Do you use fly mask

[muddybay]

No, as my horse is out at night and lacking in a few brain cells so I'm worried about her getting it half off and then being stuck like that for the whole night! (which has happened before)

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Nope….because a friends horse rubbed the mesh in his eyes..got ulcerated and eye removed. I plaster them in fly repellent gel, bring em in during fly filled days and clean eyes daily…oh fore locks are long.

 

[Shooting Star]

Rarely, usually only use them when the the flies are really bad. mostly mine is only bothered by the ones that get in their ears & that is easily solved using yellow summer fly cream.

 

[milliepops]

got lots in the drawer but only tend to put them on when someone has a runny eye now.
I put gunge in their ears to stop the biting flies. My 2yo would probably like to wear her mask more as she is quite sensitive to flies but the others didn't recognise her when i put it on and there was draaaaaama so I've put that off for a bit

 

[Ownedby4horses]

Use them daily for all of mine. 3 of them have been sensitive to flies early this year and had runny eyes, so I’d rather use them than risk any infections. Mine go in the washing machine every few days and dry overnight and are ready for use the next morning. They do seem to appreciate them being on (even my mare who has a forelock down to her nose).

 

[MagicMelon]

Only as needed. I live on a hill so its rarely still enough for the flies to be an issue, my horses field is right beside my house so Im lucky I can nip out to put them on if for a few hours if need be. I dont put them on automatically as they dont look overly comfy in general. Same with fly rugs, only put them on when we have midgies out.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

got lots in the drawer but only tend to put them on when someone has a runny eye now.
I put gunge in their ears to stop the biting flies. My 2yo would probably like to wear her mask more as she is quite sensitive to flies but the others didn't recognise her when i put it on and there was draaaaaama so I've put that off for a bit

This is interesting to me. I've never had this happen before, aside from the time one of my cats came home with a cone of shame on her head and the other insisted he did not know this alien creature and was all dramatic about it (hissing and all). I mean, the body and the smell of the horse is the same, but I guess it could be some predator on her head or she's turned into a monster? ? Idk. I've not seen this before, but did wonder if it would happen when I first sent my horse out in his full gear (fly sheet with neck and a fly mask), but the herd didn't seem to notice.

 

[smolmaus]

the others didn't recognise her when i put it on and there was draaaaaama so I've put that off for a bit

I had the opposite, took SI rug and mask off for what I thought would be a lovely half hour of naked time in the field on a very breezy, no midge day and poor wee dote was chased in circles by the usual hellion mare AND her supposed bestie who had spent the last hour yelling for her. They are truly single brain celled organisms sometimes.

 

[milliepops]

This is interesting to me. I've never had this happen before, aside from the time one of my cats came home with a cone of shame on her head and the other insisted he did not know this alien creature and was all dramatic about it (hissing and all). I mean, the body and the smell of the horse is the same, but I guess it could be some predator on her head or she's turned into a monster? ? Idk. I've not seen this before, but did wonder if it would happen when I first sent my horse out in his full gear (fly sheet with neck and a fly mask), but the herd didn't seem to notice.

i haven't either! I merrily bunged it on, 2yo said thanks very much, this is nice, trotted back to her aunties. who all took complete umbrage to the newbie in the field. her mum ran away. Kira attacked her! Not entirely sure how to get over that one

 

[Birker2020]

Yes but trying to find a decent one is very hard.

My horse destroys his fly rugs but doesn't mind his fly mask whereas Bailey destroyed anything remotely resembling a fly mask but kept rugs intact forever.

 

[Sealine]

Yes, my horse loves his mask. I use one with ears and nose. I carry it to the field and when I take his headcollar off I hold it out in front of him and he drops his head and more or less puts it on himself.

 

[GypsGal1718]

I use a grey mesh one so they can see out easier

 

[Ratface]

I've got an equine wardrobe of fly masks and fly sheets. Old Horse tolerates them most of the time. Occasionally, he takes the fly mask off, via rooting around in the hedgerows. The very tops of the hedgerows, you understand. Head Groom then has to take him in, go back out with a pitchfork and attempt to unhook it. If this isn't possible, she leaves it until YO is out on the tractor and can get it down with the aforementioned pitchfork.
Much cursing and swearing is involved.

 

[Pippity]

Yes, but primarily for the ear protection, rather than eyes. Midges seem to love her ears, and they get crusty and bloody within a day if she doesn't have a mask.

 

[Jambarissa]

I never used to, tried once and horse got it off every time plus she was a hairy beast anyway.

However last year on my yard we had 2 with awful ear infections from the flues going in and several with eye problems so when it got bad this year I went for it. So far they're staying on and no rubs.

I do have several different brands and switch daily so never pressure in any one place for too long. I wasn't leaving them on overnight but now can't get there early enough so they're on and so far doing fine.

If I wasn't using fly masks I'd def use a fringe unless they had a great forelock and cover ears in something like summer fly cream.

Only one of the 3 wears a fly rug because she's very attractive to flies and reacts badly to their bites, the other 2 have fly cream on their bellies and a spray of something if being ridden.

 

[pistolpete]

Have had many over the years. Always liked the equilibrium ones until they started making a mark on the highlands face. I have a shires one to try this year. Highland will remove it effortlessly if he doesn’t approve. He has a massive forelock but still gets sore eyes so trying again once we actually get some sun and flies!

 

[Sprout]

Yes, most of the year. We have so many midges and flies, so I protect eyes and ears.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

One of mine had a bad ear infection as a 2 year old so I’ve always used masks with ears but he hates them and they just ended up hung in a tree or hedgerow so this year I’ve gone for ones with a teddy fleece lined Velcro headpiece, no ears and the same fleece on the brow and nose.

Amazingly after 24 hours it’s still on his head but best of all is the eye clearance. The mask sits well away from the eyes and hasn’t dented like some of the softer mesh does.

 

[Fransurrey]

I do for my sweet itch mare when flies are bad. I try to keep her smeared in fly gunk, though, as when it's needed, they're bad 24 hours a day, so I have to leave it on all night which I really hate!

 

[MagicMelon]

Yes, almost all of the summer unless it is very windy. One of our horses is very prone to conjunctivitis type eye infections without one.

Same here, my oldie has sensitive eyes and flies make them puff right up and get conjunctivitis very quickly. Thankfully we live on top of a hill so not too many fly days, theyve not started yet...

 

[9tails]

Yes, a full face one to prevent sunburn on the delicate pink nose area. Also comes in handy for fly irritation.

 

[Chianti]

Yes. Pony has very bad sweet itch so once the ground has dried up in the spring he wears one 24/7. I do worry about night time but he's a very sensible boy and - touch wood- there's never been a problem. He occasionally has periods when he decides it's fun to rub it off but most of the time it's on. He wears the Rambo beekeeper type as they seem to make it harder for him to rub his eyes. He has quite a few masks. I hate it when they get wet and mucky around the edge of the nose cover so I change the mask every other day.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I just bought one for my horse since she keeps getting eye infections and the vet recommended I get her fly mask to prevent the eye infections. So do you use fly masks

Yes we do as we get plague by black flies which bite inside their ears and make them sore and bleed.
Also stops infections in the eyes by the house flies.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Absolutely yes, I leave mine out in them overnight, I have no issues with that at all, They would be very easy to pull off if stuck, in fact i often have to go and retrieve them from the field/hedges.
I have about a million and wash them constantly

 

[Fieldlife]

Yes but trying to find a decent one is very hard.

My horse destroys his fly rugs but doesn't mind his fly mask whereas Bailey destroyed anything remotely resembling a fly mask but kept rugs intact forever.

I like the discontinued Le Mieux bug eye lycra half face fly masks. Great fit, dont rub, have 4 and wears one about 48 hours and then wash it.

 

[Honey08]

No mine go out at night in summer and seemed to struggle a bit in the dark with them, so I use fly fringes instead.

 

[Annagain]

Wiggy wears one but as Archie has a cateract in one eye, I worry his vision is impaired as it is so I don’t put one on him. He had to have stitches in a cut very near his eye a couple of months ago and I had to put one on him then but neither of us was happy about it!