Keeping a Guardian Mask On?

[HollyWoozle]

Has anybody else had trouble getting their horse to keep a Guardian mask on? Noah has worn various masks over the years and has very rarely removed them, but he is managing to get the Guardian off multiple times a day now to the point we have put him back in another one (no point having the best mask if it's not always on his head!). He gets it off with the straps still done up and we have tried different tightnesses - I think the eye pieces sticking out allow him to get some purchase rubbing on a fence, hay feeder etc. and he just slips it off.

I did notice that the mask was rubbing below his eyes at first and so I stitched some fleece material (just a thin strip) under the eyes to stop that, which seems to have worked. I also put a fleece noseband cover over the top strap as I felt it wasn't that comfy behind his ears either, but I will try removing that again.

There are still a lot of flies around so I also wondered if he might be rubbing it off because flies are getting into the eye pieces. I'm not really sure what I'm hoping for from the thread but maybe someone has had the same problem and solved it somehow!

 

[Amirah]

Same problems here and flies were getting in, I saw them and she actually had a bite on one eyelid. After reading the testing on David Marlin I switched to the equilibrium, it only scored 10% less (81% as opposed to 91% for the guardian) and I've stuck a couple of strips of white gorilla tape above the eyes for a bit of extra shading. I've even taped over an eye completely during a flare.

The equilibrium is staying put and I no longer have to plait the headpiece in which makes life easier, or put my questionable sewing skills to work adding fleece.

 

[Nasicus]

I've resorted to cutting a forelock hole in masks without them (including Guardians, Rambo Beekeepers etc), pulling the forelock through and plaiting it back into the first bit of mane, holding it in place with a loop of hair, as it were. Of course, only works if they've got enough mane and forelock.
My latest youngster is a nightmare to keep a flymask on, and has yet to grow enough forelock for the above. I had some success putting a Velcro fieldsafe headcollar over the top of one, lasted a few days before she got it off. Either pulls it off on the hedge (she loves to browse) or itches it off rubbing against her leg (think her chestnuts provide enough grip to do so). So I'm going to be keenly eyeballing this thread for further ideas!

 

[HollyWoozle]

Same problems here and flies were getting in, I saw them and she actually had a bite on one eyelid. After reading the testing on David Marlin I switched to the equilibrium, it only scored 10% less (81% as opposed to 91% for the guardian) and I've stuck a couple of strips of white gorilla tape above the eyes for a bit of extra shading. I've even taped over an eye completely during a flare.

The equilibrium is staying put and I no longer have to plait the headpiece in which makes life easier, or put my questionable sewing skills to work adding fleece.

I sort of feel better somehow that it's not only us! We do have an Equilibrium, a Nag Horse Ranch, multiple Premier Equine masks and more recently this one: https://www.shadowhorse.co.uk/products/kensington-uviator-fly-mask-with-no-nose-or-ears

We have fully taped over an eye with those as well (we really like the Kensington!) but thought we'd try a Guardian as so highly recommended and this last flare-up has been tricky. I feel like the fit of it is OK but it's just no good if he can always get it off! It stayed on better to start with but I feel there were less flies those days so maybe they really are the issue. I've not read the David Marlin research but will have a look, thanks for the tip.

I've resorted to cutting a forelock hole in masks without them (including Guardians, Rambo Beekeepers etc), pulling the forelock through and plaiting it back into the first bit of mane, holding it in place with a loop of hair, as it were. Of course, only works if they've got enough mane and forelock.
My latest youngster is a nightmare to keep a flymask on, and has yet to grow enough forelock for the above. I had some success putting a Velcro fieldsafe headcollar over the top of one, lasted a few days before she got it off. Either pulls it off on the hedge (she loves to browse) or itches it off rubbing against her leg (think her chestnuts provide enough grip to do so). So I'm going to be keenly eyeballing this thread for further ideas!

Unfortunately he's an Appaloosa who grows very little hair - his forelock is just a tuft, doh! Otherwise good idea. Fieldsafe headcollar is not a bad shout, will ponder on that. It's odd because his other masks are all kept on fine so I can only assume this one aggravates him in some way!

 

[Amirah]

I think the Kensington scored equal to the equilibrium if I remember (only the guardian scored over 81%) and the riding sunglasses (which I have) were something like 65 instead of the advertised 100!

Mine is now on Nupafeeds seabuckthorn, early days but she's looking really well on it. I noticed that her eyes are drier than the other horses (when they're ok) and it's known as a dry eye remedy. It's Latin name translates as 'Horse shiny' and I read on a human uveitis site that skin and eye problems are closely related. I've also found he silver/msm eye drops from goodhealthnaturally really good. I showed them to the vet who said msm is anti-inflammatory.

Just had a look and premier equine scored less than 40%.

 

[LEC]

I have a guardian and did cut off the ears. The horse I have it on is pretty good about keeping it on as well. Also have an Equivizor one but I dont like the clips and a Shires one. I think if we get another one to replace the Guardian it will be a Kensington as had better light blocking than the Equilibrium.

The biggest difference I have had in the treatment of UV is putting the horse on a gut balancer. Was on the Science supplements one. She was a very allergic horse but is now pretty normal. Someone saw us at the weekend in our Equivizor and commented that their UV horse had allergy tests and was discovered to be allergic to Timothy grass which has hugely improved how they can manage the UV as in despair at one point that an eye would have to be removed.

 

[HollyWoozle]

This is all extremely helpful, thanks so much to you both! I'm glad to hear the Kensington scored well as we only discovered that one recently and he seems really comfortable in it and it stays on well. Prior to that we used the PE masks a lot but thanks for the info @Amirah, I guess they are cheaper and you get what you pay for but I never realised they would score so low!

Noah is unridden (so we have never tried an Equivizor) and the Guardian mask we got came without ears, but he just slips it off. I did have to get an XL as he has a weird head but I guess I can try tightening the top further. He is out 24/7 with a little meadow hay twice a day (our grazing is quite poor) and Spillers Daily Balancer. He unfortunately has Squamous Cell Carcinoma on/around his sheath, has had previous treatments for sarcoids and one hock isn't great either (had spavin surgery around 10 years ago), poor man doesn't have the best of luck. He has pinky Appy skin and his eyes are naturally a bit grubby/weepy.

Will give our PE masks a good clean and just use those on other horse and might invest in another Kensington!