Full face fly masks - horse hates them

[HashRouge]

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this issue before. My Arab has to wear a fly mask constantly in the summer as she has a fly allergy which causes recurrent conjunctivitis. I have a decent face only mask, which she wears no problem. However, I would like to get her a new full length mask to wear on sunny days as she has very pink skin and burns easily.

The only issue is, she really HATES wearing them! I think they irritate her slightly, as she sneezes a lot when she wears them and then the nose net gets a bit gross with snot (sorry for the tmi!). If she has been wearing the full face mask regularly, she will start to run away when she sees you coming to put it on (she doesn't do this if she has only been wearing the short mask). I'm just wondering if anyone else has this issue, and what your solution is? I'd really like her to wear a full face mask as sun protection, but I feel bad as she obviously really hates them. She has worn a Cashel one, and today I bought a Shires one to try - it didn't fit, but she sneezed so much in the two minutes she wore it to try on that I don't know if I'm going to be able to return it (had to put it in the walking machine!). Should I just put sun cream on instead?

 

[Cecile]

Yes I had the same problem, I use Cashel and thought the full face mask would help one with a pink nose, she hated it and kept blowing and sneezing, when I took it off the nose part was absolutely filthy with dust and dirt, small wonder she was sneezing and blowing, I cut off the nose bit

 

[pippixox]

I found the cashel one to be the only one my pink nosed mare tolerates, other makes sit on her nostrils and irritate her.
I have found gold label horse sun creme to work well as well: it is very thick so stays on. even kids factor 50 didn't do the job.

 

[SEL]

My Appy has pink skin and sun sensitive eyes. If she's got a nose cover on then she'll do her best to remove the whole mask and I can't risk that for her eyes. So it's a uv mask and factor 50 on the nose - bit like arguing with a toddler to get the cream on though. No, you are NOT going out until you're plastered even if you hate me for it!!

 

[Pinkvboots]

I use the Cashel or premier equine ones which are very similar on my Arabs, one of mine will constantly rub his face when he wears the long one with the nose net but I figure it's better than having 100s of flies sitting on your face, if it's the nose bit she really won't tolerate maybe cut it off and use cream, I wonder if they make any with a fringe type bit that hangs over the nose I think a lot of horses would actually prefer that I perhaps we should design one lol!