7 DIY Fly Spray Repellent For Horses, Dogs, AND Humans

It is the worst when the flies are out!  Horse flies, deer flies, black flies, you name it!  You name it, they are annoying to us and our furry friends.  In the early spring the trails are great, its cooler, few insects, and NO flies!  When the weather gets warmer, the insects only get worse and then the flies…..those dreaded blood sucking parasites.   Typically, I start to take the dogs to the creek when the flies start to become a menace and it is usually shallow enough for them to walk in.  But what about our poor horses?  Or if the creek is too high to walk in?  Or there is no creek to walk in?  We need to protect our loved ones and us!

All summer long I have been testing out various recipes and mixtures that are safe for us and our fur friends.  Check out 10 of my favorite combinations that have proven to work for my family.  Also, go to the bottom of this post for a cheap way to take care that swarm of deer flies.

 DO NOT spray any of these mixtures near or around the eyes.  If irritation occurs, stop using immediately.  If using one of the recipes below with essential oils, check with the manufacturer first to see if they are pet safe (not all essential oil brands are made the same).

Shaklee Fly Spray

4 oz. Basic H

12 oz. Water

Bye Bye Fly Spray

1 cups White vinegar

2 cups Water

1/2 cup Spray On Sunscreen

50 drops Citronella oil

25 drops Lemongrass essential oil

25 drops Peppermint essential oil

20 drops Lavender essential oil

2 Tablespoons simple, non-complicated, non-fancy liquid soap (like Dr. Bronner’s)

32oz Spray Bottle

Skin So Soft Fly Spray

1 cup water

2 cups Apple Cider Vinegar

1 cup Avon Skin So Soft bath oil

1 tablespoon citronella oil

1 tablespoon eucalyptus oil

32oz Spray Bottle

Besides making your own fly spray, protect and help your horse by offering other insect deterrent products like fly boots, fly mask, or a fly sheet.  Check out my post for reviews on the products I love!

Oil Me Up Fly Spray

2 cups light mineral oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 teaspoon citronella oil

2 teaspoons eucalyptus oil

2 teaspoons simple, non-complicated, non-fancy liquid soap (like Dr. Bronner’s)

32oz Spray Bottle

Apple Cider Vinegar Fly Spray

16 oz. Spray Bottle

2 cups Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Tbs. Mineral Oil

1/2 Tbs. simple, non-complicated, non-fancy liquid soap (like Dr. Bronner’s)

40 drops of any combination of the following oils:

Citronella, Eucalyptus, Lemon Grass, Basil, Peppermint, Cedarwood, Lavender, Tea Tree, Rosemary

32oz Spray Bottle

Simple Fly Spray

2 cups White Vinegar

1 Tablespoon Eucalyptus oil

1 cup water

32oz Spray Bottle

Condition Me No More Fly Spray

1/2 cup basic hair conditioner for humans like baby conditioner (do not get fancy here, keep it simple)

3 Tablespoons Eucalyptus oil

1/2 cup baby oil

Fill up the remainder of the bottle with water

32oz Spray Bottle

Be Gone Fly Spray

1 ½ cups water

1 ½ cups Apple Cider Vinegar

1 tsp Eucalyptus oil

1 tsp Citronella oil

1 tsp Tea Tree oil

32oz Spray Bottle