Ecovet Natural Fly Repellent Review

Flies are a problem this season at my barn in Southern California. So when I was contacted to see if I was interested in trying and reviewing Ecovet natural fly repellent, I responded with an enthusiastic yes!

Ecovet is now in my arsenal! And it matches the color scheme of my brushes. Oo la la.

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The Skinny on Ecovet Fly Spray

• The fly spray was developed by Dr. Tim John, a veterinarian who practices in the Seattle area.
• It is made from food grade fatty acids and repels and kills a variety of flies, midges and mosquitoes. (I’m not really sure what a midge is, but I’m glad it keeps them away.)
• It can be used on both horses and cattle.
• Ecovet fly spray is long-lasting. According to their website, “you typically only need to apply it every one to three days depending on ambient temperature, fly pressure and rain.”
• It has a very unusual smell. Be prepared (and don’t accidentally inhale while spraying like I did).

How did Ecovet Work on Knight?

The last several weeks when I have escorted Knight from his stall to the crossties, I’ve noticed flies buzzing all around his face. I’m grateful he has a long forelock!

No flies makes it easier for a pre-ride nap on the crossties.

The flies were so bad I applied the spray moderately all over first, covering his legs and belly a bit more liberally, and just a sprinkle on his face. Then I groomed Knight. His tail was still and he actually snoozed a bit. No flies near us.

It was interesting that the flies that had previously been hovering around his face and a few crawling near his eyes vanished after the Ecovet. Remember, I only put a light amount on his face.

Regarding the fragrance. . .the smell was not typical of any horse fly spray I have ever encountered. Something about it made me think of a thrift store with old people clothes. It had a certain muskiness. I asked a friend to smell Knight. She pressed her nose onto his face and said it reminded her of mothballs.

Knight was awakened briefly when a fellow boarder walked past carrying two buckets of grain. Then I tacked and we rode.

For me? Surely that must be my food bucket.

It was unbearably and unseasonably hot in the arena. There was one fly that actually buzzed around me about a minute into our ride. I swatted at it, but it was definitely pursuing me, not Knight.

Our ride went well and the flies stayed at bay the entire time. At the end I hosed Knight off and then before I put him back in his stall I sprayed him all over again.

Ecovet Day Two

The next day when I went to the barn to ride he still had a faint smell of Ecovet natural fly repellent on him and it seemed the flies weren’t really hovering around and crawling on him like they have been.

I like the smaller bottle (it’s an 18 ounce size) as you can easily place it in a grooming tote and put it in your tack trunk and still close the lid. Other fly sprays I have used need to be placed on the bottom of my trunk in order for the cover to close because the container is so tall.

This is a great product! If you like to support innovative horse people with small businesses who have a passion for their product as opposed to large companies, then you should definitely give Ecovet natural fly repellent a try.

And if you don’t like the thought of putting chemicals on your horse either, then you’ll appreciate the “technology” of Ecovet which is interesting as well as somewhat funny. According to Dr. John’s description:

Ecovet uses a proprietary mixture of naturally occurring fatty acids that confuses and overwhelms the insect’s normal directional ability, so the insect is unable to locate your horse as its next victim. It’s like having a GPS system that is shouting confusing and conflicting directions at you … until you finally give up.”

I’m all for confusing and rendering flies inept, how about you?

Comments: What are some of your “go to” horse products? Do you prefer to use products that are more natural and less chemical? Also, do you try to buy from small businesses or large companies or doesn’t it matter?

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