Fly Sheets

[austique]

Can anyone suggest a good fly sheet which is cool enough for an Oklahoma summer? My poor old mare is getting eaten alive!

[louis finochio]

Buy the fly sheet that is made of nylon mesh, as it is the best in hot humid weather.

When you bathe your tb use pennyroyal oil in your bath water and the flies will take a hike.

[Lei Owen]

Austique...last year we used Swat, fly mask and fan's. The mare's had foal's by side and they hung out in their stall in front of the fan! This year, we have found a fly spray that so far (knock wood!) worked much better than anything we've found. It's Bug Block by Absorbine found at our local Tractor Supply. Not only is it working, you don't have to mortgage the farm to buy it!

[aurora]

I used a fly mask one time on a mare that had an eye injury during an Oklahoma summer. The flys just got underneath the mask. Then I went to the store and bought some netting, the kind from the cloth department that is used for ballet costumes and taped it on and it worked. It was a bit of a mess to handle, tears easily, and I wouldn't recommend it unless you are in dire straights.

[austique]

LOL I put a fly mask on Lady for exactly a week and she either covered it in mud so I had to wash it or took it off so I had to go hunt the pasture for it.

[Maureen]

I recently purchased a fly/anti-sweat sheet from Greenhawk through their on-line store and am very happy with the results. The sheet is white, so it reflects the heat, and the horse has stayed quite cool, even with the "humidex"equivalent of around 102F. It has shoulder gussets and leg straps as well, so it stays in place.

[Marli]

I've recently bought the Bug Block by Absorbine and I'll second Lei's comment, it does work *very* well. I also have the fly bonnets made by Absorbine and other than my Nell who insists she doesn't want it on, the rest of the brood are doing well with them. Here's Betty Mae donning hers - lovely isn't she

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/marlifarm/BettyMaeBonnet805.jpg

I'd like to check out the flysheet from Greenhawk - have a link to the site? Thanks!

Edited- Is this the fly sheet by Greenhawk?
http://www.greenhawk.net/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/scstore/p-BLC0014.html?L+scstore+nrlq6290ff8a3d8a+1123119719

[Maureen]

Greenhawk's website is www.greenhawk.net The fly/anti-sweat sheet is the Supra Double Stretch Fly Sheet, product number BLC0100.

[toadie]

If this is a horse that's out 24/7 then I don't think you'll find any fly sheet that holds up like Rambo. Toadie is allergic to flys, but stays out all the time with the sheet (this is the one that also covers the neck) and a fly mask with ears. They now make them in white so with our heat I don't feel so bad about leaving it on day and night. I just replaced one that had lasted 2 seasons, after trying cheaper brands that literally lasted a week at best. The masks don't fair as well because he usually rubs the ears off after a couple of weeks. I'm able to sew them back together at least once, then they're just hand me downs for the mares. He was on allergy shots for 2 yrs, but keeping him clothed works just as well and is cheaper!

[susanh]

I have one I bought at a local tack store (local to London, ON). I think it is by Rambo- anyway it is white and it covers the neck and has a big belly band. Add a fly mask and my OTTB is covered as much as possible. It is made of that stiff meshy material that is suppsed to stand up to every day wear and tear and it does brethe well in the humidity which has been horrible here this year (everyone having the same problem?) Doesn't mean flys can't get up underneath but it does help. I was going to go with a product called BC which is added to feed but didn't for this year because I did not get an answer back in time as to whether I could use it on my HYPP appy mare. I have been told you have to use it on all horses or none. I think BC stands for "bug control" and it costs about $60CDN per horse per year which is cheaoer than the gallons of fly spray we use every year. Anyone else heard of this or used it?

[Maureen]

I believe you are talking about Bug Check, from the Natural Horse Vet. I use this on my horses at home, and find that it does help. I had one mare who would develop hives from fly bites, to the point that she would have to have anti-histamines for relief. After starting her on Bug Check, the relief was quite noticeable. Although she would still get bitten, the hives were few and far between. I use the BC year round, because of the other ingredients that are in it. I presume you purchased this at Wilson's, as they are one of the few places that seem to carry the product?

[susanh]

Sprucewood Tack actually and yes i believe it is bug check. My OTTB had such a terrible case of hives last summer that he was on steroids, anti-histimines etc. 3 weeks before championships too. I will try BC next summer if it is ok for my mare too. Is there a time before bug season you need to start, and what other ingredients does it have that you keep your horses on it all year? Thanks.