With summer well and truly here I thought I'd put up a couple of fly-sprayrecipes that you can make at home. Insect repellents in the saddleries can be expensive,uneconomical (with two horses I will go through a 750 ml bottle in about two weeks) not tomention full of nasty chemicals and irritants. Most of these recipes take about five minutesto make up and are very no-fuss.

They also smell wonderful and don't contain any nasty chemicals! The initial outlay in costis around $50 (depending on the amount of ingredients and recipe you use) but you shouldhave enough to make several batches which means you won't run out in a hurry.

The insect repellents I list here are safe for use on both you and your horses. If you aresubject to allergies use common sense and patch test for skin irritations using the dilutedoil before general use.

Many of the plant oils contained in these recipes are also antiseptic so they are generallybeneficial for broken skin.

Essential Oils can be found in health food stores and some chemists. For Lavender, Tea Treeand Eucalyptus oils try your local supermarket (in the medicinal section; headache tablets,bandaids etc). That is the most economical way to purchase these oils. Be sure you arebuying the 100% pure oil varieties.

Insect Repellent Recipes:

Insect Repellent:
30 ml citronella oil
2 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
125 ml of lemon juice
1 cup of apple cider vinegar
1 cup of water
Mix altogether in a spray bottle.

All purpose repellent:
3 ml clove oil
5 ml lavender oil
5 ml eucalyptus oil
150 ml vodka
200 ml water or chamomile or sage tea
Dissolve the oils in the vodka then mix into the water or tea. Pour into a spray bottle anduse.

Fly and Insect repellent:
This is my favourite because it makes about a litre of spray so it is the mosteconomical.
2 cups sage or chamomile tea
2 cups apple cider vinegar
1 ml (about 30 drops) of emulsifier or 150 ml or Vodka.
1ml each of Citronella, Pennyroyal, Eucalyptus, Cedar and Lavendar essential oils. Mix the oils in the emulsifier or vodka then pour into the tea and apple cider vinegarsolution. Pour into a spray bottle and use!

NB: For teas you can use dried sage from the herb and spices section in thesupermarket or regular chamomile tea bags; the rule of thumb when making tea from 'looseleaves' is one heaped teaspoon (or tea bag) for each cup of water and one 'for the pot'.Make the tea and allow it t cool.

For the emulsifier Sun Spirit make a great natural emulsifier called "Solubilizer". Vodka isan alternative to emulsifier (any spirit will do but vodka has no smell). Either of thesewill allow the oils to mix and combine with the liquid part of the fly spray solution. Kids,ask mum and dad before raiding the liquor cabinet!

Some other tips:

• Feed your horse garlic (about 1 table spoon, less for ponies) every day to keep the fliesand mossies at bay. This is less effective in spring when the grass is green and full ofchlorophyll. Garlic should not be fed to horses that are scouring or lactating mares.
• Put 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar in your horses feed each day you will notice resultsafter a week. Also try adding a cup full to your horse's water. It is worth introducingapple cider vinegar slowly and gradually increasing the amount to allow the horse to getused to the taste.
• Plant any of the following plants around your house, yards and stables: Lavender, Sage,Basil, Lemongrass, Pennyroyal, Wormwood, Thyme, Rosemary, Bay Leaf Tree, Tansy, PyrethrumDaisy, Mints. As much as anything they look great, are safe around the horses / dogs / cats/ chooks, smell wonderful and will help deter flies and mossies.

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