Fly Masks, Sheets, & Boots for Horses:
Types, Fitting, & Materials

Warm weather brings sunshine and wildflowers, but also flies and other pesky insects. While fly sprays and other repellents can help horse owners keep the bugs at bay, sometimes these solutions are not enough. If you'd like to learn more about the root of problematic flies check out our guide on Fly Control for Horses: Tips for the Barn, Stable, & Pasture. You will gain knowledge on how to better combat pests on your property to help prevent a large fly population from invading.

Luckily, there are additional methods of fly control for horses that act as physical barriers against pests—and can even block the sun's damaging UV rays! For horses that are irritated by bugs or have more sensitive skin, physical fly barriers can prevent a lot of stress during the summer months, keeping your horse happier and healthier.

In this guide to fly gear for horses, we will cover the different types of wearable horse fly protection. Selecting your horse's fly gear begins with a consideration of materials, styles, UV protection, and durability. We will also address how to find the best fit for your equine pal.

Looking to provide your horse even more fly protection this season? Check out our article on the Best Horse Fly Sprays.

Fly Masks:

Fly masks are an easy way to keep bothersome bugs off of your horse's face. They reliably keep bugs out of sensitive areas, preventing common fly-related issues of watery, swollen eyes, or skin infection. Flies are attracted to the moist environment of a horse's nose, and fly masks with nose protection can help counteract insect-borne viruses in horses, as well as sunburned noses.

Horses can easily see through the mesh material over their eyes, and most will wear a fly mask willingly. There are different styles depending on the coverage your horse needs, and some fly masks specifically made for riding offer welcomed protection from flies while you hit the trails!

Types of Fly Masks:

Fly masks are available in four different styles to accommodate your horse's needs for their particular environment:

1. Standard: Protects the main part of the face with a focus on eye protection, leaving the ears and nose uncovered. If eye protection is the main concern, this simpler style may be a good choice (especially in hot climates).
2. Mask with Ears: Protects the main part of the face and eyes, but includes full ear coverage—leaving the nose uncovered.
3. Mask with Ears & Nose: Provides the most coverage by fully protecting the face, ears, and nose. This style is ideal for sensitive horses or equines living in environments with a big biting insect population.
4. Mask with Nose: Protects the face and nose, but leaves the ears open. This is a good choice for horses that do not like their ears covered but are prone to getting a sunburned nose.

How to Measure for a Fly Mask:

Finding the correct fly mask size for your horse is important for both comfort and function. You will need a string or flexible measuring tape to take the following three measurements:

• Nose Circumference: Start one inch or two finger widths below your horse's cheekbone and wrap the tape completely around the jaw.
• Throatlatch: This is the circumference around your horse's throat area. Place the tape at your horse's poll and wrap all the way around the throat until the tape meets on the other side.
• Poll-to-Nose: Measure from your horse's poll down to the end of their nose. This is most important for fly masks that include nose coverage, so you can make sure their entire nose will be protected without overwhelming them.

Fly Sheets:

Fly sheets not only keep annoying bugs and biting insects off your horse, but can also protect them from UV rays—and even help keep them clean as an added bonus! Sheets with UV protection can be particularly useful for dark horses that spend a lot of time outside to prevent their coats from fading, or for very light horses that easily sunburn.

Types of Fly Sheets:

There are four different types of fly sheets:

1. Sweet Itch: Provides the most coverage, making it a good choice for those extra-sensitive equines. Sweet itch fly sheets cover the body, belly, neck, and even extend over the ears to ensure complete protection while grazing.
2. Combination & Detach-a-Neck: Provides the second most coverage, leaving the head and possibly the belly uncovered (depending on the design). Combination and detach-a-neck sheets are good picks for protecting sensitive horses, keeping light-colored horses clean, and preventing dark-colored coats from sun bleaching.
3. Standard: Standard fly sheets protect the main body of the horse. They are good for horses that are not particularly sensitive but still need protection from pesky insects.
4. Standard with Belly Wrap: A variation of standard fly sheets, this type of sheet offers a belly wrap to provide extra coverage for the belly of the horse, where flies tend to linger.

How to Measure for a Fly Sheet:

Having a properly-sized fly sheet is also important for both comfort and function. If you already know your horse's blanket size, you will use that for their fly sheet size as well. Always consult the manufacturer's sizing chart for specifics!

If you do not know your horse's size, you will need to measure with a soft measuring tape. First, find the center point on your horse's chest where you would like the fly sheet's top buckle to sit. Next, bring the measuring tape across your horse's shoulder and along the side of the belly to the furthest rear point to where you would like the fly sheet to end. If your horse is between sizes, round up to the next closest size.

Fly Boots:

Fly boots cover the horse's lower legs, from the bottom of the knee or hock to the top of the hoof. Like fly masks and fly sheets, they are typically made of a mesh-like material that provides protection while allowing for airflow. Fly boots are particularly handy if your horse tends to stomp their legs at flies, and also if you are not able to fly spray them every day.

How to Measure for Fly Boots:

A properly fitting fly boot will stay in place without restricting your horse's movement in turnout. When determining your horse's fly boot size, height and width are the two measurements to note. For the height, measure from below your horse's knee down to their pastern. For the width, measure the circumference of your horse's cannon bone. Then, simply compare to the manufacturer's sizing.

Horse Fly Gear Considerations

Selecting your horse's fly protection gear begins with a consideration of the styles, then materials, UV protection, and durability. Depending on your budget, the price can be an important factor as well. If your horse is hard on their clothing, it may be worth investing in a higher-quality item that holds up versus a lower-cost item that could demand more care or frequent replacement.

Material:

Wearable fly gear for horses is typically made of one of the four following materials:

1. Ripstop Mesh - Made from nylon, these sheets are both lightweight and breathable. The ripstop design prevents new holes and tears from getting bigger, and the fabric offers up to 65% UV protection.
2. Tight Weave Polyester - Made of woven polyester, this material has a soft and comfortable feel but may not hold up quite as well if your horse is particularly rowdy. The tight weave provides up to 80% UV protection.
3. Textilene Mesh - Built to last, this material consists of vinyl-coated polyester designed to prevent rips, reduce heat transfer, and block up to 73% of UV rays.
4. Fine Window Screen Mesh - Protects against even the tiniest of bugs, such as gnats. This material is relatively durable and provides up to 65% UV protection.

UV Protection:

UV protection is another feature to think about when choosing wearable fly gear for your horse. If your equine spends time outside and is prone to coat bleaching, a fly sheet with UV protection can help. If you own a horse with a light-colored nose that tends to get sunburned, a long-nose fly mask can help keep them protected during outdoor time.

Durability:

As many horse owners know all too well from experience, it is rare for fly gear to last more than one or two seasons. Whether it's too much rowdy playtime with other horses or just scratching an itch in their stall, your horse is sure to find a way to tear a hole in their fly sheet. Or they might have you hunting for their fly mask! If you have a playful or mischievous horse, it can be worth investing in fly masks with double-locking closures and fly sheets made of rip-stop fabric.

Price:

Whether you are on a budget or want to invest in the most advanced fly protection technology on the market, you will find a wide array of options available. Pricing for fly gear generally depends on the manufacturer's brand recognition, as well as the item's popularity and cost of materials. While higher-priced items are usually made from more durable materials, some lower and mid-priced products can work just as well!

Fly Gear Care:

Caring for your horse's fly gear is simple: You can either rinse it off with a hose or place it in the washer on a light cycle, then lay in the sun to dry. For storage during the off-season, pack up your fly gear and keep it in a cool, dry area. Especially one where mice and other small creatures are not able to cause any damage!

Q: When should my horses wear fly masks, sheets, and boots?

A: When your horse should be wearing its fly gear is largely dependent upon your geographical location and the time of year. Fly season begins in the springtime as the weather warms, then tapers off once the temperatures cool around the middle of fall. It is a good idea to be proactive in preparing for your particular fly season before it actually arrives. Reference the diagram below to learn when your horse will likely need fly protection (in the United States). While Alaska and Hawaii's fly seasons are typically shorter in comparison, we have included them for a general guideline.

Q: Which fly masks, sheets, and boots are the best?

A: The best fly masks, fly sheets, and fly boots are often personal preference, and will differ based on your and your horse's needs. The best choice is whatever works for you both! One horse may require head-to-tail dressing due to being highly sensitive to flies while another may only need a fly mask. However, we understand wanting to narrow down which of the many products out there have been tested to be the most durable, most protective, and so on. Therefore, we encourage you to review our buying guides on the Best Fly Masks and Best Fly Sheets of 2023!

Q: Does my horse need fly spray in addition to wearable fly gear?

A: Sometimes the pests in your area become so intense that your horse starts showing signs of being particularly bothered, such as constantly swishing their tail, stomping their feet, and shaking their head. If your equine is showing these behaviors while wearing their fly protection gear, they will need the additional protection of fly spray to better deter insects from landing on them in the first place. We suggest spraying your horse's gear with fly spray as well to double up the protection. Monitor your horse over time to determine the frequency at which need to reapply your fly spray. One fly spray may work better for your purposes than another, and we encourage you to read more in the FAQ section of our guide on the Best Fly Sprays of 2023!

Q: How can I control flies in my barn, stable, and around the pasture?

A: There are several strategic methods you can practice to control the flies in your horse's environment to keep them more comfortable and less stressed. We dive into the depths of fighting flies at every life stage in our educational piece, Fly Control for Horses: Tips for the Barn, Stable, & Pasture. Step into fly season better prepared!

With such a variety of fly protection gear on the market, it can be challenging to find the perfect choice. Remember to consider materials, durability, and the level of protection in order to keep your horse's ultimate comfort a top priority. We hope this guide has helped you feel better equipped to pick the ideal fly gear for you and your horse! Should you have any lingering questions, we invite you to contact our friendly customer service team at 1 (800) 620-9145 or info@ridingwarehouse.com. Our crew will be happy to jump into the thick of the bug battle with you!