Fly masks and rugs for yearlings?

[DressageCob]

Hello!

Fly season is fast approaching and I'm unsure what to do for my yearlings. They are both Irish cobs, very hairy little things. I noticed that in the hot weather we have been having the are both quite sweaty. They live out but their field has plenty of shelter; they just often choose to sunbathe.

I'm wondering what I should be doing in fly season. They have been naked so far, although we have practiced putting rugs on. I was planning to leave them both naked, but I'm wondering whether any type of fly rug or summer sheet will be cooler than nudity.

Also, do any of you put masks on your youngsters? If so what type?

Sorry for the questions! Photos for tax

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Honestly, I'd just get them used to a wipe on or spray. Youngstock can really get in a pickle quickly, I wouldn't be putting fly rugs on and most definitely not masks.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I agree with fuzzy I wouldn't put masks or rugs on yearlings.

 

[Gloi]

It's only in very recent years everyone put fly rugs on.

 

[Btomkins]

I have a fly mask on my yearling as she has very pink sensitive skin around her eyes the midges seem to love. She is a particularly non-bothered type though.

 

[DressageCob]

Thanks all! We have been practising with sprays and getting wiped with things. It was just the flies in the eyes that made me wonder if I was being mean keeping them naked and mask-free

 

[TheMule]

Yes to masks, they’re always very grateful to have them on (though the Velcro the first few times can be an interesting one to undo!)
Absolutely never to rugs, they’re far too easy to get tangled up in at that age. I do get them used to fly spray and use that daily if they tolerate it.

 

[ihatework]

No I wouldn't routinely put either on youngstock.
At a push, if I had one that had eye issues then I'd consider a mask

ETA - although I did put a fly rug on the black mare whilst the horseflies were out when she was 2 and 3 (completely forgot!) she was hysterical about the horseflies, so the risk from the rug was far lower than the risk from her galloping about non stop like an idiot.

 

[Xmasha]

No, i dont use them on yearlings. I tend to find until they are 3 they find very random ways to hurt themselves.

Similar to IHW , that If i had one with an issue such as eye infection etc then id try a mask. Mine have a field shelter so they can get out of the way of flies.

Something in my dim and distant memory tells me i tried one year, but ended up with several rugs in pieces

 

[dorsetladette]

I put mask's on my babies as we have had a horrid couple of years with flies.

I prefer the lycra ones as any velcro becomes a game and then you spend hours walking fields to find masks.

 

[smiggy]

I do with my foal as he is a cremello and with the midges was going demented , and if he doesn’t have a fly mask he gets all squinty eyed and rubs his face , oh and sunburned
…why did I make a cremello variety

 

[ycbm]

I would use cattle pour-on stuff. It usually works quite well keeping them off the eyes. It isn't licenced for use in horses in this country but the last time I looked it was licenced in Italy and it's available from the online sites like Viovet and agricultural merchants. Spotinor is cheaper but the the same drug as the more well known Spot-on. Do a patch test first, it does raise a short term lump on some of them.
.

 

[dorsetladette]

I would use cattle pour-on stuff. It usually works quite well keeping them off the eyes. It isn't licenced for use in horses in this country but the last time I looked it was licenced in Italy and it's available from the online sites like Viovet and agricultural merchants. Spotinor is cheaper but the the same drug as the more well known Spot-on. Do a patch test first, it does raise a short term lump on some of them.
.

Arh yes I didn't mention I use spot on on my boys along with the sheep. They get a top up every 6 weeks through the summer.

 

[Pink Gorilla]

Arh yes I didn't mention I use spot on on my boys along with the sheep. They get a top up every 6 weeks through the summer.

Ooh I might try this. We have cattle, so have lots of the stuff but I've never dared try it with the horses. The midges drive them bonkers at dusk!

 

[Pink Gorilla]

Yes to masks, they’re always very grateful to have them on (though the Velcro the first few times can be an interesting one to undo!)
Absolutely never to rugs, they’re far too easy to get tangled up in at that age. I do get them used to fly spray and use that daily if they tolerate it.

What about winter? What age would you use rugs then? I'm on my first baby, so totally clueless on anything under 4yrs old.

 

[TheMule]

What about winter? What age would you use rugs then? I'm on my first baby, so totally clueless on anything under 4yrs old.

I did rug my previous batch of yearlings for all of 2 days in a very, very cold and brutal snowstorm with freezing northerly winds in a field with no protection from it. Otherwise, no rugs. Mine don’t get rugs until I need to keep them clean to work!

 

[DressageCob]

Mine have been naked all winter. They had more than enough fluff to keep them warm. They seemed pretty waterproof too

 

[maya2008]

I did rug my previous batch of yearlings for all of 2 days in a very, very cold and brutal snowstorm with freezing northerly winds in a field with no protection from it. Otherwise, no rugs. Mine don’t get rugs until I need to keep them clean to work!

That’s me! Unless special needs (skin issues or whatever) no rugs. Weanlings get access to the stables at night through their first winter, yearlings onwards can stay outside.

 

[PSD]

I had a 2 year old fell with sweet itch and the amount of rugs she trashed and masks she lost was unbelievable. I’ve recently bought a yearling and she will be left naked but I will be getting her used to wearing rugs for when she’s older. But I’ll only throw them on and leave her for a short time, I think they need to be used to them early. Same with sprays, they should learn to tolerate them young ideally - along with anything

 

[spacefaer]

Back in the day before fly masks were invented, we used fly fringes. It was possible to buy them but I made my own with putting a browband on a leather head collar and then cutting lengths of baler twine,'looping them onto the browband. It was surprisingly effective
(Leather head collar because nylon ones don't break and it was before the invention of field safe ones. )

I'm not necessarily recommending it for yearlings who can be alarmingly accident prone but just remembered the concept for those who don't keep a mask on, or for those whose field companions won't let them wear one!