Out of my three ponies, the darkest one seems to be the most vulnerable to bites. He’s always been sensitive to allergies, so now that the season is winding down, and hopefully fly sheets will be on sale, I am looking for suggestions for a good sheet. Requirements would be that it comes in pony sizes (specifically a 69, but I can do my research) and a neck cover
I do have an annoying mini mule who likes to play, so something that can withstand abuse would be great.
The Rambo fly sheet can take the most abuse but doesn’t come in the small sizes I needed it too. I settled with a weatherbeeta. I have used the Weatherbeeta for 2 seasons with a hard playing hackney and it has two small holes where his pasture mate tried to pull it over his head. It was finally destroyed last month, they ripped the whole butt part off. He’s out with big horses and they like to undress him, and he lets them.
There was a study… I don’t have time to try to find it, that showed lighter horses got harassed by flies less than darker ones. With the small sample size of my own horses over the years, I find this to be true. The white ones have a lot less bugs bothering them than the dark ones. I also found it with myself with mosquitoes when I lived in Connecticut. They always bit more if I was wearing dark colors.
I made that same conclusion. I have 1 white based POA and a light gray mini mule. Neither one seem bothered by flies. My poor chestnut is attacked.
I love my Rambo protector. Expensive but worth every penny.
My gray mare has more bites and reacts more than her buddies. I have found that the Tough 1 deluxe micro mesh sheet is great. It fits well with 3 gussets each side and has a belly band as well as a tail guard, reasonably priced. Mine are 3 years old, I did have to restitch one piece of velcro but otherwise it has stood up well. The micro mesh is also cooler that the softer, ‘scrim’ type sheets IMO. Now if it had a neck piece it would be perfect!
I love this one - although mine does not have the neck cover:
http://www.jefferspet.com/products/sunguard-combo-uv-sheet
wears like iron, and even during the really hot spells we’ve been having, my guy has not been sweaty underneath. (He’s a dark bay the bugs just LOVE him.)
I have an old (got it 8+ years ago) Amigo Bug Buster that’s holding up pretty well to 24/7 wear in a dry lot w/ woven no climb fencing. Granted, its on an old pony and she has no like-size companions to play with (just 2 minis). The 69" is a little long on her, but the neck cover fits perfectly.
The one downside is that she will get sweaty if its really hot out. I’m not sure if its because of the sheet or because she’s black, though. Oddly enough, all my horses are black but the flies go after her the most.
I LOVE this http://www.statelinetack.com/item/horseware-amigo-combo-mio-fly-sheet/E004817%2060%20BRZ/?srccode=GPSLT&gclid=Cj0KEQjw_qW9BRCcv-Xc5Jn-26gBEiQAM-iJhZ_ug1tDH1RejcrFddTKnCugmq-EhXc9tdC0eaOsqGUaAtXP8P8HAQ&kwid=productads-adid^53091238428-device^c-plaid^109334453868-sku^286348-adType^PLA sheet. It has held up for 2 seasons now and it is so lightweight and cool. AND it’s on sale 
You may have to search other places to see if it comes in pony sizes though.
I also have http://www.statelinetack.com/item/weatherbeeta-airflow-detach-a-neck-fly-sheet/E002202/ this for my pony. I like that it has a belly band but it’s much heavier weight and hotter than the Mio sheet, so he goes naked most days.
Kensington.
Finally bought my old guy a new one. The one he was wearing was purchased in 2002. Finally had enough holes to make it not worth using.
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