caused by flies can have a severely negative impact, especially for horses who suffer from sweet itch. For instance, horses who engage in intense scratching and rubbing because of irritation from flies can experience an array of issues such as broken skin, hair loss, bruising, and cuts – any damage to skin can open the gateway to infection, as well as cause discomfort. And by repelling flies, you’re preventing the spread of infection by limiting your horse’s exposure to fly-borne diseases. NAF® Off Citronella Wristband – “This silicone NAF Off Citronella Wrist Band is made with citronella oil. The unique design enables the citronella oil to be contained in a special compartment of the wrist band making it highly durable, waterproof, and convenient to use. Perfect for both indoor and outdoor activities. The wrist band can be worn while riding or around the yard, and it is suitable to wear on the wrist or the ankle.” IV Horse® The Fly App Fly Repellent Wipes – “Tested on the nastiest of Scottish midges for maximum effectiveness, this HSE licensed Fly Repellent offers highly effective protection against all flies and biting insects. Carefully created to give long-lasting protection, with lemon eucalyptus.” Similar to citronella PMD can cause skin reactions in sensitive horses so always do a patch test first.