Fly masks - do u think horses hate them?

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paulo

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o.k so I bought my horse a Mark Todd fly mask, put it on today cos flies were quite bad. however I feel guilty, although i keeping the flies away from her eyes I wouldnt fancy staring through a net all day??
Do you think horses really hate them or they are relieved from the flies??

Also do you just put yours on during day and take them off at night???
 
Oh no, why do you think he didnt like the Mark Todd one??
Is it an evil fly mask??
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My big horse has problems with his eyes streaming from the flies - he will lower his head to have the mask put on. So I get the impression he likes the relief!
 
I don't have the mark todd one but my horse is quite happy wearing a mask. If you put the mesh close to your own eyes you'll see that visability is actually fine through them. I leave mine on all the time as it doesn't rub and she's happy enough. My sisters horse hates his and has mastered the art of removing it as soon as he gets fed up of it!
 
George will not let me put a fly hood on him, if I even come near him with it he goes into panic mode, and he is normally so calm! So I make do with a long fly fringe which seems to do the job.
 
yeah i did notice the elastic under her chin seemed quite tight, will need to keep an eye on that.

I put it on my head on way to the field this morning , my OH turned round and nearly crashed the car he got such a fright Lol
 
I don't know whether horses hate them.....but I seriously dislike them! I won't use them anymore after last year.....6 of my horses all got eye infections because of wearing them. I prefer fly fringes now and fly spray I'm afraid.

25 Aerborn Fly Masks for sale anyone!!
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Tia Im really interested to hear how the horses got eye infections from them - will you explain to me?

Murphy has an ear and fringe type one. Put it on at night. Always off by morning. As soon as I put it on he goes into suicide mode...all droppy and depressed looking, so I think Ii'll cut the ears off!!
 
Mine dont seem bothered. Its interesting what Tia said as Ive had the opposite. My old pony always suffered from fly induced conjunctivitis in the summer. The fly mask was the only thing that stopped it.

My old gelding has one on the whole time when in the field in summer as otherwise he spends the whole time with his head under the other horses tails and as they are all scared of him(he likes to think they are in awe of him) they get no peace!!
 
My lad has never shown any problem when we put one on him or when wearing one. It keeps the flys away from his face & eyes which has got to be beter for him. My lad is in at night so doesn't have one on then.
 
Cairo wears a mask whenever he is out, summer and winter to protect his eye from UV damage. Chancer wears one all summer. I leave them on all the time when they live out from May to October.

They don't seem to mind them and put their heads down to have them on. I only use the Crusaders as they don't rub and offer ear and nose protection.
 
Beau loves his, lowers his head to have it put on, even if it does make him look like an alien!

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I love the equilibrium ones, I take the nose bit off for Beau as he doesnt need it though.

Lance can ditch any fly mask however, not on purpose, he is just so nosey it always seems to get rubbed off or caught on a hedge.
 
I bought a mask for Bud, think it probably lasted a few hours before he got it off and mangled it.
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Last year I tried fly fringes, again they were lucky if they stayed on for more than an hour. Now leave him au natural as he obviously prefers it.
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I bought a Shires one and he was absolutely terrified of it. Went into panic mode so I took it off. Keep meaning to try to desensitise him by putting it on for a hour in the stable - but havent got round to it!
 
My boy has one on and doesn't seem to mind. I couldn't keep various diff fringes on him and his eyes get very red and runny when there are flies about. He has it on day and night unless the weather is horrible or he's stabled. I've got one that has the fluffy bits round the nose and across the top so it doesn't rub. It doesn't cover the ears and just has a small band across the top of the head. My mare doesn't have one because she's not affected by the flies
 
I've no idea to be perfectly honest. I've used fly masks for years and years back in the UK and never had any problems with them at all. I had wondered if it might have something to do with all the dust we have here and the super-high temperatures making the horses rub their faces more often if they have fly masks on.
 
I've got the equilibrium one with nose net, mine + my friend's horse definately arn't bothered by them. They walk up to you as soon as i take them off fence wanting them put on. Think the relief of not having flies all round their eyes must be wonderful. I've never had a problem with them causing eye infections, they have their own one each and this makes sits away from the eyes xx
 
My girl has always appeared comfortable in her Cashel Crusader, fits well, doesn't rub and stands up away from the eyes.
 
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My big horse has problems with his eyes streaming from the flies - he will lower his head to have the mask put on. So I get the impression he likes the relief!

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My mare is the same
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, she'd be distressed without it.

I leave hers on overnight


ETS: she has 3 altogether
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the latest is the pink eared Cashel one, her field mate was transfixed when he first saw her wearing it. Very funny
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I agree and think they are great. Any fly mask must stay well clear of the eyes to avoid rubbing/risk of ulcers etc. I can't think that the soft fabric ones do this and this type must surely irritate the horse as would any where the ears aren't big enough for comfort..
 
If the flies are bad all of ours will come over to have their masks put on,i think they learn over a period of time that they provide relief from the discomfort of what is irritating them!!x
 
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