Do you leave your fly rugs on all the time?

I did but then brown horse mysteriously lost his. I'm sure I left it on him in the field and the next day it was gone! So now he doesn't wear one as I'm not buying him a new one. He'll just have to have the Coopers on instead!

Nitty's is still around but she is so dirty that the whole back end of it is covered in poo, as is the neck (she likes to use her droppings as a pillow) so I haven't been bothering. OH won't let me put it in the washing machine and for once I can see his POV!
 
On during the day and off at night. If there are no flies about then I don't put them on. The hot, dry, windless days tend to bring the flies out in droves. :(
 
The_Hooligan said:
Slightly off topic but does anyone wash their fly rugs in the washing machine?
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Yes. Or rather I did when I didn't have the grottiest little madam in the world. They wash fine. I try and remember to take the leg straps off though or they tie themselves in knots somewhat :)

Just remember to use non bio powder
 
used to keep mine near a stream so flies were terrible, so used to leave mine on all the time, taking it off once a day to check under (as stupid TB has a habit of finding ways to injure himself). If i knew i would be going up to the yard late (i.e well after dusk) and be up there really early the next day (like reeeeeeeeeally early) i'd leave it off overnight just to give him the chance of a nice naked roll. But have moved to a new area where there's hardly any flies and he doesnt seem bothered by the few flies, so he's totally naked now.

when i first bought it, i was trying to figure out how to decide whether to leave it on or off, and i'd always get it wrong, so preferred to leave it on all the time as i couldnt visit the yard every half hour to check the weather. His is one of the fabricy rambo ones, which seems to stay really cool even in the blazing sun, and in light showers it was so thin that it didnt hold water or make him cold. If it had been one of those plasticy types i'm not sure if i'd have left it on all the time.
 
My fly rug seems to be quite heavy so I only really put it on if its not a sweltering day! For example today in the midlands is roasting so Ive lathered him in repellent! Im not a fan of rugs in the summer so try and keep it off as much as poss to let his skin breath :)
If its coldish at night yet still too warm to put a lightweight turnout on i'll use my fly rug!

x
 
Ours come in from 6pm to 10pm, other than that they live out, and have sweet itch hoodies on all the time when outside, and grazing muzzles. They seem to do fine in them, as they are cotton and cool. One gets sweet itch, and the other two react to horse flies, so they suffer when I leave them off..
 
I leave them on all the time as my last visit to the field is 6.30pm & the flies are still rampant then. They do no harm over night just like a turnout rug in that respect. A well fitting rug shouldn't be a problem worn all the time, better than flies.
 
Yep, my 2 have them on 24/7 from roughly april till the flies/mozzies go!! They are terrible round my way, horse flys have increased this year too :-(
Yes, wash mine in washing machine, I use nice big dollop of hibiscrub instead of washin liquid then any germs are guaranteed to be gone :-)
 
Thanks for your replies, don't know why I worry really. I'm leaving it on 24/7 but it's checked twice a day so horse is comfy. It's the horse flies he's attacked by so I'd rather leave it on than off at this time of year xx
 
yes 24/7


it comes off for an hour or two when i ride/bring her in etc...

i dont go down in the morning as im on part livery and shes always lived in rugs/even in winter :)
 
normally during day off at night but recently its been very hot and dry so i've been concerned with her sweating. she wears a really powerful fly repellent instead which does the trick
 
my black horse has his on during the day even if its sweltering as it is a uv rug so repels the sun rays and keeps him cool! he has very sensitive skin and goes mad if a horse fly lands on him! i take it off a night as he comes in and he just wears a summer sheet in the stable, some people on the yard leave there fly rugs on overnight in the stable but that puzzles me as they lie in poo and then the rug attracts more flies?
 
On for sunny days when flies are out. Off rest of the time. Our fields are very open so we have a good breeze coming through which helps keep the flies limited.
 
All the time. Mine's more for the sunburn as she is pink skinned. It's a thick 1 and I sprayed it with water proofing spray so i'm not so worried about weather turning. Thanks for this thread. Reminds me I must take my spare 1 out the washing machine right about now! Lol
 
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