There are many ways to help protect our horses from flies. Not only are flies bothersome and annoying, but some may bite the horse causing skin irritates. Other flies cluster around the horse's eye to drink the fluid that is in the corner of the eye. It's best to take measures against the flies during the summer time.

Here is a few of the most popular and effective ways to protect your horse from flies

Fly Masks: A fly mask is a protective mesh that covers the horse's head and protects its face and eyes from flies. The mesh is thin enough that the horse can see perfectly fine. Fly masks come in normal horse sizes: foal, pony, average horse, large horse/draft and Arabian. You can buy fly masks that have protective covering for the ears as well, to keep out gnats. Some varieties of fly masks also come with a nose cover. Fly masks can also be used to protect the horse's face and eyes from the sun. Some fly masks are UV protected and are a must for horses with bald/white faces as they can get sunburned very easily. Fly masks are also useful if the horse has an eye or face injury that needs to be kept safe. A fly mask has many uses and is definitely something you want in your tack box.

(photo taken from Pinterest)

Fly Sheets: A fly sheet protects the horse's body from flies as well as the sun. Most horses are fine without a fly sheet, but if your horse has sensitive skin or you're showing and need to keep your horse protected and clean, you might want to invest in a fly sheet.

(photo taken from Pinterest)

Fly Spray: Fly spray comes in a spray bottle and is applied directly to the horse's body. It kills and discourages a wide variety of flies. There are many brands to choose from. As always, the more natural the better! Research is always a good idea when choosing a fly spray. You can also talk to your trainer or another experienced horse owner when choosing a fly spray.

When applying the fly spray be careful not to over-dose. A few quick sprays across the horse's body and legs will suffice. If you want to apply fly spray to the face the best way is to squirt some into your hands and rub in on your horse's face and around the eyes. Don't spray directly onto the horse's face as this may startle him or allow the fly spray to get into his eyes and nose. You can also take a wash cloth, pour a little bit of fly spray onto that and rub the spray onto your horse.

Keeping your horse, paddocks and stalls clean will help reduce flies. Having a system for dealing with the manure will also help reduce the flies.

"It's a lot like nuts and bolts - if the rider's nuts, the horse bolts!" --Nicholas Evans

~ Saddle Up