Non Deet repellents: S01E04 DIY Equine Insect Repellent for Horses
Channel: Mountain Parameters
Date: 2021-05-26

Working with horses in summer and fall when the bugs are bad can be stressful and demanding. Many equestrians turn to very harsh and toxic chemicals in order to keep the horse calm enough to enable working with it without getting whipped by it's tail, kicked, or trampled while trying to groom, saddle, pack, or ride it. The fact you can use these toxic chemicals on horses is a reflection of how tough their hide is, but the skin and lungs of the human working with them is not. An alternative to inhaling and contacting insecticides while working with the animal is to use a less toxic spray. 

There are many components of essential oils that while not suitable for direct application to human skin, may be acceptable for livestock applications where secondary human exposure is considered collateral. Recipes for many DIY formulas are easy to find. However, there are some caveats with respect to using them successfully. 

Intended for equestrians who may have been contemplating the formulation of their own sprays, this tutorial is for educational purposes. It discusses some of the factors to be aware of with respect to making up your own DIY formula, and includes a sample interactive worksheet with discussion to demonstrate factors that affect a formulation.

Timeline: (Video duration 21 minutes)
00:00 Introduction: Personal illustrated history as it unfolded over decades with horses
01:10 Putting it into context: after a bit of school and biochemistry, my history with equine sprays
01:40 Equine insecticides discussed
02:10 *Sample worksheet formula for DIY Equine Spray
13:40 List of possible ingredients with repellent properties
15:30 Comments with respect to Evolva company and nootketone availability
19:00 End Roll: Horses packing water, from foal to fossil, illustrated modern history of 2 sad old men who cannot haul water and therefore need ponies.

*Live version of sample Interactive Worksheet:
 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IiDIOeSFjo3ZZ2IFhVXDblP_SmJgOxrncWqV5-cUP_E/edit?usp=sharing

Links to references in video:
-types of emulsifiers:
 https://cosmetics.specialchem.com/selection-guide/emulsifiers-selection-for-cosmetics

-Effect of pH on Stability of Oil-in-Water Emulsions Stabilized by Pectin-Zein Complexes:
 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Maneerat-Juttulapa/publication/271982610_Effect_of_pH_on_Stability_of_Oil-in-Water_Emulsions_Stabilized_by_Pectin-Zein_Complexes/links/55d945a008aeb38e8a87ce73/Effect-of-pH-on-Stability-of-Oil-in-Water-Emulsions-Stabilized-by-Pectin-Zein-Complexes.pdf

-Cautions for using cinnamic aldehyde:
 https://www.contactdermatitisinstitute.com/cinnamic-aldehyde.php

-Cautions for using linalool:
 https://wayofleaf.com/cannabis/101/linalool-the-terpene-you-need-to-know-about