# Fly Season Horse Grooming: Wash First, Spray Second

> Fly season care starts with a clean coat. Ferro's botanical Repel Oil Shampoo cleans horses between repellent applications. Free shipping over $100.

- **URL:** https://piaffehorse.com/collections/fly-season-horse-grooming/

Fly season care really begins at the wash bucket, not the spray bottle. Ferro's [Repel Oil Shampoo](/product/repel-oil-shampoo/) is a botanical bathing wash — citronella, lemongrass, eucalyptus, and tea tree — that leaves your horse clean and noticeably less appealing to insects right after turnout. It's a shampoo, not a leave-on repellent. Treat it as the first layer, then pair it with a dedicated [fly spray](/compare/repellent-shampoo-vs-fly-spray/) for hours of real cover.

## Why washing matters during fly season

Sweat, dust, and a film of manure on the coat give flies more surface to land on and a stronger scent trail to follow. A weekly wash with Repel Oil Shampoo clears that film away and leaves behind a light botanical scent — citronella, lemongrass, eucalyptus, tea tree — that horses handle fine and flies don't. Because it's oil-based, it cleans without stripping the coat bare the way a harsh detergent would.

- Wet the coat fully before you apply it.
- Work it into a lather, focusing on the legs, belly, and under the tail — the spots flies gather most.
- Let it sit two to three minutes, then rinse clean.
- Towel dry, then turn out or follow with a leave-on repellent.

A wash isn't a fly spray

Repel Oil Shampoo is a bathing shampoo, not a leave-on repellent. Botanical deterrents like this one are gentler than synthetic sprays, but they don't last as long — expect the effect to fade within hours, not all day. For [full coverage between baths](/compare/repellent-shampoo-vs-fly-spray/), layer a dedicated leave-on spray on top.

## When it's more than just flies

Constant tail rubbing, hair loss along the mane and tail, or hives that show up during fly season can point to [sweet itch](/conditions/sweet-itch-and-tail-rubbing/) instead — an allergic reaction to insect bites that needs a vet's management plan, not a different shampoo. Routine washing supports healthy skin and can ease irritation from grime, but it won't treat an allergic condition. Suspect sweet itch? Loop in your vet before you change anything about the grooming routine.

A season-long routine matters more than any single product ever will. See our [summer fly grooming guide](/guides/summer-fly-grooming/) for a complete washing and repellent schedule, or check [homemade fly spray recipes](/guides/homemade-fly-spray-for-horses/) if you'd rather DIY the leave-on layer. Most owners wash more often at the height of summer, then taper off once fly pressure drops in fall.