What are the alternatives to fly masks?

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StarcatcherWilliam

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As title really. I noticed that my horse's eyes looked sore this morning, so put her fly mask on. She went potty and started swinging her head about wildly and I was worried that she was going to hurt herself so removed it. Is there anything else I can use instead? Don't really want to turn her out with a headcollar and fringe on, as she is not what I would call a sensible sort of horse!

The fly mask was one of those Field Relief ones and she wore it last summer without any problems. I checked that it wasn't touching her eyelashes or anything, so not sure why she had such a bad reaction to it this morning...??
 
If the headcollar one becomes the only option you could always get her a field safe headcollar, I would suggest a cottage craft field safe headcollar they are very good!! :D I no that wasn't very helpful but :rolleyes:
 
Re. a "field headcollar". Libbys (now Polypads) used to do a very good one - with velcro instead of a buckle. You do need to order up a size tho' as they are quite small.

The other thing you can do if yours can't/won't tolerate a fly mask is to literally slather with fly-repellent. Mine's got sweet itch, and there are times when I like to turn him out without his fly mask on simply to just give him a break from it, and so I use "Killitch" (benzyl benzoate) which is basically a preparation specifically for SI.

Another idea is to consider using a cattle fly-tag. "Alec Swann" on here posted on this a while back (you could PM him???) and apparently what you have to do is use two, one on each side, fastened to the headcollar so that it TOUCHES THE COAT, not just left to hang like a dog-tag would say, and not touch the coat coz its apparently the contact with the horse's coat that's the thing, it rubs off and repels flys etc. So this might be worth a try??
 
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