7 Best Fly Sprays for Horses and Best Fly Repellent Accessories in 2025

Updated Dec. 23, 2024
Woman using spray bottle to spray a horse. The best fly sprays for horses can kill and repel flies

Irina Orlova/iStock via Getty Images

All products in this article have been reviewed by our trusted vets and experts. PetMD is owned by Chewy.

Flies and fly bites are common nuisances for all horse breeds. Not only are they annoying, but these insects can also cause diseases that may make your horse sick, including equine infectious anemia (EIA), onchocerca, and anaplasma.  As a horse owner, it’s crucial to consider fly control for horses. This can start as easily as ensuring you have the right fly spray for your horse—and applying it routinely. 

Everything Our Vets Recommend

The best fly sprays for horses can kill and repel flies and may also provide protection against other pesky insects during outdoor adventures with your horse. Additionally, having fly repellent accessories on hand—including fly leggings for horses, fly masks, or feed-through—can help to provide additional defense against insects.

Our equine veterinary experts rounded up their top choices for best fly sprays, including what to consider if your horse has sensitive skin, and additional horse accessories to help keep flies at bay while your horse is out to pasture or adventuring with you outside.


Our Vet Pick: Best in Show

A fly spray that keeps bugs away while giving your horse a nice shiny coat

Pyranha Wipe N’ Spray uses a formula that kills and repels flies and other common pests known to nag at horses. You can apply it directly on your horse or spray it into a cloth before rubbing it into their coat. The spray for horseflies has an earthy scent from citronella oil that’ll also make your horse smell great.

The best fly spray for horses acts as a 2-in-1, containing lanolin that conditions and shines your horse’s coat, but the formula may also leave a greasy residue behind. Our vets like this equine fly spray’s ready-to-use formula and its ability to kill or repel more than 70 types of insects.

Additionally, Pyranha is a family-owned business that has a long history researching and producing products for horses.

Things to Consider
  • Leaves a high sheen on the coat
  • Ready-to-use, oil-based formula
  • Made in the United States
  • Doesn’t stick to dirt
  • Respected brand with over 40 years of experience and research
  • Formula may also leave an oily or greasy residue behind

Our Vet Pick: Best Natural Fly Spray/Best for Sensitive Skin

An oil-based formula that may work better for horses that are sensitive to traditional fly spray ingredients

The Ecovet Fly Repellent Horse Spray uses a silicone-based formula that repels flies and other insects. Unlike most other fly sprays for horses, the best natural spray for horse flies doesn’t contain ingredients that may irritate the skin (especially if your horse is sensitive to certain ingredients).

This spray has an easy-to-apply-formula that leaves a scent of natural lavender and sage. However, the odor may be too strong for some horse owners and horses if they are sensitive to fragrances. Our veterinarians praise this spray for its natural ingredients and for being a veterinarian-owned company.

Things to Consider
  • Formula is EPA-approved
  • Repels against flies, mosquitoes, lice, and cockroaches
  • Application has longevity (still effective after two days)
  • Pricier than other options
  • Quickly dilutes on sweaty coat
  • The lavender and sage scent may be too potent for some horse owners and horses

Our Vet Pick: Best Feed-Through

A feed-through fly repellent supplement you can add to your horse’s diet

The Farnam Simplify Feed-Thru suits horse owners seeking an alternative to horse fly sprays. The formula includes LarvaStop Fly Growth Regulator and diflubenzuron to stop a fly population from developing. All you need to do is add the pellets to your horse’s feed to repel insects.

The pellets don’t contain the pesticide organophosphate (which while commonly used in insecticides, can be toxic at high levels). The pellets quickly pass through the manure to deter a breeding ground for flies. Keep in mind that the feed may not eliminate the entire fly population.

Our veterinarian experts find the supplements to be a great addition to a horse’s fly prevention protocol.

Things to Consider
  • Well-known brand with over 75 years of experience
  • Can start supplements during any season
  • Reduces fly population within days of supplementation
  • Pellets only affect the manure
  • May need supplemental fly sprays or repellents to increase effectiveness

Our Vet Pick: Fly Spray That Also Targets Ticks

A fly repellent that also protects your horse from ticks

Most horse owners know pesky ticks can latch onto their horses. The Absorbine Ultrashield Red is a horse fly spray that works against several other insects, including ticks.

Our vets chose this spray as the most suitable for tick prevention. It can reduce the risk of your horse getting a tick bite and becoming sick.

It contains five active ingredients to protect your horse during trail rides and other adventures. However, these ingredients may irritate your horse if they have sensitive skin.

Things to Consider
  • Affordable
  • Spray leaves a nice sheen on the horse’s coat
  • Suitable for trips through wooded areas
  • Contains sun protection
  • Waterproof
  • May have to reapply multiple times per day
  • Insecticide ingredients may irritate horses with sensitive skin

Our Vet Pick: Best Face Mask

A horse mask that keeps flies away and may prevent sunburns

Your horse may need sun protection and fly prevention in the hot summer months. The Kensington UViator CatchMask is a horse face mask that keeps flies away from your horse’s face and reduces the chances of sunburn. It’s designed for everyday wear and overnight use.

Our veterinarians chose this mask because it can provide supplemental fly and sun protection for light-haired or light-skinned horses. 

A potential downside is you’ll likely need to purchase a spray or feed supplement to get more protection against flies and other insects.

Things to Consider
  • Suitable for horses with sensitive eyes
  • 90% UV rating
  • Double-locking lead rope fastener
  • Soft fleece for comfortable wear
  • Cannot be machine-washed
  • Potential fabric tears

Our Vet Pick: Best Fly Leggings

A pair of horse fly leggings that steer away biting flies

If left unprotected, your horse’s feet and legs are vulnerable to biting flies that may carry disease. These fly leggings for horses have a plastic mesh that prevents flies from entering the boots. The design can also keep botflies from laying eggs in the boots.

While fly sprays and repellents can wear off, fly leggings can last all day without having to reapply any product. Aside from fly protection, our veterinarians like these fly leggings for horses because they don’t come loose or cause skin irritation to the horse.

Things to Consider
  • Mesh material provides airflow
  • Reduces stress on horse’s legs
  • Lowers the chances of hoof cracks
  • Available in sizes ranging from ponies to large horses
  • Free of harmful chemicals
  • Leggings may need frequent replacements due to tearing
  • Leggings can run large

Our Vet Pick: Best Fly Sheet

A comfortable horse fly sheet providing neck and body protection against flies

A fly sheet may be more accommodating for your horse if you live in extremely hot or cold climates. This horse fly sheet protects your horse’s neck and body from pesky flies. The sheet is made of durable and breathable material, so your horse can comfortably move in it. In addition to serving as a fly repellent, it also offers UV protection as your horse enjoys turnout in the sun.

Our veterinarians believe this fly sheet provides the most mane-to-tail protection from flies, and suits horses that are more sensitive to fly bites.

While these fly sheets for horses cover most of your horse’s body, you must purchase a pair of boots separately if you want to protect their legs and feet.

Things to Consider
  • Offers 65% UV protection
  • Self-repairing polyester and synthetic fabric
  • V-front closure that allows the horse to graze
  • Shoulder and mane lining to prevent skin rubbing
  • Detachable hood
  • Sheet doesn’t include boots