What time of day do you put on & take off fly rugs & masks?

Also 24/7. I take the mask off if it’s raining. Luckily I’ve not had to use the rug yet this year so she’s had a few weeks of being rugless 🙏🏻
 
I don't use fly rugs as none of them have sweet itch or are reactive to the flies. I do put masks on to prevent eye infections and protect pink noses, and they go on in the morning and come off after the midges go (so around 8pm now and 9:30-45 in high summer). I put fly gel (lasts longer than the spray) on them in the morning and again in the evening. If I am at the yard in between, e.g. for the farrier, I apply it again then too.

Mine have always seemed to find the evening the worst time of day for fly irritation when the biting midges are at large, so I adjust my timetable in the summer to make sure their masks aren't taken off too early. I don't leave them on overnight as I know I'd be uncomfortable in the same clothes 24/7 (I know, this is anthropomorphising) and horses eyesight isn't the best at night compared to some species so I'd rather not impair it if not necessary. That is my personal choice though, and I know different routines/practices work for other people/horses.
 
Thank you...lots to think about! The whole thing is a massive PITA...having finished with winter at long, long last, I just wanted to abandon any faffing for a bit & instead I have 4 fly masks, 3 fly rugs & 2 grazing muzzles to deal with...

My TB gelding is very sensitive to flies & also has a bit of pollen allergy, but he HATES his fly mask & will march off if he sees me with it. Today I finally managed to get it on him, went to get one of the others' fly masks & when he saw me with that, he made himself scarce as if he thought that I might be going to put that on him too. No Trev, you've already got your mask on, I'm not going to put another one on you...! But to him, fly mask in my hand = RUN AWAAAAAAAAY...!
 
I’ve been fly spraying morning and evening. I have a roll on for round the face and some lotion for round sheath areas and under bellies. The two boys haven’t been in fly rugs, I’ve just been fly spraying well and they haven’t got their masks on either because my old boy’s rubbed him so I have bought him a field safe fly fringe instead which I am waiting to arrive but the power phaser roll on seems to work well on the face.

My mare has sweet itch and it’s been tough this past week as she’s been too hot in her sweet itch rug but taking it off in the day has meant the itching has increased slightly even with covering her in lotion. She wears her fly mask 24/7 except when she comes in the stable for a few hours as she gets sore on her face from the midges.

Dreading it later now as it’s raining and mild = more midges!!
 
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