anyone elses horses sweating under their fly rugs?

[StormyMoments]

i have a mark todd fly rug on the big ginger beast as like a lot of gingers he attracts flys like a pile of poo! but hes sweating under it... he doesnt sweat without it but he gets upset by the flys

my youngster doesnt get hugely hot under hers but i like to keep hers on anyway as its quite reflective and shes dark bay so she cooks in the sun :/

they both have access to shade but they dont use it but im not really sure if there is anything i can do other than take their rugs off... i dont know when i feel worse with them sweating in their rugs or getting eaten alive my mosquetos and horse flys... i would bring them in but the stables are baking they have metal roofs and it gets so hot so he sweats even more in there! unfortunatly we have cows and a pond on the yard so flys seem to be even worse!

gahh what to do?!

 

[cobwithattitude]

minie are sweating without fly rugs and the sweat is attracting flies, so would rather they had a fly rug on!

 

[ImmyS]

My tb has been sweating under hers as well... Maybe get a garlic field lick? Full fly masks so his face isn't irritated and a good good covering of good fly/insect spray?
And then just put fly rugs on for the evening when it's cooler but the Mosquitos are out!

Immy x

 

[amy_b]

mine is and im 99% sure its because they havent had time to adjust to the heat - its gone from flood and monsoon to baking heat in a week or two! poor things!!
im bringing mine in during the day for a week or so until he acclimatises. I would either take it off and lather in fly spray (I dont want my ginge to fade! ) or bring in during the day until s/he acclimatises. after a week or two of warm weather they should ber used to it.

 

[Gracie21]

Mine is sweating too! But I don't want to take it off, I don't want his coat to bleach if I can help it!

 

[Suziq77]

Mine are sweating too - but are also sweating in the stables without them and get miserable and stand at the gate if left naked. I have concluded they are best out with fly rugs on as they are happily grazing and don't seem particularly uncomfortable. I agree it seems to be the lack of time to adjust that is making the sweating worse as they aren't usually as sweaty as this in these sort of temperatures.

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

The horseflies aren't here yet, so mine are naked. It's only the horseflies I really worry about as both my horses get distressed when they're about, and the TB has an allergic reaction to their bites.

TBH our horses seem to be OK at the moment with face masks. I use coopers fly spray and i make sure I put plenty around their sheath area.

 

[StormyMoments]

we have tons of horse flys here at the moment the ginger one has quite a few lumps on him where he had his rug off yesturday so put it back on today i also cant find a fly mask or fly fringe that doesnt rub my youngster raw(very thin skin) so i have left her without at the moment but will try and find some sort of fluff to put on unless someone can recommend me a fly mask for her under £20 that would be lovely!

i use deosect fly spray which seems to last 2-4 weeks depending if they need washing down which neither do at the moment!

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

Oh poor you - luckily they haven't got to us yet. I suppose it's just a matter of time then before they do

Regarding fly masks, one of the best I have found is this one from shires. http://www.shiresequestrian.co.uk/shop/product.php?productid=487&cat=668&page=1
It is not the most robust (if your horse rubs alot on fences, etc), but it's a good fit, hasn't rubbed my horses (even my sensitive TB) and they can see properly through it. 2 years ago my TB ran through a metal gate, whilst wearing a mask made by horseware which had thick plastic mesh, which was not easy to see through. The vet agreed that my horse probably didn't see the gate.

ETA I made a little hole in the top, to pull their forlocks through

 

[StormyMoments]

yeah i have been bitten twice today poo picking there are so many

thank you i will look i to them i need to go into the tack shop anyway for some food so will look at what they have i have one that looks like that but its one made by cashel? its a quiet ride one, was expensive (29.99 i think) but its too small (arab sized) so i dont use that one it even came with the hole for the forlock! and little tassles under the nose bit to stop flys going up in to the mask very posh bit useless though i must admit!

 

[treacle_beastie]

nope - mine is a riff raff one and find it the only one that she doesnt sweat under. I put it on her to keep her cool, however I have taken it back off today as I gave her a bath instead to cool her down.