Lycra Fly Masks - Any Good?

Premier Equine ones are about the same price (actually think they are on sale now) and are the best ones I've found.
 
Looking at it it does look as though the mesh doesn't have much structure and could easily be pushed onto the face/eyes.

I use PE, Rambo and Crusader fly masks and have been pleased with them all.
 
I have one (a Roma stretch eye saver) It's a bit hit and miss really - oddly enough my boy seems to prefer it as he lets me put it on with much less fuss than his other masks. However, I worry about it being on for long periods - it does seem a bit tight on the face :/ So he just wears it for a few hours at a time.
 
I would worry that if it got caught it could pull tight over the eyes due to the stretch in the Lycra - I looked at getting something similar and found a few horror stories of horses losing eyes from twisted Lycra head/neck covers!
I use the shires soft mesh one, it's the earless one with just a strap over the top of the head as I use it mostly to protect pink skin around his eyes. It seems to stay put pretty well!
 
After trying different ones which weren't right for one reason or another I bought the equilibrium and it' s excellent.
 
If you do a search on here you'll probably find a few horror stories re. lycra hoods.

I put one on my boy and turned him out in the morning. Just to explain that I have my own yard and live on-site so am usually around if there is a problem.

I left him turned out in the lycra hood, hoping all would be well. Later in the day (probably about mid-afternoon if my memory serves me well) I went up to bring him in. He was standing with his head down, in the corner of the field, VERY unlike him as whenever he sees anyone at the gate his immediate reaction is "Food"!!!, but on this occasion he didn't.

I went across to him: and then I noticed why he hadn't come up to me. The lycra hood had shifted and was completely covering his eyes and mouth. He was standing there, totally blindfolded by it, and unable to eat :(

I'd never ever use one again.

I seem to recall a case on here where someone had turned out in a lycra hood and it had similarly slipped over the horse's face, and it ended up with an ulcerated eyeball.

Avoid avoid avoid! Go for a proper fly mask never a lycra one.
 
I hate lyrca fly masks, my friend's horse has one and it sits right in the eye , looks badly fitted and just scruffy overall. I like the new shires ones, they are well structured and sit off the eye, and have comfy padding :) just bought 5 of them !
 
Thanks all.

I hate the full Lycra hoods for the reasons everyone has mentioned but womdered if these were any different!

I have two shires ones - one that covers the nose and one that doesn't, over time both have become a bit naff :( guess I will just buy lots!!

I like the PE ones but the only one with ears covers the nose too, which Iddon't like as they just get worn away really quickly.
 
Ive been using the Shires soft mesh one with out any problems until yesterday when I found my horse in the field with it twisted and covering one eye, he wasnt a happy boy and wouldnt let me anywhere near him. When I finally managed to catch him, his mask was muddy so I think he'd rolled and it had twisted. Id love not to have to use one at all but wothout it he is totally ,ithered by the flies. I do wonder how we used to cope years ago though as these mask werent about then!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top