Don't leave the fly mask on 24/7

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Orangehorse

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I take the fly mask off at night, but went away for 3 nights and forgot to say anything to the person looking after the horse, so he had the fly mask on for 4 days and 3 nights with no break.

A few days later I noticed that his face has scabby sores over his face, exactly matching the area that the fly mask covered, all his forehead and half way down his nose, and even a few up by his ears. Obviously this is a sort of rain-scald type condition as it must have been a bit hot and humid under the mask. He is a bit susceptible to skin conditions, but I feel pretty bad about letting this happen.

Hopefully a wash in Hibiscrub and the application of Equine America Fungatrol has done the trick and it is starting to look better after a couple of days.
 
Mine would stay on 24/7 if my cob hadn't figured out how to remove hers in 30 seconds. I've tried every trick in the book and she's still getting it off.
 
Our severe SI suffer has to wear her SI Vamoose 'hoodie' and fly mask 24/7, unless being ridden, even when she comes in at night. Doesn't rub her at all. Perhaps it didn't fit, or he's just very sensitive - my chestnut mare is like a delicate little flower, she gets rubs so easily! :p
 
Mines on 24/7 mostly, he knows how to get the Amigo one off and one of his old field mates used undo the velcro for him but the Roma spandex type material one he hasn't and don't think he could without it being in pieces afterwords. I cant wait for the flies to go away i forget what my boy actually looks like every so often as he's out 24/7
 
Orangehorse said:
I take the fly mask off at night, but went away for 3 nights and forgot to say anything to the person looking after the horse, so he had the fly mask on for 4 days and 3 nights with no break.

A few days later I noticed that his face has scabby sores over his face, exactly matching the area that the fly mask covered, all his forehead and half way down his nose, and even a few up by his ears. Obviously this is a sort of rain-scald type condition as it must have been a bit hot and humid under the mask. He is a bit susceptible to skin conditions, but I feel pretty bad about letting this happen.

Hopefully a wash in Hibiscrub and the application of Equine America Fungatrol has done the trick and it is starting to look better after a couple of days.
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My late mare had to keep a mask on 23 hrs a day as she had Uveitis
 
Mine are on 24/7 the young cob sometimes takes his off though, and given up with shetland and welsh A, I haven't even put the others on and the first on has theirs off! Then they look really sad that there's fly's on their face?! (You just can't help some!)
What about one with a fleece binding, or I read on a grazing muzzle post that duct tape reduces the friction, micht help prevent it in the day time too?
 
My sweet itchy trad hates wearing a fly mask of any sort, especially the ones that come down over his muzzle.

So I don't make him wear it. We've managed without for the past few years by using "Killitch" and other stuff like Nettex Itch Stop on his face area; and/or keeping him in during the day or when the flies/midges are particularly bad.

I've recently started using Neem oil. Fantastic stuff! Although if you've got a horse with a lot of white you may find everything goes a horrid orange/lemon colour. But am not too bothered, as it seems to work.
 
Left on most of the day on a sweet itch horse.It has net ears and fleece binding.Neem oil is gently used on the horses face before the mask is put on.Has made a huge differerence to his comfort.
 
I always take mine off at night as I'm concerned they impact on the horse's vision, having looked through the net myself. I also worry about them rolling and getting them muddy - I just got back this afternoon to find my boy had done just that and how he was able to see anything at all is beyond me. At night they must be stone blind with a muddy one on.
 
My old boy has no trouble with his if it's ever on 24/7.

My small boy wears a fringe as, to be honest, I've lost the will to live several times over persuading him that a mask isn't scary and, no, a flat out chase round the field each time mother approaches with one really isn't that much fun for anyone. And he's nearly 18, the poor young thing.
 
Ours are on 24/7 with no problems - I would have to be up before dawn to beat the flies every morning if I took it off overnight! What are his legs like? I only ask because ours occasionally get mites at this time of year and as they scratch their front legs with their masks, the mites can spread.
 
I alternate a couple of fly masks each as one of mine seems to rub sometimes and so causes the sore bits himself! I find just changing them helps...
 
The fact that the area with scabs exactly matches the area covered by the mask is proof as far as I am concerned - but he is prone to skin problems. I am going to put on a field safe headcollar with a fringe for now, although I will probably use the mask again, but definitely remember to take it off at night.
 
I would never leave mine on overnight, have you tried looking through them during the day - they definately impair vision so at night, it would be even worse! One of mine had his on for 2 hours yesterday when I found him with it twisted round somehow (dont ask me how as it has ears etc. and has never moved before) - one eye was totally covered and it was hard to get hold of him to remove it as he was so spooky! I dont know why you'd want to leave it on overnight TBH, I just remove them before I go to bed if the flies are bad.
 
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