Fly season prep - fly sheet and boot recommendations?

[marmarmar]

Horsey is telling me that the bugs are out! Already wearing his tried and true Cashel fly mask but I’m looking for a few recommendations on sheets and boots.

Short background: we recently relocated from central TX to SE PA. Last summer was brutal for him, he hates hates hates bugs but is also a heavy sweater… He wore a Rambo Flybuster for about 3 days, was just way too hot in it. Obviously we’ve made a big jump in climate, but I’ve heard the summers here are pretty hot and humid too, so what are your favorite, most breathable fly sheets? Should I give the Flybuster another try?

I’m also looking at shoofly boots to cut down on the stomping, but I’m not sure whether I should get medium or large size. Horse is a 16.2 TB, average-boned… Also open to other fly boot recommendations

And feel free to add any other fly-related recommendations!

[Amy3996]

Shoo-Fly boots are hands down my favorite. My 16.2h TB wears the larges.

I haven’t been able to find a fly sheet that doesn’t overheat them. Night turnout has been the answer for us. He goes out in a full fly suit at night when it’s cooler. Not sure if that’s an option for you?

[Texarkana]

I love Shoo Fly boots. They aren’t super exacting with size; as long as the Velcro closes tight enough at the bottom that it doesn’t slip over the hoof, you can probably make them work. My 16.2h warmblood of average bone wears the medium.

Someone here on COTH introduced me to these last year:

STOMP STOPPERS

I got a custom-sized set for my hard to fit donkey last season and LOVE them so much I ordered them for the horses this season. I’ll let you know if the horse sized ones are as great as my donkey’s.

Fly sheets just don’t work for me on the humid east coast. I’ve tried so many different brands and they all make my horses too hot.

[scislandsprite]

I have the Rambo Protector and it has a lot less of the lining material than the Rambo Flybuster so maybe that could help with the overheating? I’ve used fly repellent leg bands in the past for stomping.

[Knubbsy]

I bought one of the zebra print-with-neck sheets from Equinavia and while it was a great price and very light (so unlikely to overheat) it’s also more fragile than I’d like. From rolling around, my mare put 2 tears in the hip in as many days. I’ve repaired them with mosquito netting and upholstery threat I had on hand but I’m not super happy about needing to do that regularly.

I am however happy with the shoo fly boots. For my 15.1 hh paint I got mediums but probably would do better with larges, since she wears bell boots in the front those are okay.

[SLW]

I used the ShooFly boots last year with good results.

For sprays I switched to Farman’s Tri Tec 14 last year which provided relief.

I like the drops, Equi Spot, you put on the horse but my two equines act like I put hot acid on them. I bought a new brand to try and they were much better about the application. I’ll see how it works this week as I just applied it on Friday.

Editing to add the new anti- fly drops I’m using are FlyRid by Durvet.

[stb]

I love Shoo Fly boots. I have found them to run a bit large, so if in doubt I would size down.

As far as fly sheets go, I have used the Rambo FlyBuster in the past and it is very durable. It does seem a bit heavy, though, and I don’t generally use it in the daytime during the heat and humidity of the summer (SE coast here). This year I bought Kensington fly sheets and my horses seem to really like them. They seem a bit lighter than the Rambo sheet, and even my sheet averse horse is happy to put his Kensington on. Of course, it’s not super hot and humid yet, so time will tell.

[lenapesadie]

In the worst of the summer heat and humidity, if horses are outside in the afternoons, all fly sheets are too hot imo. During the worst summer afternoons my horses prefer to be in inside under fans.

For the rest of the times, I like Kensington fly sheets the best so far. It seems like the stiffer material has more airflow than super soft, clingy material sheets. The fit is very good for my horses which seems to help the comfort level a fair bit.

Shoo fly leggings work well. I personally will not use them again unless I am taking them on and off every day. They gave my horse a rub that turned into a nasty summer sore when worn 24/7 a few summers back. For me it’s easier to apply fly spray 2X daily to legs.

[SolarFlare]

I also have a 16.2 TB with good bone - he wears a large in the Shoo Fly boots.

In the past I’ve used the Weatherbeeta DuraTech fly sheet, which is a heavy plastic mesh. While the material is heavy, it doesn’t stick up against their body like the soft fabric mesh fly sheets do, so it still allows air flow. When mine finally died, there was a sale on Horseware so I bought the Rambo Protector which is a bit lighter in weight but still seemed to act the same way.

On the very hot and humid days, the barn will turn out with no fly sheet but still in the Shoo Fly boots (and a fly mask), which my TB finds acceptable.

[bdj]

I can’t speak to the fly sheet issue, but I’ll add in another vote for the ShooFlys, or, if you want to save a little money, these: https://www.chicksaddlery.com/rugged-ride-stay-up-ii-fly-leggings-boots-set-of-4
They’re basically ShooFly knock offs - I got a pair last year to try and they worked just as well and fit the same.

(Oops, just checked and it looks like they’re limited in size and color right now… sorry OP, but maybe useful information for someone with a smaller horse.)

[kaya842]

Certainly shoofly boots for boots. My two wore Rambo Protectors almost 24/7 in the Midwest last year. It does get hot and humid but we are at the top of a hill so we do get a breeze and they have tons of shade in their paddock. I do bring them in with fans and remove the sheets during the worst of the days. I like them so much I bought them both brand new Rambo Protectors this year ( last years sheets were used cheapos off Facebook).