Numpty question about fly masks

Weezy

Weezy

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We have turned our routine around today and put all the horses out tonight. I have left Ted's fly mask on as he is just getting over conjunctivitis, but no one else has masked their horses even though they do if they are out in the day. So, does anyone else fly mask at night?
 
I'm turning mine out with a fly mask. Horses night vision is better than ours, I don't think it makes a lot of difference to them. Also the hours of darkness are very short in mid summer, and I really think she needs protection from flies in the evening and morning before she is brought in. She had conjunctivitis recently like yours, and the flies wanted to go all over the weepy corners of her eyes.
 
Yes. I never leave it on for more than 12 hours, so if my horse were in during the day it would go on at night whilst she was out. My old yard used to (still does!) do this and never (*touch wood*) had any problems - far from it, as they are all a lot happier to have their headcollars on in the mornings to be brought in if they haven't got sore ears!
 
Yes i used to when my lad lived out
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No, I wouldn't turn out overnight with a fly mask on. However, given the problem that Ted has had - can understand why you want to at the moment.
 
I have to say my two horses are out 24/7 with fly masks on that cover their ears and muzzles and full fly rugs on as well. They don't seem remotely bothered and the horse flies this year are just too bad to leave them off. I do cover them in repellent twice a day and check under their masks at the same time to make sure their eyes etc are all ok.
 
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No, I wouldn't turn out overnight with a fly mask on. However, given the problem that Ted has had - can understand why you want to at the moment.

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Can I ask why not...am considering leaving one on my pony tonight as she is really suffering with swollen eyes from the flies
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It's a topic for debate at my yard - I leave Marius's mask on overnight (they are all out at night and in during the day) but other owners come up at 10 pm and take them off.
Marius has always had his on overnight with no problems at all. And I wonder how the others cope in the morning with all the flies.
I certainly do not see a problem leaving it on overnight
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I would worry that it would significantly impair their vision overnight. And unfortunately I'm Mrs Paranoid and Health & Safety.

The flies really only bother the horses during the day. And as soon as temperatures drop the flies bugger off. So I also don't see the point.

Get the horse in earlier enough and put it out in the cool of the day and they shouldn't be too bothered by flies.
 
Mine are out and in their fly masks 24/7 - the midges are so bad at dusk and dawn it seems crazy not to protect them when they really need it, and they dont seem to have any problems when its dark.
 
Mine wears hers overnight when the flies are out in force, and it doesn't seem to bother her at all. I put her out about 7pm and she comes in 7am - there are still lots of flies around at both ends of the day. If I leave it off, she gets runny eyes quite quickly.
 
I would prob leave ours on if they weren't practically in the back garden so can be taken off late if required. Think its nice for them to be naked for a bit though.
 
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Mine are out and in their fly masks 24/7 - the midges are so bad at dusk and dawn it seems crazy not to protect them when they really need it, and they dont seem to have any problems when its dark.

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I agree.

Both mine wear theirs 24/7 with no probs. I fact if they get them off they follow me round the field with their head lowered so i put it back on!
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Porridge goes out at 4pm with hers on and comes in at 7.30am and has never suffered any ill effects - their vision is not impaired at all (she can still clear the thin grey strand of electric wire strung 4" above the 5 bar gate whilst wearing one
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yes i used to, my old girl used to suffer from uveitis so had a fly mask on 24/7 was never a problem for her..
 
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I would worry that it would significantly impair their vision overnight. And unfortunately I'm Mrs Paranoid and Health & Safety.

The flies really only bother the horses during the day. And as soon as temperatures drop the flies bugger off. So I also don't see the point.

Get the horse in earlier enough and put it out in the cool of the day and they shouldn't be too bothered by flies.

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Well...why would they impair the vision at night, but not in the day, when the sunlight can glare off them (try wearing the white ones and you'll see what I mean)?
And the flies only disappear when it's dark - I'm b*gg*red if I'm taking them off at 10pm, and getting up at 3.30am to put them back on!
And I don't know what your last sentence means at all.
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S
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