CONSULTANTS
Have a question about your horse’s health, care or training? Our experts offer solutions for a range of equine-management problems. Write to EQUUS Consultants, P.O. Box 7510, Falls Church, Virginia 22040; email: EQLetters@aimmedia.com. Send photos when helpful.
MANAGEMENT Fly spray savvy
Q: After I ride, I often hose off my horse, particularly on hot days. Then I apply fly spray before turning him out. But I always do my best to dry him off before spraying on the fly repellent. Is this necessary?
If I simply apply fly spray to my horse when his coat is wet, what would happen to the active ingredient as his coat dries? Would it dissipate so much it would be less effective? Or would the chemical become more concentrated, possibly becoming harmful? I wonder about this every summer.
Name withheld by request
A: You need not worry about applying fly spray when your horse’s coat is wet or damp, as long as it’s not dripping wet. The recommended amount of pyrethrin to be applied is determined by the concentration of the product being sprayed. Therefore, the amount of active ingredient applied to a horse will be
