Afraid of insect repellent spray? 5 tips for a fear-free horse
The Natural Way - specialised in itching and skin complaints and the natural treatment of sweet itch, mud fever and CPL.
Is your horse afraid of insect spray? We are happy to help you with these tips, so that your horse feels safe and stays calm when you approach with the spray bottle. Much better for you and your horse.
Zoem Spray - The Natural Way © Kinga Luberda (foto)
Many horses react anxiously to the use of fly spray. This is unfortunate, because as owners we do our best to protect our four-legged friends from insects as much as possible. Fortunately, these 5 tips will help you get started.
- 1 - Introduction
Not only the object itself, but also the smell and the fresh mist of fly spray can feel unfamiliar to your horse. Introduce the bottle as a new object, without any associations with sound or smell. Let your horse smell the bottle first without holding it yourself. Let him explore it with his mouth and hooves.
Use an old bottle and fill it with water so that you don't waste expensive insect spray while practising.
Always practise from a distance of a few metres, spray into the air and reward your horse. Repeat this several times a day for a few days, gradually reducing the distance until you can effectively spray your horse. It is useful if your horse has already learned to stand still calmly, as this will come in handy now.
Practise and reward, using positive reinforcement with strokes, treats and kind words.
- 2 - Distinguish between triggers
Distinguish between the triggers that cause your horse anxiety. This could be a bad experience in the past, but also a reaction to the smell, the sound the spray makes or the experience of the cool liquid being sprayed onto the skin.
When applying the spray with a cloth or your hand, you can build trust step by step. Avoid sensitive body parts such as the head or legs, but focus on your horse's back, withers and hindquarters. 
Zoem Spray - The Natural Way © Kinga Luberda (foto)
- 3 - Herd behaviour
Horses are herd animals and flawlessly pick up on their friends' tension or relaxation. Let your horse be nearby when you go through the same routine with another horse without fear, so that he can see that this action can also be carried out calmly and confidently.
Don't forget that you are also part of its herd. Make sure you are relaxed yourself, without rushing or hurrying.
- 4 - Association
If your horse has built up a lot of tension around the application of insect spray, it can help to associate this with something positive. For example, does your horse like going out to pasture? Then we teach it to spray before we go out to pasture. Does your horse walk into the trailer of its own accord to go on an adventure? Is a fresh hay net its favourite thing? Or does your horse start to beam when you walk up with a bum bag full of treats? Take advantage of these positive moments and their routine by linking the spraying to them.
Practical experience: my Shetland pony Ika was not a fan of insect spray, but she loves belly rubs. I had already made the link between hoof trimming and belly rubs, so she quickly picked up the association between spraying and belly rubs. We no longer need a halter or rope for either activity, which is great for both of us!
The key to success for a fear-free horse: time, patience and positive reinforcement!
- 5 - Time and patience
Overcoming fear of insect spray often takes a lot of time and patience. Never force your horse to stand still during a training session, because you want to work from a place of trust. If your horse shows signs of fear, take a break. Repeat and build up gently, in short sessions of just a few minutes at a time. Stay positive and reward your horse for every bit of progress, no matter how small. Eventually, your horse will understand that insect spray is not a threat.
We see horses lining up for a spray session with our Zoem Spray, because they can finally enjoy their grazing or training in peace, without the buzzing of annoying insects such as flies, mosquitoes, midges and even ticks!
Zoem Spray - The Natural Way © Kinga Luberda (foto)
ZOEM SPRAY from The Natural Way is a 100% natural insect repellent coat spray for horses.
Tested on 75+ horses under various conditions: grazing, outdoor riding, intensive training and competitions. Proven effective on sweaty horses, after rainfall and water play. Effective for an average of 6 hours, with residual effect and scent perception after half a day.
Suitable for horses with sensitive skin, such as those with sweet itch.
Both horse and owner enjoy the fresh scent, which is considered very pleasant.
Click HERE for more information.
NEED HELP?
Laura Cleirens from The Natural Way specialises in the natural treatment of itching and skin complaints in horses, such as sweet itch, mud fever and CPL.
Discover our 100 % natural range here: Sweet Itch Lotion, Mud Fever Oil, CPL Oil, Nature Shampoo and Zoem Spray, as well as e-books on Primal Food, Itch and Horse Herbs.
© Laura Cleirens: 2025.07.01
Last update: 2026.01.28