Hey, I was paging through The Original Book of Horse Treats (by June V. Evers) and found these recipes.  They really work and if anybody can't afford or doesn't want to buy expensive M&T detangler or Fly Spray--these are your recipes!

DeAnn's Mane & Tail Detanger:

Calgon Bath Oil Beads (dry)
Water
Mix the Calgon with wiater (one part Calgon to three parts water) in a spray bottle.  Spray on mane and tail to help recondition.  Also works well on knots:  apply liberally and work out knot with a comb/stiff brush

Fly Spray:
2 c white vineger
1 c Avon Skin So Soft Bath Oil (original scent)
1 c water1 tblspn eucalyptus oil (available @ health food stores)

Mix ingredients together in a spray bottle.  Apply to your horse before riding or turning out.  It will wear off as the horse sweats--reapply as needed.

Hope I could help you out with any needs you may have!

  Another fly spray

All equal parts

1/3 Apple Cider Vinegar

1/3 Pine Sol

1/3 Water

I think the Pine Sol would make me nervous...

  Because of the other parts it will not harm your horse, my vet recommended this!  Its cheap and easy to make and it works, just do not use around the horses eyes.  For around the eyes, we use some cedar oil (1 tbsp) dilluted in a small spray bottle, spray a cloth and rub over the horses face.

For more homemade fly spray recipes, check out the "Can horses wear OFF?" thread. I posted a bunch of homemade fly spray recipes.

 Aw heck, might as well just post them here! Lol!

Homemade Fly spray recipes:

1.

- 40 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 20 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
- 50/50 apple cider vinegar & water

2.

- Apple cider vinegar

- Commercial fly spray,

- Dawn dish soap.

3.

- Two gallons of vinegar

- One good bottle of Pyrannah

- One bottle of soap will get me through the entire summer.

4.

- Homemade fly spray: 1 Part Repel-X, 2 Parts Apple Cider Vinegar, 3 Parts Water.
- Internal fly control: 1 Cup ACV with feed.
- Internal Body Detoxifier (post laminitis/abscess episode): 3 Cups ACV with feed, 7 days.

5.

I have used a combination of 1/3 Avon Skin So Soft and 1/3 Citronella Fly Spray (the really expensive stuff that is about $50 per gallon. not concentrate stuff) and 1/3 water.
Works well on my guys plus the Skin So Soft makes them very soft!!

6.

In a standard one quart or one liter spray bottle, mix the following ingredients:
- 2 cups Avon Skin-So-Soft
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon oil of citronella* (*you can eliminate this or reduce the amount if it seems too strong)
Shake before every use

7.

- 1/2 cup dawn dish soap
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 1/2 cup water

8.
- 1 Part Repel-X Concentrate
- 2 Parts Apple Cider Vinegar
- 3 Parts Water

9.

- 1/3 water

- 1/3 Pine sol

- 1/3 Apple Cider vinegar

10.

- 1 c. white wine vinegar

- 1 c. dish soap (Dawn works well)

- 2 c. water

11.

- 1 can of Pine Tar (sit it in a bucket of hot water, unopened, to soften)

- 500 ml of Creolin

- melt a pound of shortening.

Put it in an empty dish soap bottle. Use a rag to apply under the cheek bones, the ears, under the belly and the chest. Use latex gloves because it STINKS! You only have to apply it every other day or so usually.

12.

- 2 c. white vinegar

- 1 c. Avon Skin So Soft

- 1 c. Water

- 1 tbps. Eucalyptus oil

Directions: Mix ingredients together in a spray bottle. Apply to horse before riding or turning out. It will wear off as horse sweats so reapply as needed.

Make your own fly spray (any of the previously mentioned formulas) and put into a 5-gallon (or so) plant/bug sprayer (the ones you pump and spray to kill bugs or mineralize plants). It cuts the over-use of fly spray by a ton! My old trainer had that, worked like a charm, is faster and easier to spray, and it lasts a lot longer.

Bounce fabric softeners repel flies and other annoying insects. Rub all over your horse before a ride, or for turnout...or attach one to halter crown or bridle and saddles before riding.

Vicks Vapour-Rub for fly repellent.

We have used the calgon for mane and tail detangler it works awesome it is just like the cowboy magic detangler which that stuff is like $10 for an 8 oz bottle which this stuff you can buy for $2.99 and it does pretty much the same thing.

Wow!  I love these helpful hints!  Thanks to you all!

Yep, never thought about the Calgon, and I have a parade Sat morning so I think I'll give this a try!  Any suggestions for something that would put a shine on a coat, like ShoSheen, but that wouldn't be too oily?  My App has a really white blanket with spots and dust or dirt sticking would really defeat my efforts.

txspots, try a couple of these tips: