Are fly rugs useful for horses? Lepona clear up.
Fly rugs - function and benefits
Fly blankets can be seen in many pastures and paddocks. Sometimes they are striped, for the most part you see rather light colors like beige or gray and every now and then the horse is also wrapped up from head to toe. But why do horse owners do this at all? Shouldn't the horse be naturally able to fend off insects with its mane and tail? We will try to give you an overview, make recommendations and explain why fly rugs can be useful.
A fly rug for horses is characterized by a particularly close-meshed net structure. These tight meshes prevent annoying insects such as flies, horse flies or black flies from penetrating the horse's skin.
But then why not just use a cotton blanket to keep insects away? Very easily! Your horse would sweat too much in summer. The tight meshes of a fly rug don't let crawling critters through, but they are air-permeable and breathable. This counteracts heat build-up.
For which horses are fly rugs suitable?
Fly blankets are suitable for all types of horses. Whether warmblood, thoroughbred, draft horse or pony - when insect exposure is high, all horses will benefit from a fly rug.
You should use a fly rug, especially if your horse is really bothered by insects. This can show up when your horse paces up and down the paddock or can't concentrate on you while riding because it's pinching and itching all over.
Clipped horses in particular should wear protection against insects when grazing. Because they have no natural protection in the form of thick fur against these annoying beasts and therefore usually react a little angrily.
When should you start using a fly rug?
At the latest when the days are getting warmer and the first mosquitoes and flies are slowly making themselves felt, the time has come for most horse owners to unpack a suitable blanket. As a rule, this is the case in the middle / end of May, when the grazing season is really starting.
Your horse will show you if he doesn't want to stay outside without a suitable blanket to protect himself. It may not find rest to graze because it is always trying to escape from these beasts. Or your horse's skin is particularly sensitive and you see small or large smallpox on the body. If the skin develops defensive reactions, such as pustules, you should protect your horse. Because these skin reactions are usually very itchy and can be easily prevented by using a blanket.
So pay attention to your horse's reactions and how it behaves with insects.
What should be considered when buying a fly rug?
There are a few things to consider when purchasing a suitable insect repellent blanket:
- Does your horse need a plain rug, maybe with a neck piece, or even an eczema rug?
- The right size! Orientate yourself on the normal blanket size of your horse. The ceiling must not be too big so that no crawling critters can slip under it. But it must not be too tight either, so that it does not constrict or chafe and your horse can move properly.
- tear strength. There are rugs that are particularly tear-resistant if your horse or his grazing buddies are a little more violent with them.
- Sufficient air circulation must be possible.
- Light color because light colors reflect sunlight.
- Gauntlets or a special cut for freedom of movement.
- Padded withers for more comfort during long periods of wear.
- Cross straps, leg straps and tail straps ensure a non-slip fit even during and after rolling.
Fly rugs - what types are there?
A horse's needs can be quite individual. Therefore, the manufacturers offer different fly rugs. So you can choose the right blanket for your horse and have to make little or no compromises. Below we explain the different models.
The standard model
The classic model is cut like a classic horse blanket. They are closed at the front with Velcro or a hook fastener, usually have cross surcingles and a tail strap. There is fleece or faux fur padding at the withers.
This species is suitable for uncomplicated, not so sensitive horses that still need protection from annoying insects.
These will be happy Fly blankets also taken for transport in summer.
Fly blankets with neck part
If your horse needs a little more protection, you can too Fly sheet with neck part to use. So not only the body but also the neck is protected. The neck part can either be sewn to the blanket or attached to the blanket with a fastener. This can be either a hook or Velcro. At the upper end there is also usually a Velcro fastener for attaching to the halter. This way the blanket cannot slip down over the neck.
Many brands also sell fly rug necks separately. So if you already have a fly rug, you can see if it has a way to attach the neck part and then buy it afterwards.
Fly rugs with protection against rain
If the weather forecast predicts changeable weather, you can click on a Fly rug with rain cover evade. A water-repellent fabric in the back area protects against rain showers. However, the material is usually very light, so that your horse does not sweat excessively even in the sunshine. These rugs are ideal for horses who cannot tolerate a wet back due to health problems or horses who are outside all day in changeable weather.
Eczema rugs for horses - What is the difference to a fly rug?
For very sensitive horses that tend to have skin problems and chafed manes and tails, you should use an eczema blanket. The eczema blanket for horses consists of a very close-meshed, breathable material, which keeps even the smallest mosquitoes away from the horse.
The Eczema blanket always has a neck piece, sometimes even with sewn-in ears or ear cutouts. A belly flap protects most of the horse's belly and is attached to the sides with fasteners. A long tail flap protects the sensitive root of the tail.
This blanket model is usually closer to the horse's body than the classic fly blanket. So the small insects cannot crawl under it. Elastic inserts ensure more freedom of movement. However, you should not buy the rug too small so that you do not restrict your horse's movement. Orient yourself to the manufacturer information in the item descriptions.
An ideal supplement is one Fly mask, so that eyes and ears are also effectively protected.
Riding rugs with fly protection
There are exercise blankets with fly protection for on the go. These are also made of mesh material and, like kidney blankets, are closed in front of the saddle with a Velcro fastener. A saddle cutout allows you to easily use the rug under the saddle flap. So it won't be so slippery for you when you ride out, but your horse is protected from flies from the saddle to the tail. For even more protection, there are also exercise blankets that close at the front of the chest. In addition, these blankets often have a neck part. However, these fly rugs have a saddle cutout.
Zebra Blankets - Are the stripes really useful?
One might think that the zebra stripes on fly rugs are a fashion quirk. But that's not the case. Insects simply see differently than humans or horses with their compound eyes and are confused by the stripes. You can no longer recognize the horse so well and therefore end up less often on the black and white stripes. There are also studies that have shown that the stripe pattern prevents horseflies from aiming at the horse.
zebra blankets protect against some types of insects more effectively than other fly rugs.
FAQ – Questions about fly rugs simply answered
It all depends on the material of the blanket and the intensity of the rain. The blanket should dry very quickly to avoid chafing and colds. If it is rather cold, it is better to remove the wet fly rug as it will not dry quickly enough. The moisture must also not accumulate under the blanket. If rain is imminent, you should rather use a fly rug with a rain cover on the back.
In principle, nothing stands in the way. But you should pay attention to the quality and comfort of the fly rug. With some horses, especially sweet itch and horses with severe allergies, the owner unfortunately has no choice but to leave the blanket on for 24 hours.
Make sure that your horse has enough freedom of movement and that there are no chafing or pressure points if the blanket is left on the horse for a longer period of time. You should also pay attention to a high level of breathability so that your horse does not sweat unnecessarily and the skin gets enough air.
Every fly rug tends to be suitable for pasture. You should decide individually for your horse and in the given circumstances what you need for a fly rug.
If your horse rolls around a lot, you should make sure that the seat is very good. Maybe you prefer a fly rug with cross surcingles, fillet cord and additional leg straps.
If your horse and his buddies are more of the rough type, you should pay attention to a high tear resistance. Even horses that do a lot of grooming can wear blankets relatively quickly, especially in the withers. So make sure that the fly rug can withstand something like that.
If your horse sweats quickly, provide shelter and of course a fly rug made of a particularly breathable fabric with UV protection. If the ceiling reflects the sun's rays, it doesn't get quite as warm underneath.
Horse blankets to protect against flies and other insects are relatively cheap to buy. Simple model of Busse, Kalvalkade or Waldhausen are available for around €30. If you want more features, better tear resistance or additional options like a detachable neck part, the fly rug will be more expensive. Our most popular fly rug manufacturers are Horseware, Eskadron, Bucas and also Kentucky Horsewear.
The size of the fly rug depends a little on the fit. It should fit snugly but not restrict your horse's freedom of movement. As a first step, you can use your horse’s normal blanket size as a guide. Many manufacturers also provide a measurement table for fly rugs. We then stored one directly in the article.
If your horse sweats under the fly rug, you should switch to a lighter model. Above all, you should also give him a shady place in the pasture, for example with a shelter. Light-colored fly rugs reflect the sunlight, making it less warm under the rug. Bucas also offers special fly rugs with extra UV protection, which provide more sun protection.
Conclusion: fly rugs are useful for some horses!
If your horse has eczema or suffers greatly from the stress, you should definitely use a fly rug. This makes it much easier for your horse to graze. Riding fly rugs are also useful if your horse does not rest at all on the way and repeatedly bangs its head or kicks at the flies with its legs.
So we say: YES! Fly rugs can be helpful and definitely make sense for certain horses.
You might also be interested in that
Acupressure blanket for horses from Accuhorsemat
Horseware Ice Vibe - What can the popular cooling gaiters do?
