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Vicki
Member
Username: horse4u
Post Number: 62
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jul 3, 2007 - 11:31 pm: |   |
I used "Flicks" all natural Essential Oil Horse Spray on my horse and now she is peeling! It is a concentrate and I did mix it with water. The ingredients are Lanolin, Cedarwood Oil, Eucalyptus oil, Lemongrass oil, Peppermint oil, Cajaput oil, Pennyroyal oil. She has one area on her chest that seems irritated. I hosed her down tonight, then sponged her. I put some Corona on the peeling areas. I had been using chemical sprays and she has done well with those. Any of you had reactions with the various oils? |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: mrose
Post Number: 2945
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jul 4, 2007 - 12:20 am: | |
Was your mare out in the sun? I know that some oils, like baby oil, will cause a horse to sunburn.
I've not used "Flicks." I do use Eqyss Merigold on one of our horses that gets hives from chemical sprays. I've had good luck with it. |
Vicki
Member
Username: horse4u
Post Number: 63
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jul 4, 2007 - 7:39 am: | |
She has been in the sun, but the worst of the peeling is in the elbow area and inside her hind legs (at least it was yesterday). |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 18779
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jul 4, 2007 - 10:06 am: | |
Hello Vicki,
Many of the aromatic oils are classified as rubifacients: they cause redness of the skin through mild irritation. That is why they are used in liniments creating that warming feeling. Of course much depends on concentration but this reaction is not unexpected.
One should note that the use of aromatic oils is a poorly established science and usually give poor results. While you can find some research showing repellent activity usually this is incomplete protection and of short duration. For any protection often concentrations have to be high and the type formulation greatly effects potency. For effective recommendations see Horse Care » Routine Horse Care » Controlling Houseflies and Biting Flies.
DrO |
cindy O'DELL
Member
Username: zarr
Post Number: 644
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jul 4, 2007 - 1:54 pm: | |
Vicki, same reaction here on all 4 of my horses! Really worked well but my arab mare looked like she was peeling from bad sunburn. cindy |
Vicki
Member
Username: horse4u
Post Number: 64
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jul 4, 2007 - 8:14 pm: | |
Thanks Cindy, I gather from your answer that the peeling was the worst of the reaction. |
cindy O'DELL
Member
Username: zarr
Post Number: 646
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jul 4, 2007 - 9:59 pm: | |
Unless you count serious case of the itches yes! We have terrible bloodsucking tiny white things that bite EVERYBODY and this stuff really worked but had to give it up! Cindy |
Kim
Member
Username: twhgait
Post Number: 225
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, Jul 5, 2007 - 10:37 am: | |
This is interesting for me too....I bought a new fly spray with an oil base just recently and my three all broke out with hives, huge weepy hives. No hair loss thank goodness. It was easy to pinpoint it to the flyspray. It was the day after I started using it and nothing else had changed. As soon as I bathed everyone the hives slowly disappeared. I've never had a reaction like that before! |
Mason
New Member
Username: campr2
Post Number: 3
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, Jul 5, 2007 - 11:08 am: | |
My horse had a terrible reaction to Flicks. I have used many fly sprays with no problems, but decided to buy the natural one, Flicks. After bathing him and he was almost dry, I applied it as I would any fly spray. He took off running like he was on fire, bucking, kicking and throwing his head. I finally caught him, rinsed him off with water and he was fine. I don't know which oil it contains that caused such a reaction but I cant use it on my horse. |
Kim
Member
Username: twhgait
Post Number: 226
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, Jul 5, 2007 - 6:20 pm: | |
I should add for those interested...my horses reacted to the "Pyranha Wipe N' Spray"...I've used the "Pyranha Aerosal" in the past with no problems so I'm concluding it was the oil base in the Wipe N' Spray. |
Lisa Brand
Member
Username: trouble
Post Number: 141
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, Jul 5, 2007 - 6:29 pm: | |
Kim,
I had the same reaction with my gelding after using an oil based spray. Huge doesn't begin to describe the hives my guy had! Needless to say, I felt awful about it, as it took at least a week for them to start to go away.
No more oil based anything that goes on skin! |
Vicki
Member
Username: horse4u
Post Number: 65
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, Jul 5, 2007 - 10:19 pm: | |
I'll be sending my Flicks back for a refund and returning to the chemical spray. I also use Swat and the roll on and those are OK too. No much for the natural route. She's looking better today, no new peeling. Live and learn.... |
Susan M. Herrick
Member
Username: quatro
Post Number: 715
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, Jul 5, 2007 - 11:15 pm: | |
I have had good luck with the "Wipe" product. However, it is a pain to wipe the whole horse down. I tried the spray version, with citronella, and 2 out of 3 horses got hives. I just ordered fly sheets. Hope dressing my animals in silly outfits works 
suz |
Mason
New Member
Username: campr2
Post Number: 5
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Friday, Jul 6, 2007 - 11:47 am: | |
My horse is sensitive to alot of sprays but I have found that mixing Avons Skin So Soft does the trick. Some mornings he would have several big bites on him from who knows what, but after spraying him with the skin so soft no bites, no hives and he smells good too. And I dont have to spray him everyday, as it is a bit oily but no hives or bad reaction. Anyone else had any luck with this product? I just mix 2/1 with water, but I know some use apple cider vineger in the mix. |
Judi Gordon
Member
Username: jgordo03
Post Number: 170
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Jul 6, 2007 - 3:26 pm: | |
I used if I'm correct "Swat" whip on my QH's big blaze. She went bald after a couple of days. She looked like she had shaved a 6"x8" spot on her head. I have now use Solitude IGR feed thru for three years and wouldn't change a thing. I treat the pasture area with a natural insecticide for other critters. I really don’t have any fly issues at all. |
Holly Wood
Member
Username: hwood
Post Number: 1962
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Friday, Jul 6, 2007 - 5:59 pm: | |
Judi, tell me more about the Solitude feed through. How many horses do you have and is it cost efficient? |
Susan M. Herrick
Member
Username: quatro
Post Number: 716
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Jul 6, 2007 - 10:04 pm: | |
I think I equipped my Levi as best as I can to fight the war on flys. What do you think???
 |
Cyndy
Member
Username: hpyhaulr
Post Number: 177
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Friday, Jul 6, 2007 - 10:31 pm: | |
Love the swatter in there... I must confess, my mind's eye was prepared for a flack jacket, gas mask and an AK47 causally thrown over his shoulder.... |
Angie J.
Member
Username: ajudson1
Post Number: 1271
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Jul 6, 2007 - 10:36 pm: | |
If you can teach him to use the fly swatter, maybe he can learn to use one of those big leaf like things to fan you on hot days too??
Vicki,
I have made my own fly spray with the ingredients you list except for the last 2, pennyroyal, and the cajeput. I googled the last one, never heard of it, and don't know why it would be included in an insect repellant. Maybe is't similar to tea tree oil which I include in my recipe. Never had a bad reaction. I also use Dawn, AC vinegar in my recipe.
I have not made any yet this year, using the Pyranha aerosol, fly masks, and on really bad days I fog the stalls with a good back yard fogger before letting the horses in. Just never get around to ordering the essential oils needed for the home made version. I personally think making a "natural" insect repellant works better than the ready made natural. Never had good luck with them. |
Susan M. Herrick
Member
Username: quatro
Post Number: 717
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Jul 6, 2007 - 11:37 pm: | |
It is so bizarre, I just got the fly sheets today. I put the fly sheets and face masks on, then turned everyone out. It was like they all freaked out! The new smell of the plastic, etc. made them all do this pecking order thing all over again. The old guy squealed, pawed, kicked at everyone. They probably all thought some aliens invaded thier yard. It was quite comical, and could have been downright dangerous, the way feets were flying. Such interesting critters these horses
suz |
Leilani
Member
Username: leilani
Post Number: 266
Registered: 4-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, Jul 7, 2007 - 12:22 am: | |
Thanks Susan, Levi and the fly swatter made me laugh. Leilani |
Lee
Member
Username: paul303
Post Number: 930
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, Jul 7, 2007 - 2:26 am: | |
Susan, my gals HATE their fly sheets! They were going through so many silly histryonics last year that I gave up.
Holly: I'm using the Solitude. I was using Equitrol before ( for many years ), but decided to switch to the Solitude and Simplifly after they had been out for a little while and people had a chance to develop an opinion. People seemed to like both products so I gave them both a try. I don't know if they are cost effective, but I feel that they've earned a place in my "fly combat arsenol" - along with manure picking 2x daily, ( pastures, paddocks, stalls,...everything )fly traps, fly strips all over, premises spray, flysect 7, and DeepWoods Off on me and the horses when necessary.
So, where I am, Solitude and Simplifly play a good solid role in fly control. Can you live without them? Sure, they are just one more aid in the fly fight, not a massive step towards complete irradication ( that we all long for ). |
Lee
Member
Username: paul303
Post Number: 931
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, Jul 7, 2007 - 2:32 am: | |
Susan, my gals HATE their fly sheets! They were going through so many silly hystrionics last year that I gave up.
Holly: I'm using the Solitude. I was using Equitrol before ( for many years ), but decided to switch to the Solitude and Simplifly after they had been out for a little while and people had a chance to develop an opinion. People seemed to like both products so I gave them both a try. I don't know if they are cost effective, but I feel that they've earned a place in my "fly combat arsenal" - along with manure picking 2x daily, ( pastures, paddocks, stalls,...everything )fly traps, fly strips all over, premises spray, flysect 7, and DeepWoods Off on me and the horses when necessary.
So, where I am, Solitude and Simplifly play a good solid role in fly control. Can you live without them? Sure, they are just one more aid in the fly fight, not a massive step towards complete irradication ( that we all long for ). |
Judi Gordon
Member
Username: jgordo03
Post Number: 172
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, Jul 7, 2007 - 7:15 pm: | |
Holly Wood,
Solitude IGR is a product that inhibits the growth of larva in horse manure. You need to give it about 2-4 weeks to see a difference depending on the fly population where you live. It was very expensive when it was first introduced a few years ago, but now I can treat my horses for about 8 months for under a $100.00. It is safe enough to feed to stallions, pregnet mares and foals. Horse.com has the best price I've found. There are other feed thru, but they aren't safe for Stallions, pregnet mares or foals. Sorry it took so long to respond. |
Erika L
Member
Username: erika
Post Number: 907
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, Jul 8, 2007 - 4:12 pm: | |
I use Simplifly this year. I have noticed a lot less flies. But I also had a neighbor get rid of their three horses (no manure pickup!), and had some dirt dumped over the top of the manure compost pile. We pick manure a couple of times a week, and daily around the barns and sheds.
Still lots of other horses in the neighborhood without the feed-thru.
I do think it has helped some. |
