Fly masks on at night?

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Bright_Spark

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The mesh, go over the ears type ones, are they ok to be left on at night?

Only ask because Amber is being a a bit of a bugger some mornings to put her mask on- normally when YO does it (I've been away for a few days so YO and OH have been doing horses). As a result, Amber has got some nasty fly bites on her face again.

So would it be ok for it to be left on for longer periods of time (ie left on overnight and taken off to be checked and reajusted every day or so)?

If not, how can I teach the orange one that fly masks are not scary and there are exactly the same ones she wore last year without a problem?
 
i think its better to take them off overnight wherever possible to avoid rubbing, catching etc , they do seem to be absolutey terrifying tho dont they!! i hav trouble with my 16:3 wen he decides they are scary that day! slight trouble reaching his head! best thing to do is just to play about every day with them till it becomes boring to the horse and just another thing like putting a headcoller on
 
I leave it on at night, she gets terribly swollen pus eyes and I dare not risk the early morning flies getting her
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ETA I'd just keep putting in on, taking it off to help yours get used to it. Mine now knows they keep the flies away, she always lowers her head to have it put back on
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Thanks. I will be working on getting her used to having it on and off again, but will leave it on at night when the flies are really bad as she gets bitten at night too.
 
Cairo wears his cashel all the time when out - winter or summer to protect his eye. In summer this means that apart from having it taken off once a day to make sure he is ok, he will sometimes wear it several weeks in a go.

Chancer wears his the same amount of time in summer to protect his pink nose.

I have done this for several years and whilst mine are hardy hairies, have never found any rub marks whatsoever. That said, I won't use anything but the cashel masks.
 
I used to use Equilibrium masks but am now a Cashel convert
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She has the Quiet Ride and the special pink eared turnout , well she is a girl even if she does have excessive testosterone levels LOL
 
I use a shires one and she has it on 24/7 even for being ridden as it is the only way to make things bearable for her. As long as you check it regularly and take it off for a while once a day to give them a chance to scratch I think its better to leave it on permanently
 
Hi!!Understand your concerns i was the same last year after lots of conflicting advice,especially from stockists that dont own horses,lol(main concern,could he see??lol)!My boy suffers with a weepy eye due to flies!we(myself and friends) however left flymasks on overnite due to this last summer quite regularly with no major problems,the only thing we found was they tended to rub under ears and jawbones,not to the extent of soreness,just lack of hair,this meant that we had to give them time out from them!Hope this helps,if your horse has thin or sensitive skin i dont think i would leave it on!x
 
My lot keep theres on at night, the flies are out till quite late and theyre such a pain. Ticos eyes get quite sore and Ben the old TB, his whole face gets covered in the bloody things
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Also the flies are up way before i am in the mornings so they really need there masks on all the time, never had a problem with rubbing.
I do like to take them off when ever possible though even if its just for half an hour or so, they usually like a good face scratch
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Debs x
 
Is amber needs it on at night then just leave it on. Just make sure it is taken off every day to check for rubbing or any injury etc tot he face.

We havent started using fly masks yet as its doing nothing but rain, but I leave hem on overnight.
 
Thanks everyone.

See I'd never beat the flys to Amber, so would rather leave it on but my YO is of the impression that she just gallops round all the time (?) and would run into something, so she takes it off if doing the evening feeds.

Shall nicely ask YO to leave it on at nights- unless tipping it down.
 
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