Flies and other insects can be much more than an annoyance for horses and their people. In Southern California, that became clear last spring with the outbreak of the vesicular stomatitis virus. Black flies, mosquitoes and biting midgets are among the flying insects believed to transmit the disease.
An upside of the outbreak emerged in heighted horse owner awareness of the danger these pests pose and the fact that not all insect control products are created equal.
In helping owners protect their horses against the outbreak, the California Department of Food and Agriculture recommended insect control products made with a high pyrethrin content. Pyrethrin is a natural insecticide derived from the chrysanthemum flower.
Galway Downs sponsor Pyranha Animal Health leads the way when it comes to insect control products with high pyrethrin content. For example, pyrethrin and its synergizing ingredients comprise 15% of Pyranha’s Equine Spray N’ Wipe. “That’s huge,” notes Christina Gindt, a long-time Southern California horse owner and the company’s Western Account Sales Executive. Three percent is the norm in most competitor’s products, she explains.
Pyranha’s formulas combine pyrethrin with permethrin, a synthetic compound known for its outstanding insecticide properties. The powerful combination ensures rapid knockdown and sustained control of a wide spectrum of flying insects.
That’s why Galway Downs enlisted Pyranha power to treat manure piles and stalls during the Nilforushan Equestrian Events hunter/jumper shows last spring. And it’s why Pyranha Spraymaster® mister systems are part of Galway Downs’ year-round insect control efforts.
“In the case of an outbreak, you definitely want to make sure you’re using a product that will prevent an adult fly from laying more larva,” Christina explains. As an insecticide, Pyranha’s sprays eliminate and repel insects, setting them apart from products that only repel insects.
Effective from First to Last Spray
Emulsifiers that maintain suspension of the insecticide also set Pyranha apart from the competition. Whether dispensed from a bottle or a misting system, the solution is equally effective from first spray to last. Bottles don’t need to be shaken and mister wells don’t need to be agitated.
When other products suddenly become ineffective, it’s often because the active ingredients settled at or near the bottom and were already drawn out through the tubes that connect to the spray or mist dispenser.
Even without an outbreak, effective everyday insect control is critical to health, performance and relaxation for our horses.
Established in 1972, Pyranha Animal Health is a family-owned, horse health company that corners this market with sprays, grooming products, Odor Eliminator and the Pyranha SprayMaster® Misting System.
As a horse owner herself, Christina urges proactivity in maintaining a fly-free environment. Educating fellow owners is a gratifying aspect of her work and Pyranha’s range of products provides solutions for individual horse’s different needs.
In addition to insect control options, Pyranha has innovative and price-conscious grooming products. These range from a luxurious, skin-friendly aloe concentrate shampoo and the new Essential repellent conditioning shampoo to the non-slip coat conditioner and tail strengthening Shine Baby Shine spray and Detangler that dries instantly. “No more goopy hands,” Christina says.
Options For All
Pyranha’s Wipe N’ Spray comes in a familiar yellow bottle. Its oil base enables the formula to kill and repel over 70 species of flying and biting insects through sweat, dirt and water. Its fly fighting performance is rivaled only by the lustrous shine it leaves on the horse’s coat. Pyranha-protected horses enter the ring looking their best and ready to perform without the distraction of flying pests.
The blue-bottled Equine Spray N’ Wipe and the white-bottled Legacy are water-based, versus oil-based, fly control options that deliver the same protection as Wipe N’ Spray. Using a water base, rather than oil, they don’t attract dirt to the horse’s coat and are good options for horses with sensitive skin.
Zero-Bite® fights flies with wholly natural ingredients – geraniol (from geraniums), peppermint and clove. These natural oils are suspended in more than 90% water, so it’s not oily or greasy.
Christina is excited about the new Legacy formula. This uses the same natural ingredients found in Zero-Bite, with micronized silicone that helps it stick to the coat longer and to resist sweat and water.
Enhancing the Stable Environment
Fly masks and sheets and a roll-on product for eyes, ears and wounds round out Pyranha’s insect control approach for individual horse owners. For stable and property wide control, pyrethrin and permethrin formulations, and the all-natural counterpart, come in concentrated form for 30-gallon and 55-gallon spray mister systems. They’re ideal for use in Pyranha’s SprayMasters and in misting systems designed by other companies.
SprayMaster is a programmable system that releases a fine mist at predetermined intervals. This consistent and highly effective approach ensures a virtually fly-free environment, in which horses and humans can relax, focus on other aspects of horse care and enjoy their time together.
Built for the rugged stable environment, SprayMasters feature robust construction and their user-friendly design makes them easy to manage. Determining system size is easily accomplished by answering simple questions accessed through the QR code here.
SprayMasters can be ordered through retailers including Big Horse, Mary’s Tack & Feed, Carters Feed, Inland Vet Supply and many others. Shipping is free and all systems come with a complimentary refill of Pyranha insecticide.
Christina has a long history in the California and national horse community. She enjoys consulting individual horse owners and stable managers to find insect control approaches best suited to their needs.
Pyranha Animal Health is proud to support various industry partners, including Galway Downs. Christina’s equestrian background includes eventing and working with Thoroughbreds, both of which are a big part of Galway Downs’ past and present. She’s enjoyed seeing Galway Downs emerge as a world class equestrian venue and knows that Pyranha’s support will further that impressive evolution.
Visit Pyranha Animal Health for more information, or contact Christina Gindt at Christina@pyranhalife.com or (281) 382-2946.