Least offensive fly mask…

[iknowmyvalue]

For a horse who hates having them put on?

Must have good eye clearance and no nose. Not wearing one isn’t an option, the flies drive him mad to the point he will stand there head shaking rather than eating (and he needs to eat as much as possible). Also comes out in horrible lumps where he gets bitten. Currently have:

an old weatherbeeta one. he’s preferred this previously but doesn’t like this year. but I do feel like the eye clearance isn’t as good this year, and he’s flinching every time it touches his eyelids. Probably shouldn’t have washed it…

An equilibrium one. Again, he’s flinching when it touches his eyelids, and it rubbed him this year which it didn’t last year even though he wore it 24/7. Having ears on it does help the head shaking though.

He did have a nasty eyelid injury to one eye this time last year, but he wasn’t any different afterwards once it has healed. Just his normal, which is that he doesn’t like having it put on but tolerates it. The only other difference this year is that he’s in during the day sometimes, rather than out 24/7 so the fly mask is coming off more often.

He is only being funny with the fly mask (or things he thinks might be one, like his competition ears) NOT with bridles or headcollars. He’s always been a little bit funny with things round his head, but this is getting extreme. If you go in the stable with a fly mask he flies to the back and braces himself. He’d got it off in the field today and I picked it up while leading him and he nearly ripped the leadrope out of my hand. Once it’s on and he’s had a minute or two to settle, he’s fine.

I can do R+ with him when I am up there, but I’m not willing to ask yard staff to do it every time. I do trust them to be gentle and not do anything to reprimand him.

 

[whirlwind]

Rambo beekeeper style?

 

[Squeak]

Rambo beekeeper style?

Ditto this

 

[Barklands]

I’ve just recently purchased a premier equine one for one of the mares who is rather a sensitive soul - great eye clearance and easy to get on and off

It’s the buster xtra kind

 

[Tiddlypom]

Ditto this

I’ll third the Rambo beekeeper style.

 

[GoldenWillow]

Shires Mesh Fly Mask With Ear Hole

The close fitting mask features soft, comfortable fleece padding along the seams to avoid gaps and keep the mask away from the eyes. Flexible and strong, fully breathable with adjustable safety fastenings. 90% UV protective - mesh over the face (and no

gsequestrian.co.uk

This is the best I've found for eye clearance that isn't super expensive, I buy XF size for cob that needs XF browband and 6" bit, who has a wide but comparatively short head. They also do them with just a strap over the head rather than ear holes.

 

[Lauraback]

Ditto the shires one got a full size for my boy from Amazon absolutely fab eye clearance and has not come off when he has rolled which usually happens with fly masks

 

[poiuytrewq]

Do you know which bits he objects too?
I tried the Rambo Bee keeper on mine who hates fly masks and he hated it just as much.
He tolorates a shires without ears or
Nose. They do one with literally a fleece strap over the ears. He is happy enough In that now. Even that took a bit of getting used to but I’d the definite preferred one so far

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I’ll third the Rambo beekeeper style.

I x 4th these

 

[Wishfilly]

I have a premier equine silver one, which I think has decent eye clearance- no ears or nose. I will say my pony (or his field mates!) can get it off though.

In terms of R+, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask yard staff to e.g. give him a treat if he lets them put the fly mask on, a sort of R+ lite approach- maybe a treat to get him to let them near, and one when he's let them put it on, if that would work? As long as you supply the treats, and he doesn't mug for them, if it would make their life easier, I would have thought you would go for it?

I would also consider letting him have something high value like a likit for a minute or two after he's let you put it on if he'd go for that?

 

[teapot]

Remember a livery once ending up having to make one from a mismatch of others to give their horse what THEY needed - how creative are you?

 

[pistolpete]

Mine would never wear a fly mask until I bought this one. He used to get sore eyes but he’s really happy to wear this. No ear protection but he seems so much happier.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Another horse on the yard has the Rambo beekeper one, I wonder if they might let me try it on him…

Do the ones without ears stay on ok for those that have them? For all the above reasons I’m keen to have something we don’t have to try and put back on multiple times a day

Do you know which bits he objects too?
I tried the Rambo Bee keeper on mine who hates fly masks and he hated it just as much.
He tolorates a shires without ears or
Nose. They do one with literally a fleece strap over the ears. He is happy enough In that now. Even that took a bit of getting used to but I’d the definite preferred one so far

he’s ok once it’s on, it’s getting it on which he hates. The difficulty is that he’s ok at first and gets increasingly dramatic the longer summer goes on. He’s usually pretty amenable if a bit suspicious, so SOMETHING about the process is bothering him but it’s hard to pin down what as he’s reacting before it gets anywhere near him now

Historically it’s his ears being touched that he’s objected to, but he’s been really consistent in happily letting me handle/touch them in the last 6-12mo. And even though he hates having the fly mask on is loving gentle face/ear massage recently. He does seem to flinch when things touch his eyes when they go on (same with bridle if it accidentally touches the eye/eyelid) which makes me think it’s that, but also that seems like a pretty reasonable response!

I have a premier equine silver one, which I think has decent eye clearance- no ears or nose. I will say my pony (or his field mates!) can get it off though.

In terms of R+, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask yard staff to e.g. give him a treat if he lets them put the fly mask on, a sort of R+ lite approach- maybe a treat to get him to let them near, and one when he's let them put it on, if that would work? As long as you supply the treats, and he doesn't mug for them, if it would make their life easier, I would have thought you would go for it?

I would also consider letting him have something high value like a likit for a minute or two after he's let you put it on if he'd go for that?

Oh he won’t mug for them, the trick is finding ones he will eat consistently once he realises they’re for bribery! I do have a horselyx which he usually (but not always) likes. He’s not very food motivated, so whilst it’s a nice way to reward him, he’s unlikely to go out of his way to do something for food. If he has to work for it, it’s not worth it for him

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Lots of good ideas here though! I feel like a trip to redpost to get a selection is on the cards… plus being consistent with the rewards when I’m up there doing it (which honestly is most days)

At least I don’t have to worry about it for the next few days as it’s meant to rain all week

 

[Wishfilly]

Oh he won’t mug for them, the trick is finding ones he will eat consistently once he realises they’re for bribery! I do have a horselyx which he usually (but not always) likes. He’s not very food motivated, so whilst it’s a nice way to reward him, he’s unlikely to go out of his way to do something for food. If he has to work for it, it’s not worth it for him

Ah, that's difficult- I'd definitely be trying to break the negative association for him, as it sounds like the mask isn't actually bothering him that much when it's on?

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Ah, that's difficult- I'd definitely be trying to break the negative association for him, as it sounds like the mask isn't actually bothering him that much when it's on?

It doesn’t seem to be. He stands kind of frozen with his head up for about 30secs after it goes on then he’s normal.

That’s my reasoning behind trying a different type, there must be a reason he’s finding it more aversive than usual this year but trying to work out why is a challenge! I just want to rule out something about the mask itself being uncomfortable as a reason. He did once tell me his saddle was mildly badly fitting by becoming increasingly bad to bridle (despite performing well when we were actually riding), so I don’t feel I can rule out discomfort when it’s on even though he acts normally

Don’t get me wrong, he’s never liked having one put on, but much like having a bath, he tolerated it without too much drama. Maybe it was the 1 week he wore the one that rubbed, although that was just rubbing hair off, no broken skin, and he’s not worn it since…

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

For a horse who hates having them put on?

Must have good eye clearance and no nose. Not wearing one isn’t an option, the flies drive him mad to the point he will stand there head shaking rather than eating (and he needs to eat as much as possible). Also comes out in horrible lumps where he gets bitten. Currently have:

an old weatherbeeta one. he’s preferred this previously but doesn’t like this year. but I do feel like the eye clearance isn’t as good this year, and he’s flinching every time it touches his eyelids. Probably shouldn’t have washed it…

An equilibrium one. Again, he’s flinching when it touches his eyelids, and it rubbed him this year which it didn’t last year even though he wore it 24/7. Having ears on it does help the head shaking though.

He did have a nasty eyelid injury to one eye this time last year, but he wasn’t any different afterwards once it has healed. Just his normal, which is that he doesn’t like having it put on but tolerates it. The only other difference this year is that he’s in during the day sometimes, rather than out 24/7 so the fly mask is coming off more often.

He is only being funny with the fly mask (or things he thinks might be one, like his competition ears) NOT with bridles or headcollars. He’s always been a little bit funny with things round his head, but this is getting extreme. If you go in the stable with a fly mask he flies to the back and braces himself. He’d got it off in the field today and I picked it up while leading him and he nearly ripped the leadrope out of my hand. Once it’s on and he’s had a minute or two to settle, he’s fine.

I can do R+ with him when I am up there, but I’m not willing to ask yard staff to do it every time. I do trust them to be gentle and not do anything to reprimand him.

My Louis won't have fly masks anymore he literally will rear if I try to put one on, I now use a field safe headcollar with a rubber fly fringe brilliant things on ebay, I do bring mine in during the day when it's hot though which helps.

I did get the vet to check his eyes when he started to refuse the mask and they did say he may have the start of cataracts, so I do regularly get my vet to check his eyes to see if they have got worse.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It doesn’t seem to be. He stands kind of frozen with his head up for about 30secs after it goes on then he’s normal.

That’s my reasoning behind trying a different type, there must be a reason he’s finding it more aversive than usual this year but trying to work out why is a challenge! I just want to rule out something about the mask itself being uncomfortable as a reason. He did once tell me his saddle was mildly badly fitting by becoming increasingly bad to bridle (despite performing well when we were actually riding), so I don’t feel I can rule out discomfort when it’s on even though he acts normally

Don’t get me wrong, he’s never liked having one put on, but much like having a bath, he tolerated it without too much drama. Maybe it was the 1 week he wore the one that rubbed, although that was just rubbing hair off, no broken skin, and he’s not worn it since…

Have you tried giving treats I got Louis to accept it for ages with treats or I used to put the mask on with the head collar that worked for a while.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Our horse’s favourite mask: https://www.charliesproducts.co.uk/...s-horse-ranch-high-brow-eye-protection-shade/

Our horse’s favourite treat: ginger biscuit

 

[Birker2020]

This is the same one as Golden Willow recommended. Lari is XF and it fits him really well, with loads of eye coverage.
TIP - When I first bought it I hung the mask from the clothes line and filled the eye area with loads of heavy coins for a couple of days which helped stretch it a bit!


TIP-

 

[eggs]

I also use the Rambo beekeeper fly masks. One of mine does not like ear coverings so I just cut them off. Never had an issue with it coming off and this is a horse who rubs all other masks off.

 

[lottiepony]

I had to smile as your sound like you're describing my horse. A big non fan of fly masks it's like he closes his eyes and holds his breath like a child when I put it on. Never gets any better and no one else can put it on lol.
I really rate these, lovely generous size and I did used to cut the ears off but he doesn't now seem to worry. He also doesn't like it being taken off, will always raise his head the second its partially off. Good price too. Don't wash them on too hotter wash though as the mess distorts and they will shrink - found out by experience.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harrison-Howard-CareMaster-Luminous-Mask/dp/B07Q25QDN7/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2T8QBCD36NHFT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nSZBpR2_ODJYdcmp32XHtyy0lCdnVnjdEjhg9-bJ4DIM5E0tunV3nz8-03PVOG-dSbq1tIsTBCYHyEAgyglwZAj_jg_n-XpvxanOmiFN542YstRRbVoPGh1RFBFV8fal5gaq5jkM0D6WhNFTth8RAQg2DSQDA1v022GL-MCV1xMaTkkrXMEbxlKjoOsD2OSxsPGZ7aAt70sPCcRsUF1NFV6fSkgyzLrzQFfgjMNbCTb9lJyTGbIQn4V9iZ4GlG7zqdCfjSVRbVnkuB4MO6on055EsSi--ctiRSXs0AeXYbw.5W4vBdKKKLDcAo8wJIvICpZ6mKIsSBMAsuvkpCAIcW8&dib_tag=se&keywords=fly%2Bmask%2Bfor%2Bhorses&qid=1720439973&sprefix=fly%2Bmasl%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-5&th=1

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Just a word of warning I think Rambo might have discontinued their beekeeper ones, I couldn't find any when I needed to buy one in full size at the start of the season...

edit: Just re-looked and I could find some options, so maybe it was just when I was looking which is good news, as they are my favourite for the horses.

 

[GypsGal1718]

Rambo plus ones as you can take off nose and cut off ears if needed and they have great clearance

 

[poiuytrewq]

Mine would never wear a fly mask until I bought this one. He used to get sore eyes but he’s really happy to wear this. No ear protection but he seems so much happier.

This is the only one my horse likes too.

 

[littledonkey]

Harrison Howard Maskology Supreme Horse Fly Mask Stellar UV Protection with Detachable Nose Cover really like this one​