Make Herbal Insect Repellent for Horses

Your horses spend all of their time outdoors. It is inevitable that they are going to be bothered by insects. This is especially true during warmer months. You can purchase an insect repellent, but it will most likely contain chemicals that you wouldn't want on your horse's skin. It is much better for your horse if you make an herbal insect repellent at home.

Things You'll Need

  • Essential oil of catnip Rubbing alcohol Water Empty spray bottle Sugarless vanilla extract Vinegar Baby oil or mineral oil Soybean oil Palmolive dish soap Vodka Citronella oil Lavender oil Tea tree oil Jojoba oil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pour 1 cup of water and 1 cup of rubbing alcohol into an empty spray bottle. Top off with 1/2 teaspoon of essential oil of catnip. Place the lid on the spray bottle and shake until the three ingredients have combined. Spray all over your horse's coat, making sure not to get it in your horse's eyes.

    • 2

      Pour one bottle of sugarless vanilla extract in to an empty spray bottle. Take your now empty vanilla bottle and fill it up with water. Pour the water in to the spray bottle and mix by shaking. Spray on your horse's coat. It is important that you do not use vanilla that contains sugar, as this will attract insects.

    • 3

      Fill an empty spray bottle with a mix of equal parts of vinegar and baby oil. Screw the lid back on and shake to mix the two ingredients. Spray all over the horse. If you don't have any baby oil, you can use mineral oil which will work just as well.

    • 4

      Pour one cup of water in to an empty spray bottle. Add 1/4 teaspoon of Palmolive dish soap and 1 teaspoon of soybean oil. Place the lid back on the spray bottle and shake to mix the ingredients. Spray all over your horse.

    • 5

      Pour 16 ounces of vodka in your empty spray bottle. Add 1/2 ounce of citronella oil, 1/4 ounce of lavender oil, 0.15 (3/20) ounces of tea tree oil, and 16 ounces of jojoba oil. Mix well. Spray on the horse, being careful not to get any in the horse's eyes.

    • 6

      Place two drops of citronella essential oil in your horse's shampoo. Shampoo the horse as you normally would.