Summer days at the yard are perfect for enjoying our horses, but the warm weather also brings pesky flies and midges. To prevent flies bothering your horse this summer we’ve tested these fly gels, which many horses prefer to a spray. With so many options on the market it can be tricky to pick a product that actually works.
Keeping your horse fly free this summer can be a tough task, fly gels and creams make it easier to reach those areas that are tricky to target even with the best fly sprays but when paired with one of the best fly rugs and best fly masks, you can offer your horse a high level of protection against flies this season.
Best fly gels: H&H’s quick guide
Best fly repellent gel overall: NAF Off DEET Power Performance Gel
Best fly gel for long-lasting results: Leovet Power Phaser Durativ
Best natural formula fly gel: Barrier Super Plus Fly Gel
Best fly gels and creams for horses
NAF Off DEET Power Performance Gel
Active ingredients: DEET
Sizes: 750ml
RRP: £21.99
Reasons to buy
- Larger pot is handy if you have more than one horse
- You can see where you applied the gel but it dries clear
This concentrated DEET-containing gel from NAF repels flies, horse flies and other insects.
Our reviewer says: “This thick gel comes in a robust rubbery pot with a hinged lid, so there is no chance of putting the lid down and losing it. The lid is easy to open and close. I’ve used a separate cloth to apply the white gel, which turns clear when applied to the horse’s coat. While we are not yet in horsefly season in my area, my horse has not been bothered by other flies while I have been riding after using this fly gel.”
Leovet Power Phaser Durativ
Active ingredients: Cade oil/juiper, citriodora oil, geranium oil, pennyroyal oil and cedarwood oil
Sizes: 500ml
RRP: £20.95
Reasons to buy
- Offers long-lasting protection – great if your horse lives out
- Comes with a handy application sponge
This gel protects against mosquitoes, horseflies, flies and ticks. It has been tested by the Swiss Institute for Tropical Medicine who have guaranteed it to be effective for seven hours, even if the hair becomes wet or sweaty. It comes with a sponge for easy application.
Our reviewer says: “This gel comes in a pot with a separate lid that can be completely removed, with a useful handle making it easy to carry and which also works to secure the sponge provided so it doesn’t get lost in between applications. The sponge is the ideal shape for getting the gel out of the pot without getting it on your hands. The smell of this fly gel is strong and I personally prefer using the gel to the spray version as the doesn’t leave residual liquid in the air, which can be quite unpleasant if you breathe it in accidentally. This fly gel has effectively kept other flies away from my horse while riding, even though it’s not yet horsefly season in my area.”
Barrier Super Plus Fly Gel
Active ingredients: Eucalyptus and Avocado
Sizes: 500ml
RRP: From £17.44
Reasons to buy
- If you’re after a natural DEET free formula
- Also conditions skin and coat
- Pleasant smell thats not overwhelming
This natural fly midge and bot deterrent gel repels all species of flies without harsh chemicals. Trusted by many horse owners, this fly repellent gel from Barrier not only deters all flying insects it calms and soothes the effects of bites.
The pleasant-smelling formula contains a blend of concentrated herbal oils, volatile essential oils and pure avocado oil, which is a skin and coat conditioner.
The packaging has changed since we carried out this group test, however the product is still the same.
Our reviewer says: “This fly gel has a more pleasant smell than many of its competitors and, for that reason, it is one of my preferred choices. I’ve used both a sponge and a cloth to apply it and the white gel turns clear when applied to the horse’s coat.
“I did once put it on by hand, but despite washing my hands afterwards, the scent did hang around for quite a while so I’d advise against doing that. The pot has a separate screw on lid, so if you are a bit absent-minded, it is easy to put down and forget where you’ve left it.”
Nettex Summer Fly Cream
Active ingredients: DEET
Sizes: 600ml
RRP: £33.60
Reasons to buy
- Thick consistency, resulting in a more even application
- Lanolin and Glycerine helps to keep skin soft and prevent it from drying out
- Larger size tub compared to others
This DEET-based cream from Nettex is readily absorbed, non-greasy and does not dry the skin. It seals the hair and forms a barrier, while also moisturising and conditioning the area.
Our reviewer says: “This white cream is quite thick – much thicker than most of the fly gels I’ve been testing. Its pot has a screw on lid and I’ve found it’s most easily applied using a cloth, rather than a sponge. Once it has been applied thinly, it doesn’t leave any greasy marks on the coat. My horse has not been unduly bothered by flies while I have been riding after using this cream.”
Leovet Tam Tam Vet Intensiv Gel
Active ingredients: Citriodora oil, geranium oil and cedarwood oil
Sizes: 500ml
RRP: £19.50
Reasons to buy
- Easy to apply includes sponge
- Thinner consistency than the Leovet Power Phaser Durativ gel
- Ideal to have in your lorry when you are out and about this summer
This insect repellent gel is made with natural active ingredients from geranium oil and eucalyptus-citriodora oil. It adheres to the coat for up to four hours and can be used by riders, too. It comes with a sponge, which helps with applying to nervous horses or around the face.
Our reviewer says: “This anti-fly gel comes with a sponge that is the ideal shape for applying it from the pot without using your hands. This gel has a more runny consistency than the Leovet Power Phaser Durativ gel, but it comes in a similar pot with a separate lid that can be completely removed.
“The pot also has a useful handle, which makes it easy to carry and also works to secure the sponge provided so it doesn’t get lost in between applications. While there will always be an element of personal preference when it comes to smells, this one is less chemical in nature and more pleasing on the nose, in my opinion than the Leovet Power Phaser one. The fly gel has been effective in deterring flies from my horse while riding, even outside of horsefly season.”
How to choose a fly repellent gel
The best fly gels for horses as they are perfect for those hard to reach areas that are tricky to target with even the best fly sprays, such as around your horse’s head, to ensure he is still protected from flies and insect bites.
When choosing a fly gel for your horse, you should consider how long they adhere to the coat for and remain effective, whether they are made from natural or synthetic ingredients, and how robust and easy-to-use the pot is. It can be a tricky decision without being able to try them first, so we’ve got our hands on as many as we can to let you know what they’re like.
Fly gels and creams are also particularly handy if your horse doesn’t take kindly to a spray and can be applied by hand, with a cloth or sponge.
How we tested these best fly gels and creams for horses
Carol Philips tested these fly repellent gels and creams from April to June on her Irish Sport Horse, who is quite fly sensitive, which gave them a true test in real life situations. Carol applied the gels according to the manufacturers instructions before she went riding how easy they were to apply, how the horse was affected by flies when out riding and once she had returned from riding.
Carol also observed her horse in the field to see if he was bothered by flies after application to determine how well each product lasted. She also noted how sturdy each pot was.
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