Fly masks that dont rub?

[awelshandawarmblood]

The midges are starting to make an appearance despite the fields still being like a marsh! So need to start looking at masks again

My big lad has only just got his forelock back after being left with a wisp last year - he always has it rubbed out by fly masks!!!

Any suggestions which ones are better for not doing this? With or without forelock holes? Lycra ones?

Or am I better off cutting a bridlepath? ✂

I can't be the only one this happens to surely?

 

[Barton Bounty]

I have a lycra one and a shires on. Neither rubbed but both have ear covers too ☺
Could you plait his forelock when he is wearing one?

 

[Nasicus]

Midges love Marshes unfortunately! With the weather warming up (even slightly) the little bastards are active already!
I've found it's always been trial and error for each horse as to what fits well and what rubs etc.
I've had the most success with the Rambo Beekeeper masks, as they sit away from the face more, and that's with both long and short forelocks. Forelock holes can be a mixed bag, some horses they rub like mad, others have no issues with them, but I tend to opt for without now a days and just do a loose plait for the hairy ones.

I personally don't like the lycra ones, as I've had a few instances where they're twisted around and gone in the eyes or covered the eyes completely. My horses don't have eyes on them frequently enough during the day for me to feel comfortable using them.

 

[Maxidoodle]

I have the Kramer basic ones for all of mine, never rubbed as have a small bit fleece in them. They’re on their 4th year so far and still looking great (and they wash at 30d)

 

[Surbie]

I discovered the Shires UV one last year. Works a treat for my itchy horse, when the standard ones had him scraping his forehead on the stable in the evening. For all of them I have to make ear liners from old sheets/sweetitch rugs as the holes are still big enough for the black bitey midges to get through.

I couldn't use the beekeeper one I bought him, he can't see through it and it freaks him out. If anyone wants a new one in Xfull, do drop me a PM.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Second the Kramer fly masks, it’s all I use on my two and they never rub. I’m about to order two new ones each as the others are about 5 years old and need replacing. I like the fact they have ears, forelock holes and detachable nose nets if you need them.

 

[Auslander]

I like the beekeepers too - Alf has a huge forelock, and he gets really sweaty under his mask if his forelock is in there with him. Beekeeper worked a treat, until the colt pulled it off him and ran away with it, never to be seen again (mask, not colt!).
Least I can get him one without fuschia pink trim this year!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

The midges are starting to make an appearance despite the fields still being like a marsh! So need to start looking at masks again

My big lad has only just got his forelock back after being left with a wisp last year - he always has it rubbed out by fly masks!!!

Any suggestions which ones are better for not doing this? With or without forelock holes? Lycra ones?

Or am I better off cutting a bridlepath? ✂

I can't be the only one this happens to surely?

I only buy the masks that have a hole for the forelock to poke through or anything else causing hair loss, have used le mieux and cashel which have been fine

 

[asmp]

Another for beekeeper ones

 

[Maxidoodle]

OP, these are the ones I have from Kramer, they’re very good quality.

Fly Mask Basic - Fly Masks & Fringes - Kramer Equestrian

Fly Mask Basic and more of Fly Masks & Fringes. At Kramer Equestrian's online shop for horse lovers.

www.kramer.co.uk

 

[HG95]

I have the equilibrium one which had a hole cut out for the forelock to go through not the cheapest but it's the only one I've managed to keep on my boy

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I have shires full face ones. Ears and nose covered. My boys live in them over summer, both thin skinned and neither have been rubbed by their masks.

 

[Love]

My gelding has a chronic blocked tear duct due to an old injury which means he has one teary eye. As soon as there are any flies about he wears his mask right up until its too cold for them. I have found the best ones to be the shires ones without the ears (they just have a soft "band" that goes behind the ears). He very rarely gets it off and it never rubs at all

Edited to add an amazon link to one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shires-Fine-Earless-Black-Xfull/dp/B06XRDVV5Z/ref=sr_1_4?adgrpid=104563668956&hvadid=592973364220&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1007256&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13278288968874050026&hvtargid=kwd-487066746895&hydadcr=22584_2214448&keywords=shires+fly+mask+no+ears&qid=1679923349&sr=8-4

 

[SpotsandBays]

My gelding has a chronic blocked tear duct due to an old injury which means he has one teary eye. As soon as there are any flies about he wears his mask right up until its too cold for them. I have found the best ones to be the shires ones without the ears (they just have a soft "band" that goes behind the ears). He very rarely gets it off and it never rubs at all

Edited to add an amazon link to one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shires-Fine-Earless-Black-Xfull/dp/B06XRDVV5Z/ref=sr_1_4?adgrpid=104563668956&hvadid=592973364220&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1007256&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13278288968874050026&hvtargid=kwd-487066746895&hydadcr=22584_2214448&keywords=shires+fly+mask+no+ears&qid=1679923349&sr=8-4

Always wanted to try one of these but worried my lot will just get them off! Do you find they stay put well?

 

[Love]

Always wanted to try one of these but worried my lot will just get them off! Do you find they stay put well?

They really do! And my boy rolls every day without fail (most times the mud is plastered onto the mask too ). Weirdly I tried the same shires mask but with the full nose net and ears version and he had it off every day for 2 weeks so I sold it and went back to the ones above. I'd say I can count on one hand the times he has ever had one off in the 3 years I've used them

 

[Auslander]

Always wanted to try one of these but worried my lot will just get them off! Do you find they stay put well?

I've had a couple of these, and really liked them. Alf is very good with his stuff though, so although he never removed his, that's no guarantee that they aren't easy to shift!

 

[SpotsandBays]

They really do! And my boy rolls every day without fail (most times the mud is plastered onto the mask too ). Weirdly I tried the same shires mask but with the full nose net and ears version and he had it off every day for 2 weeks so I sold it and went back to the ones above. I'd say I can count on one hand the times he has ever had one off in the 3 years I've used them

I've had a couple of these, and really liked them. Alf is very good with his stuff though, so although he never removed his, that's no guarantee that they aren't easy to shift!

Thanks both! To be honest I think my lot pull them off of eachother and I doubt there are many that will stay put for that

 

[Auslander]

Thanks both! To be honest I think my lot pull them off of eachother and I doubt there are many that will stay put for that

I find masks without ears slightly more inclined to stay on, even when their mates pull at them. I have the added problem of hedges - forever finding masks hanging by the ear tips right in the depths of the hedges!

 

[JBM]

I tried a Lemieux one and tho it didn’t rub! My mare could take it off so..pretty useless
Had a forelock hole but was too elastic behind the ears I think as she would take it off either on accident or by purpose while rolling. She always ran back up for me to put it on in the field again so I suspect it was accidental as she hates flies around her face

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

The midges are starting to make an appearance despite the fields still being like a marsh! So need to start looking at masks again

My big lad has only just got his forelock back after being left with a wisp last year - he always has it rubbed out by fly masks!!!

Any suggestions which ones are better for not doing this? With or without forelock holes? Lycra ones?

Or am I better off cutting a bridlepath? ✂

I can't be the only one this happens to surely?

The cashel ones you can pull the forelock through. My mare has a long forelock and i part it when she wears one so hair does not go in her eyes.

MY favs at the moment are the shires o one.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

My gelding has a chronic blocked tear duct due to an old injury which means he has one teary eye. As soon as there are any flies about he wears his mask right up until its too cold for them. I have found the best ones to be the shires ones without the ears (they just have a soft "band" that goes behind the ears). He very rarely gets it off and it never rubs at all

Edited to add an amazon link to one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shires-Fine-Earless-Black-Xfull/dp/B06XRDVV5Z/ref=sr_1_4?adgrpid=104563668956&hvadid=592973364220&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1007256&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13278288968874050026&hvtargid=kwd-487066746895&hydadcr=22584_2214448&keywords=shires+fly+mask+no+ears&qid=1679923349&sr=8-4

We cannot use ones without ears as we have black flies here that home in on the ears and the horses come in with loads inside causing blood sports and sores.

Black fly - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Four flies that bite your horse

Read all you need to know about the four flies that bite your horse: horse flies, black flies, stable flies & midges along with how to prevent them from biting

www.equus.co.uk

.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

Thank you all so much!!

I'll have a look at the links now and get ordering so we can be sorted by the time the army really arrives. So annoying!!!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Thank you all so much!!

I'll have a look at the links now and get ordering so we can be sorted by the time the army really arrives. So annoying!!!

They were out her today, thank god i put fly hoods on this morning.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I find masks without ears slightly more inclined to stay on, even when their mates pull at them. I have the added problem of hedges - forever finding masks hanging by the ear tips right in the depths of the hedges!

That’s good to know! I’ll definitely give one a try. We have hedges too but the masks usually come off beforehand when playing “Bitey face”

 

[Fleece Navidad]

The Equilibrium one with a forelock hole. Bob has a very thick forelock and if it's under a mask it needs to be plaited.

The fleece bit on the full Shires one rubbed him. Though that might be because he's in between sizes, he has a broad forehead.