How to Choose the Best Horse Fly Sheet

Horseware Rambo Flybuster Vamoose Fly Sheet with No-Fly-Zone

Constructed with a 1200 denier cross-hatch poly weave outer layer, the Horseware Rambo Flybuster Vamoose Fly Sheet is our top choice for horses who are hard on their clothing. This extremely durable sheet allows horses to play and roughhouse to their heart's content while the "no-fly-zone" technology repels flies and reduces their life cycle. With a removable neck piece and belly coverage, you can be sure that your horse has the full coverage they need. Plus, with 65% UV protection and a breathable mesh, horses will be able to stay protected from the sun's rays in cool comfort!

Equinavia Gard Durable Nylon Fly Sheet

A good fly sheet doesn't necessarily have to break the bank! We picked the Equinavia Gard Fly Sheet as the top choice for riders on a budget. Despite its low price, it provides reliable fly protection to our equine friends. With a standard neck design and soft, breathable material, this sheet is highly effective at keeping the bugs away while offering coverage from the sun with UPF 45. Finished with nickle-plated front surcingles, belly surcingles, and adjustable leg straps to keep it in place, the Equinavia Gard Fly Sheet provides an impressive bang for your buck!

WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Airflow Combo Neck Fly Sheet

For hot temperatures, we recommend the WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Airflow Combo Neck Fly Sheet to keep your equine cool and comfortable. The soft, durable open-weave mesh allows air to freely pass through to prevent overheating and provides 75% UV blocking protection. A full coverage neck and large tail flap provide maximum coverage alongside a belly band, helping protect your horse against both bugs and the sun. Complete with 210T lining at the shoulder, mane, and tail flap for added comfort, your horse won't sweat the warm weather or bugs in this ultra-breathable no-fly zone!

Horseware Amigo Integrated Fly Sheet

It's easy to see why the Horseware Integrated Fly sheet is being featured as the best pattern of the year. Decked out with a fun and springy dragonfly design its an easy choice, but don't be fooled; this Horseware fly sheet is more than just a fun print! It features adjustable belly surcingles, an integrated neck cover, and a wide tail flap to provide your horse with extended coverage. Saving the best for last, this sheet has 65% UV protection, so all while your barn-mates (and your horse's buddies) ooh and ahh at a fly sheet that truly has it all.

WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Sweet Itch Shield Combo Fly Sheet

The WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Sweet Itch Shield Combo Fly Sheet Rug is the perfect solution for the most sensitive of horses. A neck cover complete with ear holes and lining for the mane provides full coverage for your horse's front end. With a full tail wrap and adjustable belly wrap, your horse will be completely covered in all of their most sweet itch-prone areas! WeatherBeeta has included thoughtful designs to eliminate pressure on the withers with padding and shoulder gussets to allow freedom of movement for your horse's needs to frolic and play to their heart's content. Equines will be able to enjoy the warm summer months without worry of irritation in this full coverage fly sheet designed to offer complete protection!

LeMieux Arika Armour-Tek Fly Sheet

We chose LeMieux's Arika Armour-Tek Fly Sheet as the top pick for the small equine in your life due to its feature-packed design. With a detachable neck cover, protective belly flap, and extra-large tail flap, this sheet offers your pony full body coverage from those pesky bugs! The 85% UV protection adds an extra layer of protection against the sun, especially for sunlight-sensitive ponies. To make an already outstanding sheet even better, the Armour-Tek is made from a heavy-duty but breathable fabric that can hold up to all of your little equine's tricks!

Kool Coat Classic III Combo Neck Fly Sheet

Selecting the Kool Coat Classic III Combo Neck Fly Sheet as our pick for the best UV protection was a no-brainer. This super sheet blocks up to 90% of UV rays - no sunburns here! Not only is the Kool Coat ideal for sensitive-skinned horses, but it is also a great choice for helping prevent sun bleaching to your horse's coat during the warm months. With a durable 270g polyester outer, this sheet is built to last, while the detachable neck gives you great versatility!

LeMieux Arika Camo Shower-Tek Fly Sheet

When it comes to complete and reliable neck coverage, the Arika Camo Shower-Tek Fly Sheet truly has it all. With protection beginning at the poll, this sheet is made from a lightweight mesh, with a water-proof and water-reactive top layer that ensures your horse will stay dry yet cool for spring showers. The waterproof layer is crafted from a durable 600D diamond ripstop material that will stand up to your horse's pasture antics. An 85% UV rating helps prevent harm from the bright sun's damaging rays.

We especially appreciate the addition of LeMieux's 45 degree angled T-bar front closure that reduces shoulder pressure and allows equines to frolic in comfort. For those days when your horse doesn't require their neck cover, it can easily be detached as an added bonus. Your equine can wear the fly sheet that will protect them from taking an unplanned "shower"!

Equinavia Vern Full Coverage Protect Fly Sheet

The Equinavia Vern Full Coverage Fly Sheet is an easy and popular choice among the RW Crew for many reasons! This lightweight and feature-packed sheet leaves little to be desired! With lightweight and breathable mesh, you can be confident that your horse can play to their heart's content without overheating. It also does a great job in preventing sunburns and coat bleaching by blocking up to 70% of UV rays. Finished with a removable neck, extended leg coverage, and a full-coverage belly band the Crew (and our horses) appreciate the superb all-around protection this sheet provides. Plus, who doesn't love a friendly price point?

Starting at front closures, the most common closures are straight surcingles, classic snaps, or buckles. However, essentially any winter blanket closure is going to be compatible with fly sheets.

The most popular is the surcingle closure. With simple and durable construction, they have proved their worth many times over. Some brands have even developed their own unique design, such as LeMieux's 45-degree angled surcingles. This style is intended to distribute pressure across the shoulder differently, making the sheet more comfortable and easier to move in. The draw back of surcingle closures is that they are challenging to replace in the event that they are damaged.

You also have the "classics", or, snap and buckle closures. Both have straightforward construction but are more prone to breaking due to smaller components in the buckles. However, it is much easier to replace snaps and buckles on your sheets.

There are two types of belly coverage found in fly sheets. The first are belly bands, which are a piece of material separate from the blanket itself that is attached to each side of the sheet. This is a very full-coverage option for protecting your horse's belly.

Alternatively, some sheets have extended belly coverage, which essentially means each side of the blanket is given extra length on each side of the stomach. Once the surcingles are attached, it'll cover most of the stomach. Although this option does provide great coverage, it isn't fixed in place like the belly band.

Gussets are commonly seen on blankets and fly sheets alike. Usually, there is a V-shape at the shoulder with pleated material. This point is intended to flex forward without having a surplus of material when not in use, allowing for complete freedom of movement.

Horseware's patented Leg Arches offer advantages over traditional gussets because their seamless, ergonomic construction is designed to relieve tension along the neck and shoulder, and to provide full freedom of movement for the front legs. The contoured cut behind the elbow prevents material from gathering behind the front leg, effectively eliminating unwanted rubbing or chafing during turnout. Leg Arches also help the blanket stay secure under the belly and offer additional coverage from the elements.

There are three primary types of neck coverage: standard (no neck), detachable neck, and combo neck. The standard neck is exactly as it sounds - it cuts off where you would see a typical blanket stop. It may have optional attachment points to add a neck piece. Standard necks are great for horses that don't require extra coverage or overheat easily. As an added bonus, standard necks are typically more affordable!

Detachable necks are common favorite because they offer flexibility. You can easily remove the neck piece and place it back on at your convenience. Having options for your horse's coverage is always a great thing! Last but not least, combo necks have the neck piece permanently attached to the blanket itself. This is great for extremely sensitive horses that need to prevent flies from sneaking through gaps in the sheet.

Leg straps are the most common attachment to secure fly sheets. There is one strap on each side of the sheet, the cross or inter-connects to the then attach towards the tail, securing the blanket to their back legs. They are completely adjustable and can be easily cleaned as needed.

Tail straps come in two versions: a wipe-clean tail cord and a webbed tail strap. The wipe-clean tail cord is a PVC-covered cord that is easier to clean and is designed to break under extreme pressure, offering safety if the horse gets caught. The webbed tail strap is adjustable and can be extended or shortened to provide a customized fit.

Fly sheets can definitely be worth it; however, as with most topics in the equestrian world, it depends! Horses who live in extremely "buggy" areas can benefit from having most of their body protected from annoying flies. Some horse owners may choose to use fly sheets to offer UV protection to prevent sunburn (or coat fading). Meanwhile, others may be dealing with skin conditions, such as sweet itch, and need maximum protection from the elements and bugs. There are many horses who don't need a fly sheet and can get away with just wearing a fly mask during the summer months. When deciding if your horse needs a fly sheet or not, consider your location, your horse's specific needs, and how sensitive your horse is to bugs. For more information on fly sheets in general, check out our guide to fly gear for horses!

When deciding on which fly sheet is best for your horse, you should think about the amount of protection you are looking to provide them against insects or the sun. A more sensitive horse might need a full neck cover and belly band, while a less-sensitive horse can wear a standard fly sheet. You should also consider conformation, such as high withers or wide shoulders, and purchase a fly sheet accordingly that provides the best fit to keep your equine comfortable. If you have a horse that's particularly hard on their equipment, we suggest investing in one with durable materials so it can last at least one season. In short, tailor your fly sheet choice to meet your horse's specific needs!

To discover your horse's fly sheet size, simply measure them from the center of the chest, across the shoulder point, and to the point at the center of the tail. This will also roughly be their blanket size! You can read more about fly sheet and blanket sizing in our guide on how to measure for a horse blanket.

This depends on whether your horse is turned out with other equines, as well as how hard they are on their clothes. "Blanket wreckers" are known to be extremely tough on their fly sheets, while horses who live in a herd might have their clothes destroyed for them. There are two avenues equestrians may choose: 1) purchase cheaper, lower quality sheets since they will be destroyed anyway, or 2) invest in a more expensive sheet that is known for durability—and cross your fingers and hope it lasts. Horses who are not living with others and are kind to their clothes can often have a fly sheet last more than one season!