Fly rugs and fly masks - a jargon buster guide

Flies are the bane of many a horse owner’s life. Just as the temperatures start to climb, the days get longer, and if you’re really lucky the ground starts to dry, the flies appear. At best, these are irritating, but at worse they can cause problems for horses in lots of different ways. Luckily, there are products available to help support the horse with fly season, and in this jargon buster we’re going to zero in on fly rugs and fly masks.

Anti-rub lining – many fly rugs have full neck designs to offer more comprehensive protection, but this can, in some cases, lead to rubs on the horse’s mane where the neck and rug join. Some fly sheets have a specially designed anti rub lining to help prevent or reduce this.

Belly flap – some fly rugs have an additional piece of anti fly mesh that sits underneath the horse and is held in place by the surcingles. If your horse gets particularly irritated by flies and biting insects around their barrel, then this could be worth looking at as an option.

Binding – many fly masks have binding around the edges to ensure there’s a soft and comfortable fabric strip between the mesh and the horse’s face, to help prevent rubs.

Breathable – fly masks and fly rugs are usually fully breathable or have breathable parts to prevent the horse from getting too hot and sweaty when he’s wearing them.

Bug-eye – we’re seeing more fly masks with a ‘bug eye’ design. This means that the mask has been crafted to have mesh domes around the eyes, giving that bug look, but it also provides additional room around the horse’s eyes for comfort.

This horse is wearing a LeMieux Bug Relief Half Fly Mask. The bug eye design here gives freedom and visibility around the horse’s eyes.

Fine mesh – fly masks for horses can be made of a range of different sized mesh, but you tend to see ‘fine mesh’ advertised the most. This just means that the mesh used to make the mask is finer in terms of the strands used to create the mesh. Fine mesh fly masks also usually have much smaller gaps in the weave and can be softer against the horse’s face.

Fly Fringe – fly fringes are made from long stripes of fabric that go down over the horse’s eyes, a bit like an extended forelock. These can be fastened onto a headcollar or used as a standalone item, but they should have a quick release element to prevent injury in the field.

This grey is wearing a Saxon Fly Fringe which is adjustable and easy to attach, without having to use a headcollar.

Fly Socks – if your horse gets bothered by flies around his legs, then fly socks (also called fly boots or fly wraps) could help. Make sure these are highly breathable and well-fitting as you want to ensure the horse’s legs stay cool and he stays comfortable when he’s wearing them.

Fly Veil or Fly Bonnet – for horses that are irritated by flies around their ears during ridden work, a fly veil or fly bonnet is designed to fit with the bridle, providing breathable cover across the horse’s ears.

Hybrid fly rug – if you’re worried about your horse getting wet during those random showers but still want to provide the protection that a fly rug offers, then a hybrid fly rug is for you! These usually have a waterproof top section to help keep the rain off the horse’s back, but with mesh sides to ensure comfort and maximum air flow.

Nose protection – some fly masks have additional sections that provide a mesh cover over the horse’s nose. This can be particularly useful for horses with pale skin if the mesh has UV protection too. It can also be useful for horses that get bothered by flies around their nose.

Pull on – some fly masks have a pull on design to provide a closer fit. When this is the case, the mask is usually made of a stretchy material like Lycra.

Riding fly mask – as the flies don’t take a break when you go and ride, a riding or ride on fly mask could help improve your horse’s time under saddle. Generally, these have a less bulky design where the bridle goes to help improve fit. There might also be additional areas of padding to prevent pressure points.

UV Protection – this won’t help keep the flies away, but it will offer protection from the sun’s rays which can cause burning and, in some cases, can also bleach the horse’s coat.

Waterproof fly rugs – as per the hybrid fly rug description, these have a waterproof top section that keeps the horse dry along his back when it rains, but allows lots of air flow to the horse thanks to the mesh sides.

Getting the fit right

With any fly rug or fly mask, fit is important. Fly rugs are measured in the same way as turnout and stable rugs, so if you know your measurements, then it should be easy to get the right size. Masks can come in small, medium and large, or pony, cob and full (and sometimes additional sizes at either end of this range).

Some masks have guides for measuring, but thinking about the size of your horse’s headcollar or bridle should give you a good starting point. Also, because many fly masks have fastening straps, there’s a little bit more adjustment available if needed.

Fly rugs and fly masks can really help your horse cope with the flies this summer, but don’t forget to also look at the management side too, to improve your horse’s turnout time even more.

If you need some help picking the right fly rug or fly mask for your horse, come and see us in store, give us a call (01908 365 335) or contact us through the website >>>

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