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WITH MYRIAD FLY RUGS AND MASKS AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET, STEPHANIE BATEMAN DISCOVERS THE LATEST TRENDS IN DESIGNS AND MATERIALS TO ENSURE THEY NOT ONLY FIT WELL BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY REDUCE FLY IRRITATION.

Warm sunny days bring about an abundance of annoying ying insects and they love nothing more than to irritate our horses. We’ve all witnessed the joy (or sheer frustration) of turning our horses out in full y-defending regalia, only to fi nd them either totally naked from shimmying out of the gear, or with rubs galore once the items are removed.

So, what are the best materials, colours and designs to go for and how can we ensure they stay in place and don’t rub?

“Studies have shown that insects are attracted to low re ectance wavelengths, in other words the brightness of an object created by light being re ected, absorbed or emitted. This means that -re ecting surfaces such as glossy or bright colours repel ies better than dark, matte fabrics,” e plains Sally hodes of remier E uine. “ hile traditional mesh y protection is still highly eff ective in keeping your horse cool and comfortable in summer months, we have seen an increase in more technical, tighter woven fabrics to the market of late.”

This type of fabric features in products such as the Super ite ly ug, designed to off er a more lightweight and breathable alternative to the traditional mesh rug.

“The re ective properties of the lightweight nylon construction also provides protection, which means the fabric will re ect the sun’s energy and keep the horse’s coat cool,” adds Sally. “Its 1 nylon construction also gives this rug superior strength and durability, engineered to last for many seasons. air this with the uster ly Mask tra to give you total head to tail protection.”

ABOVE: FLIES CAN CAUSE MISERY TO HORSES IN SUMMER, WITH FINE SKINNED AREAS SUCH AS THE FACE PRONE TO PARTICULAR IRRITATION. RIGHT: MODERN FLY RUGS OFFER A MORE LIGHTWEIGHT AND BREATHABLE ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL MESH MATERIALS.

or horses who suff er from sweet itch, the oett lanket provides a totally eff ective barrier against insect attack and prevents the typical allergic reactions.

The fabrics used are breathable and water repellent but have a ‘parasol’ eff ect said to allow vitamin to be absorbed by the horse. There are diff erent si e options which means you can get the closest to a perfect fi t to help prevent rubbing.

FACE OFF

ly masks are designed to not only protect your horse’s eyes from attack by fl ies, but also to stop harmful rays from damaging delicate pink skin around the eyes and mu le.

“We have noticed that horses are now wearing fl y masks for longer periods of time in the good weather, meaning that comfort, fi t and security need to be top priority when designing,” says oe radley of e ieu . “This year we have introduced some new materials to our fl y masks such as the esh abric for ultimate breathability and airfl ow over the face, as well as a lycra stretch fabric for unrestricted comfort and freedom over the horse’s sensitive facial muscles and nerves.” ye darts are an e tremely important design feature for the mask and need to have a generous ‘stand-off ’ over the face to avoid eye irritations and provide ma imum visibility and protection for the horse.

“We always use a quality mesh which is both fi ne enough for good visibility yet robust enough to withstand everyday use, as well as providing all important and fl y protection,” adds oe. “ ur customers’ favourite e ieu design features include the handy forelock slit to avoid rubbing and increase stability, super soft bamboo strips over the nose and brow in our Gladiator and rmour Shield asks and an elasticated head piece and throat strap for a close, comfortable fi t.”

FLY MASKS ARE DESIGNED TO ALSO STOP HARMFUL UV RAYS FROM DAMAGING DELICATE PINK SKIN AROUND THE EYES AND MUZZLE

ABOVE: FLY MASKS PROTECT FROM BOTH INSECTS AND UV RAYS BUT MUST FIT WELL AND BE MADE OF SUITABLE FABRIC IF USED FOR LONG PERIODS. LEFT INSET: TIGHTLY WOVEN FABRICS SUCH AS THOSE USED IN THE BOETT BLANKET PROTECT HORSES WITH CONDITIONS SUCH AS SWEET ITCH THAT MAKE THEM ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE.

GETTING THE BUZZ…

Education manager at Areion Equestrian Sue Hurford says: “I use the Horseware Aussie All-rounder as an all-purpose summer and fl y rug. It keeps them cool, clean and somewhat protected from the fl ies. As long as it is well-fi tted, it won’t rub.”

“I use a fl y rug for the evenings and early mornings when the fl ies are at their worst,” says Katie Blatchford. “My horse has a fl y mask every day during the summer but mainly because it has a UV nose guard to protect his sensitive nose.”

Liz Daniels has a pony with mild sweet itch and her advice is to: “wash rugs regularly (have at least two so one can be used while the other is washed) to stop grease/dirt rubbing the mane and shoulders, and start using them as soon as it gets towards double fi gures as that’s when the midges start to hatch. Prevention is so much better than cure.”

“We use the lyrca pull-on fl y masks as they don’t rub,” says rider Lyndall Kramer.

ABOVE: A WELL-DESIGNED FIELD SHELTER CAN OFFER HORSES USEFUL PROTECTION FROM INSECTS AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE USED BY THEM IN SUMMER THAN WINTER. RIGHT: THE H-TRAP CAN HELP TO CONTROL HORSEFLY NUMBERS IN THE YARD OR FIELD.

FOR THE FIELD STRIPES BEFORE MY EYES

A well-designed fi eld shelter – the larger the better to encourage air circulation – plus protection from trees and bushes can help the horse cope better with the attentions of fl ies.

Herefordshire-based Emma Wilesmith comments: “My horses use their fi eld shelters more in the summer than the winter purely to get away from the fl ies.”

Horsefl ies cause particular distress in the early summer, and in some years can make sensitive horses virtually unrideable while they are at their worst. Fly traps such as the H-trap horsefl y trap can be used to help control their numbers on the yard and in the fi eld. The shape of the large black ball mimics an ideal target for biting female horsefl ies and they are ‘tricked’ into mistaking the trap as a large animal. The ball absorbs heat from the sun and the fl ies are then attracted to the heat when emitted.

Once they land on the ball, they will try to bite it and when they fail to obtain a blood feed, they fl y upwards, where they are caught in the funnel and guided into a centrally placed collection chamber.

Horsefl ies breed in damp ground, so to maximise horsefl y interception, identify their likely fl ight paths from damp areas such as around ponds and riverbanks to where humans or animals congregate. Place the H-traps early, preferably just before the fi rst adult horsefl ies emerge in April/May.

Fly rugs sporting zebra stripes have started to appear on tack shop shelves in recent years. While they may appear to be a gimmick, there is science behind the unusual pattern. A study by wildlife biologist Tim Caro et al in 2019 looked at the benefi ts of zebra stripes in preventing fl y irritation in horses. Observations showed that fewer horsefl ies landed on zebras than on plain-coloured horses.

The fi ndings indicate that, up close, striped surfaces prevented fl ies from making a controlled landing. Similarly a striped rug seems to prevent horsefl ies landing on the domesticated horse.

BELOW: SCIENTISTS FOUND THAT HORSEFLIES WERE UNABLE TO MAKE A CONTROLLED LANDING ON ZEBRAS, HENCE THE TREND FOR STRIPED FLY RUGS.

PRODUCT WATCH

FLY PROTECTION

STORMX FLY RUG in

BOETT BLANKET AND HOOD is designed to form

a close-fi tting barrier to protect from biting insets that cause sweet itch. Both are made from unique, tough, breathable fabric that is treated with a water and grease repellent. It comes in two parts – the rug with integral neck and adjustable belly shield. There are 17 sizes and three colours available. zebra print by Hy Equestrian is designed to protect your horse from annoying fl ying insects. The black and white stripes confuse insects so they steer clear while the breathable mesh fabric prevents the horse from overheating. An integrated neck cover and large tail fl ap offers added protection.

RRP BLANKETS FROM £165.50, HOODS FROM £63.57

itchyhorse.co.uk RRP £39.99 | hy-equestrian.com

FIELD RELIEF FLY RUG

is a unique rug that offers ears to tail coverage with a yellow lightweight mesh designed to help repel fl ies. It features UV protection, anti-rub lining on the neck, withers and chest, adjustable straps for the neck, chest and belly as well as a stretch hood and long tail fl ap to ensure maximum coverage.

RRP £95 | equilibriumproducts.com

NAF OFF DEET POWER PERFORMANCE All day

protection against fl ies and insect menace. Available as a spray or gel.

RRP FROM £14.99 750ML SPRAY / £16.99 750ML GEL

naf-equine.eu/uk

LEMIEUX BUG RELIEF LYCRA MASK Made from

a soft, four-way stretch lycra, the LeMieux Bug Relief fl y masks provide a close and comfortable fi t with an average UV protection of 75%. Anatomically shaped for security and comfort, the pull-on design also minimises the chance of rubbing, while stopping any of those pesky fl ies getting up and under the mask. Bug-eye darts maximise freedom and visibility, giving a generous stand-off over the face. Breathable mesh ears and extended nose section give extra protection from irritating fl ies and midges. Forelock slit for increased comfort and security. Available as a half or full mask in sizes XS to XXL.

RRP FROM £14.95 | lemieuxproducts.com

ULTRASHIELD® FLY CONTROL RANGE

from Absorbine features the UltraShield® Insecticide and Repellent for the ultimate control, protecting your horse’s environment from irritating insects. UltraShield® Fly Masks are available in various sizes to help keep your horse cool and comfortable, with structured eye darts and mesh blocking 80% of UV rays. The all-natural UltraShield Green body spray has a fresh, herbal aroma to comfort and soothe horses during the summer months.

RRP FROM £25.03

absorbine.co.uk

LEMIEUX GLADIATOR FLY MASK is super tough

and durable whilst offering complete comfort for your horse. Black UV protective mesh is ultra-strong making this mask perfect for turnout, and the dark colour blocks harmful UV rays. A generous fi t over the eye darts, which give a stand-off over the face, along with soft breathable bamboo lining strips across the brow and nose helps to prevent rubbing and ensures clearance across eyes. Grey 3D Carbon Mesh upper allows for plenty of airfl ow to keep your horse cool and the elasticated head piece and throat strap allow for a close fi rm fi t. Available as a half or full mask in sizes S to XXL.

RRP FROM £32.50 | lemieuxproducts.com