Another vote for the Rambo fly masks. Only thing is that they fit large. Very large. My giant meloned TB wears a cob size.
I use the Rambo Plus fly mask too, or as I usually call it their beekeepers mask. The Noble Outfitters Guardsman is a similar design.
I’ve found that a rope halter is easier to get on/off than a regular halter for leading to/from turnout.
The size does run generous.
My mare wouldn’t keep on a mask for anything and they always made her sweat like crazy! I just bought a Professionals Choice Lycra fly mask from Chicks Saddlery and my mare loves it! It is so soft and a very lightweight material that doesn’t make her sweat. The version I bought has ears and is a pull on, but they sell ones w/o ears and a zipper closure. The eye spaces are also very nice and create a large dome around the eye. She can freely blink her eyes without her eyelashes hitting the mask. You should try one!
I both a style very similar to the Chicks from Amazon on the recommendation of a barn mate for my Houdini fly mask shedding mare. She hasn’t come in without it yet (knock wood 2 weeks so far). Been through most of the others mentioned for her and although good for my others this is a winner for her. Colors are kind of crazy but if she does ale it off should be easier to find.
According to my mare who wears a fly mask 24/7 from April until September (blue eyes with pink skin around the eye) definitely prefers the Cashel. I usually get the earless version as it stays on better. Any other fly mask she’ll likely have off within a day. I only have to go hunting for the Cashel in her paddock once or twice a season.
I get Lycra ones from Chicks. Some are pull on some have zippers. I prefer with ears. They stay popped away from the eye. I have never had them cause rubs. Some of the stiffer types have caused rubs.
Harrison Howard are the best fly masks I have found for my mare!! And trust me I’ve tried nearly everything out there! They are reasonably priced, have fuzzy lining on the nose (keeps down on rubs!!) and the stays mask off of the eyes (necessity for my girl with chronic eye infections) without beings to big to fit on with a halter!! My mare wears hers 24/7 and hasn’t had any problems
I have Arabs. The Rambo/Shires/Cashel type masks don’t fit at all and, as a result, have never stayed on for more than an hour or two at a time. Of the traditional style masks, the Kensingtons and Farnam Supermasks have always fit well for me. However, lately I’ve been using the Professionals Choice lycra fly masks, and both the horses and I are much happier with them. I’m in my second summer of using them, and I’ve only had one horse remove this mask one time. Although the horses do sweat a bit more in them (and I really wish they had a forelock hole!), they seem much more comfortable overall. And they conform to the shape of the horses’ faces much better than other styles.
Just got the Equivisor for my guy who was just at New Bolton for ERU and so far so good! Great for anyone that needs 100% UV protection and I love how adjustable it is. He’s a TB with a small head so this worked great!
I swore by Cashel Crusader masks… UNTIL this year. I have a sorrel overo with a bald face and she burns bad unless her nose is covered.
Something changed for her this year and the same mask she wore last year was a no go. She would bolt after taking it off, she was spooky as shit under saddle, she couldn’t be caught to put it on. I switched to Professionals Choice Lycra masks and have no issues although I do have to use Desitin on her nose now The mesh covering eyes and years is super loosely woven and is very easy to see through.
I used to use only the Cashel Quiet Ride masks - I liked them for night turnout because the mesh has good visibility, and they’re very soft even if they happen to touch the eyes. BUT they rip very easily, and seem to be easy to pull off (even though I use the ones without ears). Last summer on a whim I tried a LeMieux Armour Shield Fly Defender mask. They come in 4 styles: fringed nose (https://www.doversaddlery.com/armour-shield-defender-fly-msk/p/X1-23322/?cpos=1&cexp=155&cst=Lemieux%20armour%20shield&kcid=0023322), long nose (https://www.doversaddlery.com/armour-shield-prtctr-f-fly-msk/p/X1-23323/?cpos=0&cexp=155&cst=Lemieux%20armour%20shield&kcid=0023323) short with ears, short without ears.
I use the short without ears (https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Lemieux_Armour_Shield_Pro_Standard_Fly_Mask/descpage-LMAR.html). Turns out I LOVE this mask! It stays on, it is incredibly tough, it stays away from the eyes, and the fine mesh seems easy to see through. It’s lined with bamboo, which is soft but I like it much better than fleece. They’re not the cheapest, but I haven’t had to replace it once this entire summer, which is a record!
Just got the Equivisor for my guy who was just at New Bolton for ERU and so far so good! Great for anyone that needs 100% UV protection and I love how adjustable it is. He’s a TB with a small head so this worked great!
I swore by Cashel Crusader masks… UNTIL this year. I have a sorrel overo with a bald face and she burns bad unless her nose is covered.
Something changed for her this year and the same mask she wore last year was a no go. She would bolt after taking it off, she was spooky as shit under saddle, she couldn’t be caught to put it on. I switched to Professionals Choice Lycra masks and have no issues although I do have to use Desitin on her nose now The mesh covering eyes and years is super loosely woven and is very easy to see through.