Fly Masks With Ears - Any With Mesh Ear Material That Doesn't Tear In A Week? GNATS!

[GraceLikeRain]

After trying probably a dozen styles I’m sold on the Rambo visor style with ears and the extended nose removed. I tried the above Schneider but it both ran small and I didn’t like how much moisture the fuzz held. Cashel wore like iron but were too hot and sat too close to the eye. For a no ear option my absolute favorite is the equivisor. They now offer ear options but I haven’t personally tried them.

For mine we have significantly less itching masking 24/7. When it was day only her ears got eaten up at dawn/dusk and then she was even more itchy. Thoroughly rinsing their face daily, currying inside of the ears, and treating any rubs with hydrocortisone also helped mine so much

[cnd8]

Yes, the Rambo Plus are my fav! I feel like the nose piece might bake him hotter (he has anhidrosis so I am a worry wart, though) so I always remove it also.

[GraceLikeRain]

For mine I had an aha moment because I used it initially and had way worse rubbing. My hypothesis is that the nose piece with the soft lining wicked moisture from the early morning grass and the dampness on the nose was understandably annoying and then triggered face rubbing. I don’t know for sure but massive difference when I pulled that piece off since she lives in a mask 24/7 rain or shine mid April through October

[ytr45]

I didn’t know if its safe to put swat in the ears, cuz the heat makes it drizzle down inside … the brain? SO thats not true?

[RedHorses]

If that’s responding to my post, no the lycra masks are entirely unsuitable for his eye. The gap in the eyelid makes things that work great for his other eye (or other horses) a non starter. He used to wear mask from spring mud to “snow on the ground that won’t melt until spring”, but in recent years he’s been scratching the cornea in the winter so it’s full time, full year mask wearing for him now.

It totally sucks. I have done a lot of modifying of various fly masks, many of which worked until they didn’t.

[GraceLikeRain]

You may really like the equivisor. As an almost year round mask wearer due to eye risk, I have one that is close to 5 years old. It needs a new buckle but the fabric is in perfect condition despite enduring a lot of hopeful aggressive scratching and ear rubbing on trees and fence lines.

[trubandloki]

@RedHorses

The secret to protecting ears is to put fly spray on the mask ears. Deep Woods Off! is a good choice of spray.

I second this.

[endlessclimb]

I like the concept of the Rambo one, but without a forelock cutout it’s a no for me. Grubdy’s forelock is too long to be trapped in a mask, and I wont braid it.

[Mcl1]

@fivestrideline

lol playing Bitey Face - Gelding Edition mostly If you want turnout gear tested by innocently violent heathens, I have the crew for you!

I think someone needs to create a new brand of turnout gear specifically aimed at the gelding market and made entirely of Kevlar .

My Cashel lasted for about a month of consistent use (but was nice while it lasted).

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[Moss]

My mare had really, really bad gnats so I rub fly spray inside her ears and then apply petroleum jelly in her ears, and boom, the gnats can’t bother her ears. I haven’t seen a gnat near her ears since I started doing this.

For fly mask recommendations, my girl can’t take the Le Mieux fly mask off. It has really tough double velcro, and she can’t slip it over her ears. She has an amazing ability to take off her fly masks, but the Le Mieux she can’t get off so easily. @RedFox5 Thanks for the rec and review! I’ve been looking at the SmartPak fly masks, so I might try that one. @GraceLikeRain I’ve also looked at Rambo since my mare keeps on their fly boots.

[Buster]

LOL, your horses are absolute angels then! I had one horse that went through 13 (NO, that’s not a typo!) in ONE season.

[SharonA1]

I think this one looks interesting, and I did buy it, but on sale it wa $70 and non-on-sale, it was $100. I am pathetic when it comes to buying horse accessories, but I struggle with the price on this one. It better be life-altering.

[RedFox5]

He lives in it outside of his stall even when we’re going on our rides and walks. For me personally it was worth every penny I spent