Suggestions for a horse that hates fly masks but *has* to wear one?

Question

He hates them all.

Any kind. With ears. Without. With a nose flap. Without. Though he has to have the kind with the nose flap because he has a pink nose that will burn.

He has a spot in his eye that's raised, and I need to keep it protected from the sun, so ideally he should wear a fly mask all day.

But every single day he gets the mask off. The only time he doesn't is when his fly sheet is on and I can connect the fly mask to the neck portion of his sheet.

Anyone have any idea to keep the mask on better during the day? I do have a leather halter, I could leave that on on top of the mask just for during the day and take it all off at night/when they're in their stalls.

If I weren't worried about the spot in his eye, I'd just use sunscreen (I occasionally use it on his nose when he doesn't have a mask on, and he's fine with it being applied. It's just not an ideal every-day solution b/c it doesn't protect the eye too, obviously).

Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

I agree with Judy- she likely has your best answer.

My only other possible suggestion- if your horse is stabled at night, could you perhaps reverse his schedule?

If you can't keep a mask on him, could he stay in during the day, and go out at night?

Just something I've seen done for similar reasons.

Answer 2

Cashel makes a fly mask that fits more snugly and has double lock velcro, multiple types of fabric for the comfort of the horse, eye relief, and a forelock hole. It s the best flymask I have seen and not much more expensive than a regular one. I would not leave a halter on a horse in turnout unsupervised as it is a safety risk. Be sure to tighten the mask on the horses jowl area as this is the spot they lay and rub the mask off. This material of Cashel s is elasticized to make the mask more secure. And they come in colors to match your horses coat so others do not try to take the mask off.

Answer 3

I'd get yourself a tube of roll on fly repellent and use that around his eyes. It's not safe to leave a horse outside in a field with ANY kind of halter on, even one with a breakaway crown piece. There's too much risk of the horse either getting it caught on something and strangling himself, or getting a hoof caught in it when he rolls or tries to scratch himself behind the ears. The outcome in both cases is potentially tragic, so do yourself and your horse a favor and don't go down that road.



Halters which are left in place too long can also cause head and face sores, especially if the horse gets itchy and starts rubbing. I'd use a SUNBLOCK, not just sunscreen, on your horse's nose. Get one with an SPF factor of at least 40 or better. They make them, don't worry.

Answer 4

Have you tried sun block, and Swat? Ask your vet for advice.

Answer 5

How about those fly 'wipes' you use on the face?

Answer 6

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