Home Cures for Bugs on Horses

When choosing bug control for your horses, you should consider cost, safety and efficacy. Commercial chemical preparations can be effective, but you can go through several bottles if bugs are a problem, which is not good for you, your horse or your wallet. Fortunately, recipes abound for homemade repellents. Because these contain primarily all-natural ingredients, several daily applications may be necessary. Some owners lessen this task by approaching horse bug problems both externally and internally.

  1. Vinegar

    • Regular household vinegar is a common and effective ingredient for horse bug repellents.

      Use regular white, distilled vinegar as a base for a bug repellent spray. Try mixing equal portions of vinegar and water in a spray bottle; if you are experiencing a season of persistent bugs, you can increase the ratio of vinegar. You can also rinse your horse with vinegar, or vinegar and water, after shampooing to help fully rinse the shampoo, with the added benefit of offering bug protection.

    Essential Oils

    • There are several essential oils you can buy that provide some bug protection for your horse. Common ones that are easy to find at most health stores include eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree and citronella. Tom Tower, owner of One Iron Horse Farm in Dripping Springs, Texas, cautions that you do not use the citronella oil that is for lighting outdoor lamps; the 100 percent citronella you want to use is plant-based, not oil-based. Mix a few drops of one or two oils with your water and vinegar solution. Some horse owners like to add a drop of dish soap to help the spray adhere to the horse's skin.

    Other Topical Applications

    • Petroleum jelly applied under your horse's tail can help alleviate itching from bug bites.

      Horsemen and women have long applied petroleum jelly inside horses' ears to prevent and trap bugs. Some use baby oil. You can also apply both remedies under your horse's tail if it starts to become irritated from bugs or bug bites, and also in its genital area. If you use these items on your horse's body, be aware they will trap dirt and debris.

    Internal Remedies

    • Garlic can be both healthy and an effective bug deterrent for horses.

      Add 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar to your horse's grain or water daily to help deter bugs and bug bites. Most horses love the taste, and it offers several additional health benefits, such as for arthritis, cardiovascular health, anxiety and healthy hair growth. Garlic is also a common additive to deter bugs. You can buy ground garlic, or crush your own and add it to your horse's grain to see how it tolerates it. Increase the dose until you get to the equivalent of about 1/8 cup to 1/4 cup a day, says Tower. If your horse will eat whole cloves, just throw them in its feed dish. The combination of garlic and apple cider vinegar can be very effective.