There’s nothing worse than the sight of your horse covered in flies on an otherwise peaceful summer’s day. They clearly aren’t fans of the pests either, so I always try to provide some protection in the form of a fly mask and spray.
My cob is pretty unflappable so when I head into the field brandishing a fly spray and give him a quick spritz he barely bats an eyelid. His companion, a Welsh section A gelding, is less keen on being accosted by a spray-wielding human when he’s trying to enjoy his breakfast, so when United Equine Products sent their new Equine Fly Spray Wipes they were gratefully received.
The wipes come in a large cylindrical container with closable lid and on first impression it smelt very strongly of repellent, including garlic, which wasn’t at all unpleasant but not an aroma you would like lingering on your hands, so I would recommend wearing gloves or washing your hands thoroughly soon after application.
Ideal for spooky ponies and applying to faces
My horses had a quick sniff of the wipes and didn’t seem particularly interested and were very happy to have their them applied to their bodies from the first try.
I found them incredibly useful for their faces, which obviously I wouldn’t spray with repellent, so it saves you having to use a sponge or cloth, or using your hands to put on a traditional solution.
Effectiveness
If your equines enjoy a good muddy roll (I think they all do!) and aren’t always looking pristine, you may find the wipes aren’t as effective at getting the repellent onto the fur, but I imagine spray is also less effective when applied onto muddy coats.
That being said, flies definitely seemed less prevalent after I’d used the wipes and it was really nice to be able to see my pony fly-free without having to potentially upset him with a spray.
Biodegradable
My only reservation with the product was the wasteful nature of disposable wipes. However, after reading up about the wipes on the United Equine Products website I noticed they are 100 percent biodegradable, so offer a more eco-friendly solution than disposable wipes that do not break down.
Value for money
Going forward I will keep using the wipes next summer, in conjunction with a spray. I would highly recommend them for faces and for horses and ponies who do not like sprays.
My first pot still has lots of wipes left so they are a good investment at £24.95 for a pot of 70 wipes. They recommend around three wipes per horse, but I think this needs to be a clean animal to work as well as possible.
Key information
Full name: Fly Free Equine Fly Spray Wipes from United Equine Products
RRP £24.95
