Hi Everyone! I only use flymasks for the EAR protection from gnats. Lately it seems like there are holes in the ear pieces after very little use. I used to get at least one season out of a mask. Once there is a tiny tear in the ear piece, my pony gets horribly bloody ears from the gnats. Thanks!
Part of the answer requires knowing why your horse keeps getting holes in their mask.
Is the horse rubbing on the fence and the ears are snagging? Is a horse friend playing halter games and getting the mask which is ripping it?
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I swear by Cashel. Pricey, but they wear like iron. Usually I buy new ones yearly but save the last one for a backup - they’ll last a season and a half of 24/7 wear outside in all weather. We only pull them if they get soaked, and I rarely have one get lost if fitted correctly.
I don’t find that they sweat any more in these vs the flimsier ones. I actually like the stretchy pull on ones by other brands but can’t seem to keep them ON the horses!
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On the other side of that coin, though I love Cashle fly masks, I can not keep the version with ears on anything I own. Even with the lovely forelock slot, they seem to be easily rubbed off.
Disclaimer, I turn out with out halters.
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Goodness, what are your horses doing to them? My Cashel fly mask is at least 5 years old. It shows wear, but it’s intact. I grant you I don’t do 24/7 turnout in it (my horse is out about 16 hours a night) but my horse is the king of putting his face where it doesn’t belong to have a good scritch, rubbing his forehead on trees and getting sap on it, etc.
Anyway, however long your horse lets it last, I recommend this brand.
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lol playing Bitey Face - Gelding Edition mostly 
If you want turnout gear tested by innocently violent heathens, I have the crew for you!
Luckily they’re mostly just hard on gear and keep their buddies in one piece.
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Cashel are good quality, but just don’t fit my horse or provide enough eye clearance on him. However, if they fit yours and stay on, they’re not a bad choice.
I’ve had very good results with Shires fly masks.
I don’t have much luck with the fly masks with ears. I use masks without and then rub some Swat inside and outside of my gelding’s ears if needed.
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So…I actually thought this was like super intriguing from a gnat perspective 
So many masks with ears have fabric gnats can get through?? But this would work to keep them out…
Idk, I haven’t done it, but I’ve definitely filed the idea away for later. And, bonus, if your horse gets a hole, you can just replace the ears?
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Ear bonnets. I sew them on the fly mask by hand.
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Adding my vote for Cashel. They are pretty tough, and clean up well. I had one that looked like new for like 5 years.
The secret to protecting ears is to put fly spray on the mask ears. Deep Woods Off! is a good choice of spray.
That said, I’ve had good luck with Cashel mask ears. Mind you I did once find one literally nailed to the ground by an ear. Sewed the two holes closed and it was good to go.
That said, I typically get a very short life out of any mask because my horse is missing a chunk of eyelid and when the plastic coating starts to break away from the mesh fibre (which always happens at the point end of the dart fold over the eyes) the sharp little bits of plastic too easily get shoved through the gap in his eyelid and scratch the cornea when he rubs his eye. Because of this I save the masks with ears for blackfly season, deerfly season, and gnat season, and the rest of the time he wears (less expensive) masks without ears.
Hurting the eye? Great reason to switch to Cashel- soft netting and NO Dart.
My Cashels last for years.
Cashel don’t have enough eye clearance for my guy, so I get Rambo Plus fly masks. Never have had an issue with ears tearing.
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What Cashel are you referring to without a dart?
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The Quiet Ride - is the style.
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That will stay on for pasture/turnout use? I assumed those were for riding applications.
My horse has bad allergies to bugs so she rubs her ears. The masks are protective but even they do not fully stop the rubbing. But the alternative is locking her in a stall with a fan and I know she prefers to be out.
I keep her masked 24/7. If that doesn’t work for your horse then you likely have a bug allergy.
Count me for a vote for Cashel’s. I buy one every 2 years which is about $16 per year?
I got talked into a Shires fly mask with ears last season. He tore his ears within a week (dry lot, individual turnout). I stitched it together with some blue hay string but even Mr Yankee asked last week “Can we get him a fly ‘hat’ yet?”
I also tried one of the lycra ones with the mesh for ears and eyes…those tore easily too.
My Cashels get frayed in the cheek area. Between the binding and the mesh.
