Quit Buggin’ Me & My Pets! 32oz Spray

Natural fly spray for horses, dogs, and the riders walking with them. Originally formulated for the horses on our partner ranches, this 100% natural repellant uses seven plant-derived essential oils (citronella, cedarwood, lemongrass, rosemary, clove, thyme, and geraniol) to keep flies, mosquitoes, gnats, and biting midges off your animal — and off you. No DEET. No pyrethroids. No synthetic chemistry your horse's skin doesn't need.

What it's for

Primary: horses

• Barn flies, stable flies, horn flies, and face flies during summer turnout
• Pre-ride grooming before trail rides, arena work, or barn chores
• Pasture protection during peak fly season
• Rodeo, barrel racing, and show days
• Horses with skin sensitivities that react to commercial pyrethroid-based sprays
• Broodmares and sensitive-skin mares who can't tolerate synthetic chemistry
• Owners avoiding permethrin, cypermethrin, and DEET on their horses

Secondary: dogs

• Dog walks through tall grass, wooded trails, or creek banks
• Ranch dogs working cattle or sheep in tick-prone areas
• Camping trips and overnight outdoor adventures
• Summer backyard time when mosquitoes and gnats are bad

Tertiary: humans

• Riders, ranch hands, and stable workers
• Barbecues, bonfires, and backyard gatherings
• Camping, fishing, and backcountry trips
• Pregnant women and children who can't use DEET

What's in it

The base

• Reverse-osmosis purified water — clean carrier base, filtered to remove minerals that could cause separation or crystallization.
• Gum arabic — natural emulsifier from acacia tree sap. Keeps the oils and water blended so application is smooth and even.
• Coconut glycerin — humectant that helps the spray adhere to coat, fur, or skin without drying.
• Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) — natural antioxidant that stabilizes the essential oils and extends shelf life.

The essential oil blend (all 25(b) EPA-exempt ingredients)

• Geraniol — one of the most studied natural insect deterrents. Gentle floral note.
• Citronella oil — the classic. Used in barns and stables for generations.
• Cedarwood oil — woodsy. Traditionally used to deter flies, ticks, and fleas in equine care.
• Lemongrass oil — brighter and cleaner than citronella. Adds citrus lift.
• Rosemary oil — herbal top note effective against flies and gnats.
• Clove oil — warm spiced note traditionally used for flying-insect deterrence.
• Thyme oil — earthy herbal undertone. Rounds out the blend.

That's it. No pyrethrins, no pyrethroids, no permethrin, no cypermethrin, no DEET, no picaridin, no synthetic fragrances, no alcohol base, no parabens.

How to use

On horses:

1. Shake well before each use — natural oil-and-water formulations separate between sprays
2. Spray onto a grooming cloth first, then wipe onto the horse's coat for face and sensitive areas. For body, spray directly from 8-10 inches away.
3. Apply generously to the shoulders, neck, belly, chest, and legs — focus on fly-prone zones
4. Avoid the horse's eyes, nostrils, and mouth. Use the wipe-on method around the face.
5. Reapply every 2-4 hours during heavy fly pressure, after sweating, or after rinsing/bathing
6. For mane and tail: spray lightly and work through with fingers or a brush

On dogs:

1. Spray lightly onto your hands first, then rub into the dog's coat — this prevents direct-spray aversion
2. Apply to back, sides, and legs — avoid face, ears, and belly
3. For tick-prone hikes, focus on legs, chest, and around the collar line
4. Reapply every 2-3 hours of outdoor exposure
5. Consult your vet before use on puppies, pregnant dogs, or dogs with known sensitivities

On humans:

1. Shake well, hold bottle 6-8 inches from skin or clothing
2. Spray a light, even mist on exposed skin — arms, legs, neck. Avoid face.
3. For face: spray into palms and pat onto cheeks and forehead, avoiding eyes, nose, and mouth
4. Reapply every 2-3 hours during active outdoor exposure
5. Safe for use on clothing and camping gear

What to expect

• Texture: light watery mist, absorbs within seconds — no sticky residue on coat or skin
• Scent: bright and citrusy-herbal initially (citronella, lemongrass), settling into a deeper cedarwood-rosemary-clove base. Horses generally tolerate this scent well; some commercial fly sprays have chemical smells that spook sensitive horses.
• Duration on horses: 2-4 hours of protection in normal conditions; less in heavy heat, sweating, or humidity. Natural repellants always wear shorter than pyrethroid sprays — that's the tradeoff for a chemical-free formula.
• Duration on dogs/humans: 2-3 hours under normal conditions
• Color: pale amber-golden from the essential oils
• Storage: keep out of direct sunlight to preserve the essential oils. Shake well before each use.

Safety & application notes

• Do a patch test first — apply a small amount to the inner wrist (human) or inside the horse's/dog's flank and wait 24 hours to check for reaction
• Avoid eyes, nose, mouth, and mucous membranes — rinse thoroughly with water if contact occurs
• Competition horses: verify with your governing body (USEF, FEI, AQHA, etc.) — some organizations restrict certain essential oils on show days. Check the rules for your discipline before a show.
• Broodmares, young foals, and horses with skin sensitivities: consult your veterinarian before regular use
• Not tested on infants under 3 months — consult your pediatrician before use on young babies
• Keep out of reach of children
• For external use only — do not ingest
• Discontinue use if irritation or allergic reaction occurs

Pairs with

For the complete ranch-and-rider outdoor kit, pair with our TallowGlow Outdoor Balm for wind and sun-chapping protection on your own skin, and Golden Honey Tallow Suds for end-of-day cleanup (safe for humans and dogs). Three products for the working day.

The craft

Hand-mixed in small batches in Oakdale, California. We combine the reverse-osmosis water with gum arabic and coconut glycerin first, then slowly incorporate the seven essential oils at low temperature to preserve their deterrent compounds. Every bottle is hand-filled and labeled. Shake well before each use — natural oil-and-water formulations naturally separate without synthetic stabilizers.

Ingredients (full list)

Reverse-osmosis water, gum arabic, coconut glycerin, vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), geraniol, citronella oil, cedarwood oil, lemongrass oil, rosemary oil, clove oil, thyme oil.