Recommendation for a facemask for horse about to have eye op

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mustardsmum

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Our mare has to have a melanoma removed from her eye and we have been advised to get a Guardian Face mask (the one with bug eyes!) but just seen the price and was shocked that a face mask would be nearly £200. An alternative is the Solarvisor, but still quite expensive. Anyone used any other brands, like the Rambo one that stands off the face. It really needs to be 100% UV protection while her eye heals and mustn't touch the eye; so I appreciate it might be a bit more expensive than the bog standard fly masks we currently use. Even better, does anyone have an old one they no longer want that they might be interested in selling? Many thanks!
 
Thanks for your reply @ester, I will just clarify, the melanoma isnt in the eye (sorry I re-read my post and it sounds like the eye itself is being operated on), the melanoma is close to the edge of the eye, so the eye isnt actually being touched. If the eye was involved, I would get the Guardian. This is really just to shield the area around the eye but obviously but I need something that stands away from the face.
 
I know nag horse ranch masks are 90% but don’t have a frame to sit away from the face, and I think a friend had a Harry’s horse one for her uveitis one - but they had a guardian first then it was just preventative (can’t find a % for those though).

I’m trying to remember which brand I had for nose protection (liver issue) it came from Europe as the UK brands at the time were great on UV %
 
I'd still get the Guardian. You might be lucky and find one second hand somewhere? A lot of the ones that sit off the face are only kept that way by some creative stitching creating a bit of a tent effect. If they rub it the whole thing can collapse inwards. A friend's horse wore the Guardian due to problems with one of his eyes and it was so much better than ordinary ones. I borrowed it when my horse cut his eye open and had stitches around it (in winter when her horse didn't wear it) and it really protected it.
 
We have a Guardian and all sorts of others, haven't used any others with that 'bug eye' type design though. It does give that clearance in a more structured way than most masks but I will say that the fit of them is quite important to get them to sit right... especially if you're trying to protect an area around the eye and not the eye itself. I don't think any mask guarantees 100% UV protection so if that's essential then I would've thought you'd need to tape over that section to ensure that.

As @ester says the Nag masks have a pretty high UV rating - they do have a band in them to keep the eye clearance but it's not the same as using a Guardian. We use a Nag one primarily and find them good. Maybe you could show pic to vet?
 
www.equivizor.co.uk

Equivizor Solar Vizor (standard) - Cob

The Solar Vizor fly mask enables your horse to enjoy effective protection against flies and the ever-present issue of insect irritation. Equivizor Fly Masks are highly ventilated, protective shields that are washable, durable and lightweight. The Solar Vizor is available in sizes foal, pony...
www.equivizor.co.uk www.equivizor.co.uk

They don’t give a %
 
I used an over sized equilibrium when ours had his eye removed some years ago. That was what the operating vet reccomended at the time. The ones with no ears and nose sit further from the face than the ones with for some reason!
I'd never heard of a Guardian at that point to had a few Equilibriums which give a decent % UV protection and were easy/cheap enough to be washing and wearing regularly to keep clean.
 
I’ve got the Rambo beekeeper style of fly mask. They are great at keeping flies off without compromising the eyes (much better than the Equilibrium) but don’t give a % UV protection.

I’d just get the Guardian and be done with it. It’ll be less than getting the vet out to deal with it healing poorly.
 
Thanks all, your replies are really useful. Looks like the Guardian it is, as Tiddlypom points out, it will be cheaper than an additional vets bill should anything go awry.... I don't have any experience of eye/facial issues - just about everything else, but never had a horse needing an op in this area, so everyone's advice has been really helpful and a few people have pointed out about the tent ones collapsing which we really don't want while the area heals. I do know someone who modified a bra and inserted in into an existing face mask. I am not sure I could be that creative!
 
Just be careful with the Guardian because I have it on my pony who has uveitis and it does rub a bit around the eyes. So depending on where the melanoma is, it may be better to have one with an arc like the Rambo. It rubs fairly far away from the eye, say 3cm under in my case. I put a photo with the sunglass off so you can see where it sits.

Be careful about the Equivizor site above because the masks don't look the same quality as ones on equidiva for example (which are the same brand) and are much less expensive.
 

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ester said:
www.equivizor.co.uk

Equivizor Solar Vizor (standard) - Cob

The Solar Vizor fly mask enables your horse to enjoy effective protection against flies and the ever-present issue of insect irritation. Equivizor Fly Masks are highly ventilated, protective shields that are washable, durable and lightweight. The Solar Vizor is available in sizes foal, pony...
www.equivizor.co.uk www.equivizor.co.uk

They don’t give a %
Click to expand...
https://www.equivizor.co.uk/collections/recovery-equivizor this one with the bespoke black mask over it is a game changer. Not cheap but life changing for horses suffering. If the Op does buy the recovery mask make sure you measure very carefully.

Mine has been brilliant for about 5 years now, wish I had washed the sheepskin more frequently than I have though as it has gone a bit flat and manky.

There is a FB page dedicated the uveitis horses that sometimes have second hand masks come up for sale.
 
I had a horse several years back had to have his inner eyelid and a bit of the outer edge removed due to a malignant melanoma. I cannot honestly remember the name of the eye protector we used but we bought it off the eye specialist vet who did the op at Newmarket in Suffolk. It is absolutely vital that they have adequate protection to protect the complete operation area until it is fully healed. Ours also had a lens put in to protect the eyeball itself both during and after the op.

If your vets are recommending the Guardian then I would absolutely go for that, you could probably sell it on afterwards once you are sure no follow up ops were needed, ours had another op a few months later but hopefully you will not need this.
 
I've more experience in this than I could wish for.
I had a Guardian for my first blind horse. That was just about the only sort available at that time. I wouldn't buy another, they squish into the eye far too easily,. They are also very expensive for what they are.

The masks in post 12 are good, and very expensive but I wouldn't have thought it was necessary for your problem. You do have to measure carefully, they size small. My 15hh normal size head is a full. .

the link below shows the solar veil in perhaps greater detail and that is the one I would choose for your situation. You get the solar veil from the site in post 7 above and at around £53 it may be a more affordable option.

www.thehorserugwhisperer.com.au

Equivizor Solar Veil

The best fly mask you'll ever use - the solar veil stays completely away from your horse's eyes, has great visibility and 100% UV eye protection. More comfortable and easier to see through than a traditional fly veil. Veterinarian Ophthalmologist Used and Recommended! Hi vision mesh: The mesh...
www.thehorserugwhisperer.com.au www.thehorserugwhisperer.com.au
 
AdorableAlice said:
https://www.equivizor.co.uk/collections/recovery-equivizor this one with the bespoke black mask over it is a game changer. Not cheap but life changing for horses suffering. If the Op does buy the recovery mask make sure you measure very carefully.

Mine has been brilliant for about 5 years now, wish I had washed the sheepskin more frequently than I have though as it has gone a bit flat and manky.

There is a FB page dedicated the uveitis horses that sometimes have second hand masks come up for sale.
Click to expand...
AA, do you have any tips for keeping the recovery visor on? My horse is an expert at removal and I would like to be able to keep it on all day in the field. He seems able to remove most headgear rolling or brushing against walls. He doesn't seem to get that it is vital it stays on.
 
AdorableAlice said:
https://www.equivizor.co.uk/collections/recovery-equivizor this one with the bespoke black mask over it is a game changer. Not cheap but life changing for horses suffering. If the Op does buy the recovery mask make sure you measure very carefully.

Mine has been brilliant for about 5 years now, wish I had washed the sheepskin more frequently than I have though as it has gone a bit flat and manky.

There is a FB page dedicated the uveitis horses that sometimes have second hand masks come up for sale.
Click to expand...
Try using a velcro cleaning brush thingy on the sheepskin. I use one on all the sheepskin stuff I have, both the real thing and synthetic.
 
paddy555 said:
AA, do you have any tips for keeping the recovery visor on? My horse is an expert at removal and I would like to be able to keep it on all day in the field. He seems able to remove most headgear rolling or brushing against walls. He doesn't seem to get that it is vital it stays on.
Click to expand...
Naughty boy ! the last thing you want is the plastic scraped up a wall. Alice has dumped hers a few times and like your lad, it is vital to keep it on. I do put it on fairly tightly and I have put sheepskin sleeving on the head piece and the throat straps, I bought those fluffy head collar sleeves with velcro and cut them into the sizes I needed. It is bit faffy but stopped the rubbing with the tighter fitted mask set up. I also used a field safe headcollar and cable tied the mask to the head collar and then put big plait in her mane behind her ears and wrapped the plait around the strap. Again a huge faff and not really practical as I hate long manes.

Suitably padded you should be able to get it on tight enough to keep it on and if you can remove access to walls etc that would help too. Good luck !
 
AdorableAlice said:
Naughty boy ! the last thing you want is the plastic scraped up a wall. Alice has dumped hers a few times and like your lad, it is vital to keep it on. I do put it on fairly tightly and I have put sheepskin sleeving on the head piece and the throat straps, I bought those fluffy head collar sleeves with velcro and cut them into the sizes I needed. It is bit faffy but stopped the rubbing with the tighter fitted mask set up. I also used a field safe headcollar and cable tied the mask to the head collar and then put big plait in her mane behind her ears and wrapped the plait around the strap. Again a huge faff and not really practical as I hate long manes.

Suitably padded you should be able to get it on tight enough to keep it on and if you can remove access to walls etc that would help too. Good luck !
Click to expand...
yes very naughty boy! thanks for that info. Total huge faff but, for mine, the consequences of it coming off are not good.
 
HollyWoozle said:
As with @Gropony our guardian mask does also rub under the eyes with prolonged use - I sewed faux sheepskin in ours to prevent it.
Click to expand...
I use various types of mask depending on weather conditions, so dull day will see the beekeeper on her, but strong sunshine and she’s in the equivisor and black out or the guardian. I find swapping around helps avoid rubbing.

I managed to trigger an episode by washing the beekeeper in biological tabs, she reacted to the product.
 
AdorableAlice said:
I use various types of mask depending on weather conditions, so dull day will see the beekeeper on her, but strong sunshine and she’s in the equivisor and black out or the guardian. I find swapping around helps avoid rubbing.

I managed to trigger an episode by washing the beekeeper in biological tabs, she reacted to the product.
Click to expand...
is yours ERU?
 
I think I am going to go with the Solar Vizor. In part because I think the further it all is off her face the better - several have mended Guardians can rub and so I think the visor type will possibly be the better as she’s very think skinned. Will update once op has been done next month!

@seriously festive equine i don’t think her normal face mask will be far enough away from her eye as she will have quite a large area removed to make sure all of the melanoma is removed.
 
David Marlin published test results on UV fly masks and I now have a Harrison Howard one for a horse who has had terrible eye issues. It was only just behind the Guardian in all the tests and significantly cheaper and fits better.

I do have an Equivizor as well. Probably should sell it but it's quite a useful emergency back up with injuries around that area. The UV rating isn't that great with it though so be warned. Even sticking the netting over the top. But it doesn't move. It did rub her under the jaw as you need it snug but she had it on for several days while recovering. I used to use the Equivizor when being treated in the stable. I didn't turn out with it. I also rode and competed in it (without netting)

I do also have a guardian but it's my least favourite eye protector.
 
I saw those and did wonder but they are so much cheaper I thought they would be rubbish! It might just be worth me getting one to see - I have another who needs a new (normal) face mask so it might be worth trying. The important thing is that it’s ridgid and won’t collapse over the eye and touch the site of the op.
 
www.justhorseriders.co.uk

KM Elite Space Fly Mask | Next Day Delivery | Comfortable

Next day delivery on KM Elite Space Fly Mask! Offers UV protection and comfort for sensitive horses. Order today for tomorrow delivery.
www.justhorseriders.co.uk www.justhorseriders.co.uk

The KM Elite version of the Rambo claim to have UV protection but again it doesnt specify how much. Might be worth contacting them perhaps.

I think I'd be inclined to try the Harrison Howard one for sure though. They claim (on Amazon) to block 90 something % of UV
 
poiuytrewq said:
www.justhorseriders.co.uk

KM Elite Space Fly Mask | Next Day Delivery | Comfortable

Next day delivery on KM Elite Space Fly Mask! Offers UV protection and comfort for sensitive horses. Order today for tomorrow delivery.
www.justhorseriders.co.uk www.justhorseriders.co.uk

The KM Elite version of the Rambo claim to have UV protection but again it doesnt specify how much. Might be worth contacting them perhaps.

I think I'd be inclined to try the Harrison Howard one for sure though. They claim (on Amazon) to block 90 something % of UV
Click to expand...
David Marlin said most of them didn't match the claim as he tested a lot and at least with UV testing it's not just subjective like some of the other testing he does. I think the HH one was close to 80% and the guardian was 90% so I decided price wise it was worth it.
 
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