Question for people who use fly masks - are they safe?

Ravenwood

Ravenwood

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I have noticed a few pics this evening of horses wearing fly masks.

My mares absolutely detest the flies (as do all horses!), infact one mare always gets runny eyes in the summer (always has), so I bring them in during the day most days - they are usually waiting at the gate for me anyway desperate to come in ;) My horses love their stables, they would happily live in 24/7 - you actually have to tug/pull and drag Trixie out of her stable when it is time to turn her out! :cool:

So, onto fly masks, what stops flies crawling in underneath them and getting trapped? Surely this would be a far worse scenario than not wearing a mask? Particularly if the horse had a small cut on its face.

Are they safe? How easily can they break/come undone etc if the horse rubs its face on a tree for example and gets it caught?

I absolutely refuse to turn a horse out in a headcollar ever - far too dangerous! So what makes fly masks safer?

Are fly masks a cop out for lazy owners who can't be bothered to bring their horses in for the day? (I am expecting huge arguments over this to keep me entertained this evening!!!!)

Just a few ponderings for this evening :D
 
My two take theirs off all the time so I don't worry too much about them getting caught up. I think they mostly remove them by rubbing on each others bottoms. They're only held on by velcro so they come undone pretty easily although my pair just pull them off done up!

I have equilibrium ones and haven't ever found a fly underneath yet! And surely better out than in. I'm pretty sure horses have evolved to deal with flys after all. Unlike being stabled which they haven't evolved for at all!
 
No not for lazy owners... my ponies refuse to stay in, one even got colic through stress due to being on box rest! I've never had a problem with fly masks. mine wear them 24/7 in the summer, which the ponies seem to appreciate. They come off easily enough as i sometimes find them on the floor... Mine are done up with velcro so if they were to get caught they would come undone quick enough. As for flies getting in... I've never had this problem either, but my masks are elasticated round the nose so no way for flies to get in... :D
 
Yes my 2 wear fly masks, well sometimes they do if they don't remove them, they have also shredded them pretty much where they get caught on brambles etc and they must just pull back and off they come off which i'm pleased about otherwise I would worry too.
 
My two take theirs off all the time so I don't worry too much about them getting caught up. I think they mostly remove them by rubbing on each others bottoms. They're only held on by velcro so they come undone pretty easily although my pair just pull them off done up!
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So why bother putting them on in the first place if they constantly take them off?

. I'm pretty sure horses have evolved to deal with flys after all. Unlike being stabled which they haven't evolved for at all!
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Again - why put one on then if horses have evolved to deal with them?
 
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Suffolkangel said:
As for flies getting in... I've never had this problem either, but my masks are elasticated round the nose so no way for flies to get in... :D
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So are they so tight around the whole head that a fly would not be able to sneak under? Don't you think this must be terribly uncomfortable for the horse?
 
They tear easily;)

Some of mine have them and some dont. It depends how sensitive they are tbh. Even in a stable the flies can get to them.

Currently I have two in masks. One who will spend his whole day with his head under another horse tail rather than eat, and he needs to eat. The other has had access to a decent field shelter but has had bad conjuntivitis.So he has a mask.

In the past i have had another horse who was susceptible to conjuntivitis from flies, despite a shelter or stable, so she wore a mask too.
 
I have a 3 year old TB & a 25 year old Welsh pony who both have fly masks. The 3 year old copes with hers without any problems at all whereas the old boy seems to take great delight in wriggling out of his.

They fasten with velcro so I don't worry about accidents. I prefer using the masks to the horses having runny eyes.
 
dozzie said:
They tear easily;)


Even in a stable the flies can get to them.
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Mine are fly free in the stables :)


Currently I have two in masks. One who will spend his whole day with his head under another horse tail rather than eat, and he needs to eat. The other has had access to a decent field shelter but has had bad conjuntivitis.So he has a mask.
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So for the one that needs his nutrition but doesn't get it - why don't you bring him in to regulate his consumption?

.[/QUOTE]
 
I bring my horse in between 7am and 3pm (ish) in summer but turn out in a fly mask overnight if it is dry and sunny. I have never found a fly in one, the one I use has a thick black sponge insert round the nose and fleece round the back. Nothing to say the flies dont crawl under the edging, I assume they aren't that persistent! The mask has come off a couple of times, if she has been poking in the hedge, then it pulls straight off. I would hazard a guess one or two flies inside a mask is preferable to 50 or so all over her face, but I don't know for sure, so she suffers in a mask to appease my wild assumptions. :)
 
One of mine wears a mask, and the other 2 have fly band things on (the elasticated ones with the strings down their face)

If I am completely honest, yes, it is because I am too lazy to have them in all summer!! I dont keep them at home, and have 4 kids, so it is nice to have a bit of a break during the summer where I dont *have* to go twice a day and dont have to muck out. (I do poo pick daily though....not THAT lazy!)

Mine very often get them off when they roll, but generally that is when I am there and I can put them back on again.

The one that wears the mask, also has the extra bit that covers her pink nose so it helps with sunburn too.....

I have never seen anything underneath it....there is a fluffy bit, which I guess must put the flies off....
 
Ravenwood said:
So are they so tight around the whole head that a fly would not be able to sneak under? Don't you think this must be terribly uncomfortable for the horse?
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No not tight at all, but a fly would struggle to get in. to be honest if my ponies weren't happy wearing the masks they wouldnt let me put them on!
 
Ravenwood said:
So why bother putting them on in the first place if they constantly take them off?



Again - why put one on then if horses have evolved to deal with them?
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Well for the two or three times they take them off in a week they are still in them more often than they aren't given that they're checked three times a day and they go straight back on.

And I guess it just makes me feel better if they have them on because I hate getting up there and seeing flys crawling over their faces. They don't care probably but I do and as they also don't care if they're wearing one, why not? Placebo effect for me if you like! And they do care about being in. They just scream at each other all day and worry so much better they're out IMO
 
I have to keep Nadia out because she has arthritis and it is better for her to keep mobile. She wears a fly mask, rarely gets it off and even if she did get caught up it's only velcro.
I've never noticed any flys in hers but if there was it'd be better to have only a couple than hundreds over her face.
 
My boys practically put their mask on for me in the morning and then happily go off to graze so im assuming they prefer wearing them than being covered in flies :P They arnt done up tight but iv never found a fly under it and the only time they have been removed is when they have got caught on something! and usually I find its wearer trying to put his head back in it! They have access to stables but I find its the heat they avoid more than flies.
x
 
I use a Roma fly mask which is lined with fleece. My boy is a headshaker and flies exacerbate the problem. If he has had it off as its rained, he practically puts it on himself when the sun and flies come out, so I know he appreciates it.

I think as long as they are taken off in bad weather and washed reguarly they are really helpful and provide a lot of relief. I'd rather have a fly mask on than keeping him in during the day!
 
dozzie said:
LOL! I cant catch the bugger! :D
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LMAO - good honest response :D

I completely understand that some horses have to kept out if they suffer from joints or stress etc but surely these horses are the minority- perhaps.

To those of you who say that one fly trapped in a fly mask is better than 50 flies on their face - why would you let that circumstance arise? If a horse is not wearing a fly mask they can flick them off easily - evolved, as already mentioned using their own assets and their field mates.

But surely if a fly was trapped in the fly mask - it would be hell for the horse. I can't begin to imagine how stressful that would be. Also there is no way that a fly mask can be so tight as to not let a fly in under it - and as I said before - if the horse has a nick or small cut on his face then flies will be attracted in their dozens!
 
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All I know is that when I tried Ellie in a fly mask, she went absolutely nuts until I removed it. I can only assume that it was because she found it hard to see! I've never used one since, as it was quite scary to see - she was terrified. I use a fly fringe instead now - a velcro one which doesnt need to attach to a headcollar.
 
Seems to me there are more arguments FOR fly masks than against them. The only argument against seems to be from someone who hasn't actually used them?

I have used them for years and have never seen a fly inside the mask and no, that's not because they are too tight.
 
_MizElz_ said:
All I know is that when I tried Ellie in a fly mask, she went absolutely nuts until I removed it. I can only assume that it was because she found it hard to see! I've never used one since, as it was quite scary to see - she was terrified. I use a fly fringe instead now - a velcro one which doesnt need to attach to a headcollar.
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LOL....that reminds me of the first time my youngster saw my mare in hers.....he nearly jumped out of his skin!! I think he thought I had taken my horse away and returned with an alien or something!!!
 
One of mine keeps a fly mask on, and she's not the sort to put up with something she doesn't like! :rolleyes:

One doesn't keep one on, so we don't bother.

One used to have to wear one due to sweet-itch, but where he lives now he doesn't seem bothered, so he doesn't wear anything.

It would do all of ours far more harm to be brought in than left out - they don't like being in :(. I am so hoping we get moved before winter!
 
stevieg said:
Seems to me there are more arguments FOR fly masks than against them. The only argument against seems to be from someone who hasn't actually used them?
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LOL - good reply :D

You are quite right - I have never used a fly mask before. To me they seem totally unecessary and a new fad with the ability to cause more distress than good!

I am glad that you are happy to use them and that your horses are happy too.

Not for me though I'm afraid ;)

Horses for courses and all that - but you have to admit that it has been a good debate to keep us entertained this evening :cool:
 
stevieg said:
Seems to me there are more arguments FOR fly masks than against them. The only argument against seems to be from someone who hasn't actually used them?

I have used them for years and have never seen a fly inside the mask and no, that's not because they are too tight.
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Totally agree, and the days I don't put them on because it is raining and then gets sunny are the days mine come in with weepy eyes.
 
I use one most of the time as Star gets runny eyes from the flies. She doesn't often get it off, but she breaks it regularly. I had to sew it back up every night when we were at yours!

I have just bought a new one as the fabric was more my stitches than anything else :p

The generally have elastic on the velcro so can fit snugly but still give room to move.
 
Fly masks are good. As have been said, they have velcro so they can easily come off if the horse gets in trouble. You make sure they are not too tight and they are brilliant. Not that I am a regular observer of flies, but flys tend to land on top of things and eat/poo on stuff, rather than walking a lot. To get under and into a fly mask, a fly would have to fly through a gap, which isnt there and it isnt because the masks are too tight.
 
I use a fly mask during the day on one of mine who gets runny eyes. She can come in if she wants and often chooses to if the flies are bad. She is always keen to get her mask on in the morning and is usually in waiting for me. She'd probably be fine in it all the time but I like to take it off at night. I use a fringe on her bridle when riding as she really can't cope with flies.
My old girl has a fly mask in the field if flies are bad. She lets me know whether or not she wants it on as if she doesn't she sticks her head up and if she does want it she offers me her head. We understand each other pretty well!
My Highland doesn't need one as she is very well equipped in the mane department and thinks masks are for cissies!
 
My horse didn't wear one last summer but I did buy one several weeks ago as the flys were really irritating him and he was noticably distressed. He is far far happier in his fly mask and can graze happily without them irritating him. Another horse on the yard also got an eye infection which the vet supects was caused by the flys so I would like to safe guard against this.

As for him getting caught or a fly getting trapped I think it is highly unlikely and therefore worth the risk.
It isn't a case of being lazy as the lady who provides services lives on site so can to/bi whenever. He hates likes to be out as much as possible and I let him make the most of it before winter comes.

Try one you might even like it.
 
Well as for fly's getting under a mask, i had a cheapish mask that didnt fit very well and stuck out from the side of the face, the flys only the odd one, which i was surprised at. But they all moved up into the ears and died in the flopply excess bits of the ears. New one now brought.

I use mine as i see my boy head tossing in the field, rubbing his eyes and making them sore, then more flys join in. Plus mine has a pink nose that gets sun brunt, and keeping sun cream on it is a never ending job. So he has a mask with a nose bit, and he happily has his fill of grass and loves it, without being bothered.

As for bringing him in, i do when its hot, theres a lot of fly's, raining alot, but i think that horses spend to much time in the stable, so why not let them live out and be horses for most of the time
 
Ravenwood said:
LOL - good reply :D

You are quite right - I have never used a fly mask before. To me they seem totally unecessary and a new fad with the ability to cause more distress than good!

I am glad that you are happy to use them and that your horses are happy too.

Not for me though I'm afraid ;)

Horses for courses and all that - but you have to admit that it has been a good debate to keep us entertained this evening :cool:
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Lol. Glad you took it in the manner it was intended.

My old pony gets very runny eyes without his mask and it's not a pretty sight. (No pun intended)

And yes... excellent debate! ;)
 
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