Fly rug nightmares! Are there any decent ones out there??

Odd Socks

Odd Socks

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As title really. I know it's only January but want to be ahead of the flies.

Does anyone have a decent fly rug that actually fits their horse, doesn't fall all the way back, the neck stays in place and if it attaches to the headcollar, is long enough to allow the horse to eat, has decent belly coverage and keeps the flies off??

I know it's asking a lot but surely there must be one out there?? I've tried several different makes that usually fit my horse nicely to no avail.

In case it's of any use, it's for a 16.1tb

Only sugar free cloudy lemonade on offer I'm afraid :(
 
To be honest I think the best defence against flies is......

a) the horse themselves so leave manes and tails long

And

b) either trees of man made shelter so they can get away from the flies

I've found the horses I've known to be far better at dealing with flies than any rug or spray!
 
Ooh thank you, I like the look of those! They're not in stock until March though unless anyone knows where to track one down?
 
Mine has Sweet Itch, so I have to use a rug which I KNOW does the job.

Unbeaten IME are firstly Rambo (I buy the Rambo Sweet Itch Hoody, OK not the cheapest by any means but by far the best - unsurpassed IME); close second is the Premier Equine Fly/Sweet Itch Hoody's. They're a bit cheaper, but nonetheless do the job very well and seem to last. Both these do ordinary Fly Rugs as well as Hoody's for Sweet Itches.

Forget the cheap and cheerfuls: especially disappointing is the Amigo Mio - an expensive little rug for what it actually IS.......... and didn't really last. The only time I have found it useful is for putting on my boy when he has to stand inside on especially midgy days.

Try feeding Brewers Yeast and Micronised Linseed: you may find a significant improvement not only in general health, hoof health etc., but also a lovely shiney coat which flies don't like so much!
 
I use the Rambo sweet itch one too. My boy doesn't gave sweet itch but the material is tough and breathable so can cope with geldings high jinks. It survived this season and you can get a waterproof liner to put underneath which is also really handy. We'll worth the money IMO.
 
Premier Equine Sweetitch Buster. It has earholes and is long enough even for my giraffe. The material is like the outer of a turnout rug and very durable.
 
Another vote for the Rambo. Mine doesn't get sweet itch but she gets massive fly bites so I invested in the Rambo. No more bites but she does sweat in it on a warm night (don't use it during day as they don't bother her then) x
 
We use a the Amigo Mio on a couple of ponies and the others wear the Weatherbeeta Airflow combo sheet, which I prefer as it had a good stomach cover too. Here they are modelling them - as you can see neither is really long enough in the neck to protect them when grazing so we use lots of Naff Off too! (The Weatherbeeta is on the left, Amigo on the right)

Flysheets_zps4c34838a.jpg
 
We had two sweet itch ponies, and bought the Rambo sweet itch hoodies. They fitted so well, were cool and lasted at least two years, usually three. I ended up buying them for the non sweet itch horses as well as they were so long lasting and I would end up buying three or four normal fly rugs in the same period that one sweet itch hoody lasted..
 
Thanks for all the suggestions! It's seems we have some decent contenders!
My horse is already on micronised linseed but being tb and having skin as thin as tissue paper, still gets badly affected by flies.

It seems though that I'm a bit premature I'm my search as there seem to be none in stock anywhere so unless I can find one second hand, I'll have to wait!
 
Odd Socks said:
Thanks for all the suggestions! It's seems we have some decent contenders!
My horse is already on micronised linseed but being tb and having skin as thin as tissue paper, still gets badly affected by flies.

It seems though that I'm a bit premature I'm my search as there seem to be none in stock anywhere so unless I can find one second hand, I'll have to wait!
Click to expand...
I find spraying coat shine everyday can help makes the coat slippery, as on really hot days my horses sweat in there fly rugs, I think both mine are masta which fit fine, and I use a sweet itch hood on the mare as she rubs her mane, I got that made to measure on ebay very pleased with it, brilliant fit and its a thick but cool material.
 
I have 2 Rambo protectors and they are excellent because they are soft but durable. I also like them because they are made of a wide mesh that lets the air through, some fly rugs are so hot in high summer :)
 
I have the Rambo sweet itch hoody have used it for the past three years, slight rip which I fixed myself and it has been brilliant wouldn't use anything else.
 
I too am struggling to find one. Old derby house ones were good but new ones rubbish. One of the liveries last year got a PE one and that seemed good but I'm loathed to part with that much money for a fly rug that will get ripped by the rug ripper in my mares field!
 
Another vote for Rambo - I am not a fan of fly rugs but my mare is so besieged by horse flies I bit the bullet and bought one. It is fab and she is so much happier. I thought she would be hot being a hot horse but she isn't. Being white (she is black) it hides her from the horse flies too!
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Mine has Sweet Itch, so I have to use a rug which I KNOW does the job.

Unbeaten IME are firstly Rambo (I buy the Rambo Sweet Itch Hoody, OK not the cheapest by any means but by far the best - unsurpassed IME); close second is the Premier Equine Fly/Sweet Itch Hoody's. They're a bit cheaper, but nonetheless do the job very well and seem to last. Both these do ordinary Fly Rugs as well as Hoody's for Sweet Itches.

Forget the cheap and cheerfuls: especially disappointing is the Amigo Mio - an expensive little rug for what it actually IS.......... and didn't really last. The only time I have found it useful is for putting on my boy when he has to stand inside on especially midgy days.

Try feeding Brewers Yeast and Micronised Linseed: you may find a significant improvement not only in general health, hoof health etc., but also a lovely shiney coat which flies don't like so much!
Click to expand...

My TB is on micronised linseed and loves marmite sarnies, he's black and looks like patent leather, yet he gets bitten to death by flies, he trashes every fly rug i've tried within a couple of days
 
flirtygerty said:
My TB is on micronised linseed and loves marmite sarnies, he's black and looks like patent leather, yet he gets bitten to death by flies, he trashes every fly rug i've tried within a couple of days
Click to expand...

Horse flies hunt by sight and are most attracted to black. I have a black horse and she is plagued by them. Horse fly traps have a large black ball to attract them.
 
Love the mark Todd silver ultra combo. Brilliant coverage and a proper length neck cover That goes right up to the ears and has a stretch panel at the wither to prevent it riding up when they out their head down. Also has a really good belly flap which fits snug to the belly with elasticated Velcro to again allow the horse to move. Finally a good wrap round tail flap. I have all mine in the now and they last years as well.
 
Shires!! The necks on them are ginormous, cover the whole of their neck even when grazing, plus they have a big belly flap too.
 
I've got a Derby House one which cost me £25 and it's done two summers so far... it fitted my TBxISH and although one neck strap came off, that was his fault not the rug's!

Ps, it's not Waitrose own brand cloudy lemonade is it...?!
 
Another vote for the Weatherbeeta Airflow. I prefer the freestyle range, and use the detach a version (as per all Figs turnout rugs!).

It's brilliant! Doesn't rub. Stays in place. Fits fab. Can attach to headcollar (I have found no need to). Has a belly flap that DOESN'T sag so no chance of accidental wee issues.

1005240_694621157231473_1218084974_n1_zps159da4ca.jpg
 
Unfortunately it's not waitrose own, it's tescos and sugar free :( really just trying to Palm it off on you guys so I don't have to drink it!

Is the weatherbeeta long enough in the neck for fig? I'm leaning towards the Rambo at the moment but could be swayed towards the PE or weatherbeeta
 
I love my mare's current rug - the Shires Sweet Itch combo - goes over her ears so doesn't slip down her neck and is fairly thickish material so stays up well around her shoulders wihtou slipping back but she doesn't overheat in it
 
Ive used a weatherbeeta airflow but I prefer the amigo fly buster. Best thing to do is use coopers fly repellent frequently a ccording to manufactuers guidelines along with the fly rug
 
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