Summer is almost here and flies will become an increasing problem for horses and their owners, who have to help fight off the pestilences. Here are a few handy hints for applying fly repellent to your horse.

• Before spraying actual insecticide on your horse, spray him with plain water until he is no longer afraid of the sound
• Always take great care to never get fly spray in your horse's eyes
• Don't forget to use fly spray or repellent on the lower legs. When flies land on a horse's legs and bite him there, the horse tends to stomp his feet to dislodge them, which can be hard on the hooves and legs
• For sensitive areas such as the udder, sheath and face, spray the solution onto a soft cloth or mitt to apply it, or use a repellent cream instead of a spray
• If you don't have a fly repellent cream to protect your horse's face, try filling a well-washed, empty roll-on deodorant bottle with a spray solution. This will make it easy to apply solution around the eyes and ears without making a mess and getting it onto your hands. And you'll be less apt to spook or upset a sensitive horse than if you use a cloth or mitt
• Another option is to dip a feather in the repellent and dab gently around the eyes.

Adapted from Heather Smith Thomas's book, Stable Smarts (Storey Publishing 2005)