Are fly masks worth it

[Spirit2021]

The vet recommended me to get a fly mask. My only worry is my horse is a spooky horse and he would freak out . Does anyone know any good brands. Are they worth buying?

 

[AdorableAlice]

A well fitted and kept clean fly mask is far cheaper than veterinary treatment for eye infections. Best brands are the ones that are shaped to hold the mask off the eye and do not collapse inwards. If you are needing one for total UV protection or an eye injury, Guardian is the brand I would recommend.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I've been pleased with my Shires masks.

I think they're worth it. I have a spooky weirdo of a horse but he's fine with masks. When he doesn't wear it, he typically gets an eye infection.

 

[SibeliusMB]

I think they're worth it if you can keep them on. My guy is turned out with others and they love playing Bitey Face...I stopped buying him fly masks after the fourth one didn't make it back to the barn. I have one ready for when he has a turnout buddy who he won't encourage to rip it off.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

Worth every penny. I currently have the Kramer felix buher basic fly masks on all four of mine and they are really lovely. My mare generally dislikes things around her ears but has no issue with the fly masks. They’re cut really nicely and have plenty of room around the eyes.

 

[SpeedyPony]

Absolutely worth it for horses that get bothered by the flies- my old lad's eyes are an absolute magnet for flies and I'd rather spend once on a mask(s) than have the cost of vet visits, eyedrops and discomfort for him.
I have shires masks- It's useful to have two or three so you can wash them regularly, iirc they're only about £20-30? So not that expensive in the long run.
ETA- I also have a couple of fly fringes to put on his bridle in the summer, they're not as effective at keeping the flies off, but good enough for riding in.

 

[tiahatti]

Definitely, like Cantering Carrot, my old mare used to get eye infections in the summer. The masks have stopped all that. I have several masks to allow for washing and rotating when they get dirty.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I also have a few for rotating. The Kraemer masks are also good. The Rambo bee keeper looking one gets good reviews, just haven't had to reason to try it yet since my current collection works fine.

If they don't like the fly mask they'll let you know. You'll keep finding it somewhere in the field/not on their head!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Worth every penny. Both my boys push their faces into the mask, they know it helps them.

 

[criso]

Definitely worth it if your horse is sensitive to flies. I like the Shires deluxe ones which sit away from the eyes but they come up big, my horse that takes a full size bridle and headcollar needs a cob.

Unless you want to protect a light coloured nose from sunburn, I prefer the ones without a nose piece as I find other horses much more likely to pull that bit as it sticks out a bit and is very tempting.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Totally worth it I use cashel full nose and ears on my Arabs they fit lovely and last a good few years and go in the machine, you could try putting it on in the stable first if your worried about panicking, one of mine didn't like the Velcro noise so I normally spoke very loudly to him and fed him a treat while I undid it.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Absolutely worth it. Fly masks are something I’m happy to spend on. They make such a huge difference to my horses both health and happiness.
they all have several so I can wash regularly and they always have clean ones.

 

[magicmoments]

Definately. It's about seeing which one your horse likes. My mare prefers the stretchy ones, otherwise they end up somewhere in the field more often then not. I too have a few for washing and if one goes missing in the field and I don't have time to hunt for it. That happened alot with the rigid ones last year, only once so far this year with the stretchy.

 

[Caol Ila]

Yes. Gypsum hated flies. And midges. Passionately. I definitely would have died if I'd tried hacking her in this country without one.

 

[spotty_pony]

I love my Harrison Howard fly mask. Yes they are definitely worth it, I would recommend you get one with Velcro straps though if your horse is spooky and not the new lycra sort with eye holes as if they slip they can cause a horse to panic whereas the velcro style ones will come undone if they need to.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

The vet recommended me to get a fly mask. My only worry is my horse is a spooky horse and he would freak out . Does anyone know any good brands. Are they worth buying?

I have a spooky horses, and they are worth it, especially the black flies in the ears

I find the best masks are
Shires - with tassels-Cashel
Guardian Mask.

 

[Spirit2021]

Thanks everyone I have just ordered fly mask.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Definitely worth it. I hate seeing flies swarming on a horse’s head. Mine gets very gloopy without his fly,ask. He has to have massive vents otherwise his lashes stick through, they’re very long.

 

[Cragrat]

I like the LeMieux ones- definitely go for ones which raise away from the eyes, but I wouldn't use ones which have wire in them to achieve this!

 

[Surbie]

I love mine - my horse has a ginormous head and the Shires XFull with tassles fits perfectly. He's also spooky, and hated the Bucas ones as I don't think he could see very well through it.

I had to spray the mask with McNasty for a bit - we've moved and his field buddies like to play, but now they seem to have settled down and it stays on without the spray.

 

[Green Bean]

Yes, definitely, even eye infections aside. My mare is spooky too, and head shy but I just took it slowly the first 30 times times putting it on her and now she just lets me put it on. It was recommended to me that the fly mask should be removed before bringing in from the field so she has a good field of vision (but my mare is 'special' as she wants to kick out at other horses minding their own business in other paddocks when being brought it, so it was thought if she had a full view, she wouldn't get so worked up). Following up with a good fly spray for the rest of the body also makes for a content, non-stressed horse (plenty of posts on fly sprays that work for some and not for others)

 

[Kat]

Definitely worth it! I like the shires fine mesh ones with ears.

I even ride in it when the flies are bad