Ride on fly rugs, do the y work?

R

Rubyrooo

Member
Joined
6 December 2024
Messages
24
Visit site
Horse fly season is upon us, and my poor black mare is like a KFC bargain bucket for them. The yard we are at is next to a river and cuts its own hay, so we have the ideal horse fly conditions of water and long grass. I’ve tried just about every fly spray on the market, so am considering a ride on fly rug so we can hack. Does anyone have any experience of them, good or bad? Any recommendations? Or if anyone knows of a fly spray that actually works, please let me know! My girl objects to having a rug put on at all times, so she’s not goi g to be too impressed witha ride in one. If she didn’t get bitten and hate horse flys so much I wouldn’t even consider it!
 
Yes they do. My old horse spent the summer months covered in one. Obviously it leaves the belly and legs exposed but at least much of the body is covered
 
Yes. My old horse used to totally lose her sh1t when attacked by cleg flies but was pretty cheerful and rideable with the fly rug on.
 
I had a ride on fly rug for BB and he hated it 🤣 but if the flies were bad we always had a mask on, but I haven’t tried my new one with Orbi yet. Im not sure I will bother he is such a hot horse he can sometimes sweat under just a fly rug, Think it would be really uncomfortable for him 😊 will try Orbi
Riding with a mask on and see how it goes🤣
 
Yes they do work!
I have 2 that came from Kramer, they are quite old so those exact ones might not be available now
They came up quite small - the 5'6 in rugs horse ended up wearing the rug I bought for the 6'6 horse
 
we always ride in them. Horseware Amigo flyrider and use face masks as well.

no sweating they are very light and pretty thin material that lets them breath. They have never come home wet from the fly rugs

wouldn't be without them. They simply cover up a large area of the horse to make it out of bounds to horse flies and make the horses life much more pleasant.

the amigo's size small. My 15.2 TB/highland has X large to cover as much surface area as possible.
 
Barton Bounty said:
I had a ride on fly rug for BB and he hated it 🤣 but if the flies were bad we always had a mask on, but I haven’t tried my new one with Orbi yet. Im not sure I will bother he is such a hot horse he can sometimes sweat under just a fly rug, Think it would be really uncomfortable for him 😊 will try Orbi
Riding with a mask on and see how it goes🤣
Click to expand...
My girl is the same. She’s a really hot horse and hates rugs. I only put a rug on in the winter when it’s freezing cold, and only put a fly rug on in the summer when the flys are really bad. She will literally bite the rug as I try and put it on 😁 It’s just getting to the stage where we can’t hack until the hay is cut and the horse flys go. I’m reluctant to take her out on the roads as there are a lot of new houses being built near the yard and lots of noisy traffic, so we do tend to stick to the fields at the moment, which means horse flys!
 
I wouldn't be able to ride my horse during horse fly season if I didn't have my ride-on fly rug! Its from Kramer Equestrian and has fringes along the edge to stop the flies getting under his belly. Without it he flings himself about, throwing all kind of shapes trying to get the flies off, when its more likely me he will dislodge! He too is a very hot horse but he sweats less in the rug than if he is naked and getting stressed by the flies. ETA I went a rug size up for a sightly looser fit/maximum coverage.
 
Mrs G said:
I wouldn't be able to ride my horse during horse fly season if I didn't have my ride-on fly rug! Its from Kramer Equestrian and has fringes along the edge to stop the flies getting under his belly. Without it he flings himself about, throwing all kind of shapes trying to get the flies off, when its more likely me he will dislodge! He too is a very hot horse but he sweats less in the rug than if he is naked and getting stressed by the flies. ETA I went a rug size up for a sightly looser fit/maximum coverage.
Click to expand...

I have one and it does help but with hindsight I'd go for one with tassles on, I think that would really help.
 
Yes i bought a zebra one with tassels for my older boy. Definitely helped along with a ride on fly mask.
 
I bought the following and it's very lightweight so I found my horse didn't sweat and was more comfortable with flies. (I've not used it in a few years as I bought it for a horse I had on loan).

Busse Moskito Exercise Sheet Full Neck Ride-On Fly Rug with Fly-Busting Fringes​

 
I always used them at one of my previous yards as there were terrible horsefly problems as well as midges and my mare has mild sweetitch. I used the HKM ones and they really made a huge difference snd she never got unduly sweaty
 
Thanks everyone. Looks like I’ll have to do some shopping! Are the fringed ones alot better? I could do with one without a neck ideally, as mygirl has a very thick, long mane
 
Rubyrooo said:
Thanks everyone. Looks like I’ll have to do some shopping! Are the fringed ones alot better? I could do with one without a neck ideally, as mygirl has a very thick, long mane
Click to expand...
I think the length down the side is important. Either get a larger size or a fringed one. Don't forget on a very fat horse there will be a lot less hanging down and on a very thin horse it will hang down further.

The Amigo comes in 2 pieces. You can use the front part, the back part (both attached with a couple of ties on the saddle) or both parts which attach to each other.
I understand the long thick mane but an awful lot of horse flies land either on the neck or underneath the neck or the front of the chest where it is hard to reach when riding.
 
I have a zebra one, it looks ridiculous and the neck and shoulders are too big, but it means i can continue riding. It is very effective, mine doesn’t get any hotter than normal but he isn’t hairy or fat which would exacerbate the situation. I just need zebra jods for me, i had 12 huge bites on my thighs all at the same time last year, it made me poorly 😩
 
I am so indecisive! Help! I’m now confusing myself, I’ve looked at so many 🙈😂 I’ve narrowed it down to these.

Exercise Rug with Fringes Elea - Horse Rugs - Kramer Equestrian

Exercise Rug with Fringes Elea and more of Horse Rugs. At Kramer Equestrian's online shop for horse lovers.
www.kramer.co.uk www.kramer.co.uk

www.hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk

Horseware Amigo Flyrider - Chalk/Navy

You've been looking forward to warm weather and those long blissful summer rides only to find that your horse is being driven mad by the flies? We hear you!
www.hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk

www.equusvitalis.co.uk

Riding Rug - MOSKITO III, Navy 145 cm

For relaxed rides despite the insects. Price: £49.00. Sizes: 125 cm - 165 cm. Delivery in 5 days.
www.equusvitalis.co.uk www.equusvitalis.co.uk

nagsessentials.co.uk

Exercise Fly Sheet with Fringes

Fly exercise sheet which ensures you can ride without flies and other insects bothering your horse. The fringes along the trim of the rug help to keep away the flies so you can ride undisturbed. The neck of the blanket can be attached to the bridle with Velcro fasteners so that it doesn't slip...
nagsessentials.co.uk nagsessentials.co.uk

Any thoughts? I’m so grateful for everyone’s help, by the way. You are all amazing😊

Forgot to add, my girl is 15.2 and usually wears a 6ft rug, so I’m going to order a size up, whichever one I pick
 
Rubyrooo said:
I am so indecisive! Help! I’m now confusing myself, I’ve looked at so many 🙈😂 I’ve narrowed it down to these.

Exercise Rug with Fringes Elea - Horse Rugs - Kramer Equestrian

Exercise Rug with Fringes Elea and more of Horse Rugs. At Kramer Equestrian's online shop for horse lovers.
www.kramer.co.uk www.kramer.co.uk

www.hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk

Horseware Amigo Flyrider - Chalk/Navy

You've been looking forward to warm weather and those long blissful summer rides only to find that your horse is being driven mad by the flies? We hear you!
www.hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk

www.equusvitalis.co.uk

Riding Rug - MOSKITO III, Navy 145 cm

For relaxed rides despite the insects. Price: £49.00. Sizes: 125 cm - 165 cm. Delivery in 5 days.
www.equusvitalis.co.uk www.equusvitalis.co.uk

nagsessentials.co.uk

Exercise Fly Sheet with Fringes

Fly exercise sheet which ensures you can ride without flies and other insects bothering your horse. The fringes along the trim of the rug help to keep away the flies so you can ride undisturbed. The neck of the blanket can be attached to the bridle with Velcro fasteners so that it doesn't slip...
nagsessentials.co.uk nagsessentials.co.uk

Any thoughts? I’m so grateful for everyone’s help, by the way. You are all amazing😊

Forgot to add, my girl is 15.2 and usually wears a 6ft rug, so I’m going to order a size up, whichever one I pick
Click to expand...
amigo bottom of the list.
Kramer near to the top

nag is the horse going to be happy with such long fringes and will you get your leg caught

mosquito middle of the list but it is ok

number one criteria would be how they attached to the bridle. There is a gap on the amigo between the front of the rug and where a fly mask would be
you need something that covers the gap, has more material in it there and fastens on the bridle around the sides (like just below the browband on each side. The amigo has a loop that goes through the crown piece and that doesn't keep it far enough forward.
if you look at the kramer and pull the stirrup down you will see there is not much exposed skin (where your heels would go) That is an easy target for flies to get in and under so you want as little gap there as possible (obviously you need to use your legs)
 
Whatever you get make sure it is big enough! It's a real pain trying to fit an only just big enough rug around the saddle
For that reason I like the look of the Busse best (never come across them before, so have no idea of the quality) simply because it looks roomy
As I said upthread my 5'6 horse wears the 6'6 horse's rug and it's perfect for him
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top